| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 06:37 - Apr 20 with 2640 views | Dr_Winston |
And they're right. Spending tens of millions for no appreciable benefit would have been idiocy. Problem is electrifying the line from Bristol to Cardiff was also equally pointless yet they did it anyway. |  |
| Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair, or f*cking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back. |
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| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 09:03 - Apr 20 with 2572 views | jack_lord |
I saw a plan that would take the train out of Swansea through Port Tennant. That was a much cheaper option and would have saved ten minutes on the journey time. |  |
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| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 09:06 - Apr 20 with 2569 views | felixstowe_jack |
They would be better off spending a lot less to improve signalling and upgrade the track to increase the speed the train can actually run at. Currently once you are past Bristol Parkway the speed limits range from 100, 90 and 70. The High speed train can only actual run at 125 mph between Bristol and London |  |
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| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 09:13 - Apr 20 with 2564 views | LeonWasGod |
We even have bi trains these days. The world's gone mad. |  | | |
| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 09:35 - Apr 20 with 2534 views | Muteswan |
| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 09:13 - Apr 20 by LeonWasGod |
We even have bi trains these days. The world's gone mad. |
I thought they always went both ways 🙄 |  | | |
| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 11:09 - Apr 20 with 2473 views | oldgrey |
Only if the current is AC/DC | | | |
| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 11:16 - Apr 20 with 2468 views | JACKMANANDBOY |
| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 09:06 - Apr 20 by felixstowe_jack |
They would be better off spending a lot less to improve signalling and upgrade the track to increase the speed the train can actually run at. Currently once you are past Bristol Parkway the speed limits range from 100, 90 and 70. The High speed train can only actual run at 125 mph between Bristol and London |
Exactly, so why electrify beyond Bristol? |  |
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| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 14:09 - Apr 20 with 2412 views | union_jack |
| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 11:16 - Apr 20 by JACKMANANDBOY |
Exactly, so why electrify beyond Bristol? |
That was political. Stopping on the last stop in England and not going into Wales at all would have given the govt too much hassle. Cutting it off at Cardiff now instead makes practical sense if it has to be cut at all. As someone said, no appreciative benefit. |  |
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| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 14:39 - Apr 20 with 2382 views | Batterseajack |
Not sure if this is a good thing for Swansea long term, If they now have to use diesel / electric trains between London and Swansea, we might see a drop in the frequency of service from what we currently have. Surely an electric train is cheaper than a combi electric and diesel train so commercial pressures might see electric only trains terminating at Cardiff.
This will also put more commercial pressure on the current rail service between Swansea and Cardiff (since it the train might not necessarily go on to Paddington if they keep diesel and electric separate). If its not used enough, then it will be an easier decision for the GWR money men to cut the frequency trains between Swansea and Cardiff. If Swansea to Cardiff becomes 1 every 2 hours, and Cardiff to Paddington is every hour, it could add up to an hour onto the Swansea to London journey, even further cutting Swansea off.
Just come back from a boozy lunch and haven't proof read the above, so apologies beforehand if it doesn't make much sense | | | |
| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 16:30 - Apr 20 with 2331 views | JACKMANANDBOY |
| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 14:09 - Apr 20 by union_jack |
That was political. Stopping on the last stop in England and not going into Wales at all would have given the govt too much hassle. Cutting it off at Cardiff now instead makes practical sense if it has to be cut at all. As someone said, no appreciative benefit. |
That's my point, no consensus amongst Welsh politicians for issues outside Cardiff. | |
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| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 17:22 - Apr 20 with 2299 views | BytholWyn |
Contrast the passive response to this issue to any action of the Welsh Government that favours Cardiff...
The UK has the largest wealth gap in northern Europe and the biggest regional divide. This isn't the result of some God-given law - but is a direct consequence of there being no such thing as a regional policy - from any government, left or right, ever.
I'm not going to argue with the economists who made the determination that extending electrification to Swansea wouldn't be cost effective - when viewed from a short term myopic perspective. But when you repeat such short-term decisions over and over again over a period of decades what you get is precisely what you see in the UK - the most marginal areas (Wales, North East and South West) are significantly economically disadvantaged to the fatted calf that is London.
Any Labour supporters out there, don't kid yourself that the Labour party are any better than the Tories. Look at Corbyn's manifesto and you'll see a long list of major rail infrastructure commitments - almost exlusively around London and central parts of England. There's even a commitment to a north-south Crossrail 2 - coincidentally passing through Corbyn's Islington constituency. Not even the Tories promised such largesse for London.
If there was a UK government that genuinely cared for the UK it would make bridging the regional divide a priority. We wouldn't be talking about electrification to Swansea we'd be talking about a high speed connection to Swansea, and the North East and the South West for that matter. The fact that that possibility seems remote in the extreme says it all about how low our expectations are, and how we're happy to grovel in the dirt for the meagre crumbs that fall from the master's table. |  | | |
| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 17:56 - Apr 20 with 2280 views | Private_Partz |
| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 17:22 - Apr 20 by BytholWyn |
Contrast the passive response to this issue to any action of the Welsh Government that favours Cardiff...
The UK has the largest wealth gap in northern Europe and the biggest regional divide. This isn't the result of some God-given law - but is a direct consequence of there being no such thing as a regional policy - from any government, left or right, ever.
I'm not going to argue with the economists who made the determination that extending electrification to Swansea wouldn't be cost effective - when viewed from a short term myopic perspective. But when you repeat such short-term decisions over and over again over a period of decades what you get is precisely what you see in the UK - the most marginal areas (Wales, North East and South West) are significantly economically disadvantaged to the fatted calf that is London.
Any Labour supporters out there, don't kid yourself that the Labour party are any better than the Tories. Look at Corbyn's manifesto and you'll see a long list of major rail infrastructure commitments - almost exlusively around London and central parts of England. There's even a commitment to a north-south Crossrail 2 - coincidentally passing through Corbyn's Islington constituency. Not even the Tories promised such largesse for London.
If there was a UK government that genuinely cared for the UK it would make bridging the regional divide a priority. We wouldn't be talking about electrification to Swansea we'd be talking about a high speed connection to Swansea, and the North East and the South West for that matter. The fact that that possibility seems remote in the extreme says it all about how low our expectations are, and how we're happy to grovel in the dirt for the meagre crumbs that fall from the master's table. |
Good post in the main although I think a Corbyn led government would be far more open to regional development.
Back on subject. The reason electrification provides no benefit West of Bristol is that the existing infrastructure in Wales is poor.
Particularly Cardiff westwards as it is a two line service which commuter and intercity trains share.
Electrification and massive infrastructure improvement is needed right down to the Pembrokeshire ferries.
if things stay as they are then the previous poster has a valid point where we may end up with a terminus in Cardiff central and local trains running westwards.
WAG maybe hamstrung by Westminster here but they should b shouting this from the rooftops.
Meanwhile the electrification of the Cardiff valley services will go ahead regardless.... |  |
| You have mission in life to hold out your hand,
To help the other guy out,
Help your fellow man.
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| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 19:09 - Apr 20 with 2243 views | union_jack |
| Cardiff-Swansea electric rail 'not sensible thing to do.. on 16:30 - Apr 20 by JACKMANANDBOY |
That's my point, no consensus amongst Welsh politicians for issues outside Cardiff. |
Well you won't find me arguing against that! | |
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