Random Stuff!!

[Tinkerman]

I'm not really sure the cancelled electrification is such a bad thing really for Swansea, at least not in the short term.

The tracks beyond Bridgend are quite 'windy' should we say (as in lots of turns), so are not really ideally suited for rapid transit in the form of Electric Trains. The Bi-Mode option that has been purchased is a marked upgrade on what is there already and a significant investment indeed, but this option has also been pursued in the West Midlands and in the North as reported in the news today.

Short-term, Bi-Mode is the answer, although in the long term (10 to 20 years), they're going to have to revisit this section of track (Cardiff - Swansea) again for electrification. The most interesting scheme for me is the Metro at the moment, and working on it i can't exactly disclose any information, but if done correctly this could be a scheme that changes the shape of South Wales for the better.

 

[Tinkerman]

I'm not really sure the cancelled electrification is such a bad thing really for Swansea, at least not in the short term.

The tracks beyond Bridgend are quite 'windy' should we say (as in lots of turns), so are not really ideally suited for rapid transit in the form of Electric Trains. The Bi-Mode option that has been purchased is a marked upgrade on what is there already and a significant investment indeed, but this option has also been pursued in the West Midlands and in the North as reported in the news today.

Short-term, Bi-Mode is the answer, although in the long term (10 to 20 years), they're going to have to revisit this section of track (Cardiff - Swansea) again for electrification. The most interesting scheme for me is the Metro at the moment, and working on it i can't exactly disclose any information, but if done correctly this could be a scheme that changes the shape of South Wales for the better.

EDIT: I seen you just post there Local, and yes in some respects we have been ripped off and if you look at rail infrastructure up and down Europe it is far better than what we have here in the UK as a whole. How long can they keep these diesel trains running for is the question ? Until you've been on the Valley Lines trains in and around Cardiff i don't think anyone can ever complain about a train service ever again. A train conductor told me a few months back that Arriva were to lose the franchise.

 

[Jerry]

The tracks beyond Bridgend are quite 'windy' should we say (as in lots of turns), so are not really ideally suited for rapid transit in the form of Electric Trains.

I wonder if that has put the UK government off and Alan Cairns mentioned in a TV interview that many bridges would've had to made higher to for it to work. Could be the cost may have outweighed the benefits in the governments eyes.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The argument that the Westminster transport secretary used when trying to justify the axing of electrification between Bristol and Bath was that there would be little time saved in electrification presumably because by the time the trains picked up speed they would have to slow again for the next station. He also tried a spurious argument that the gantries and overhead wires would be unsightly in the UNESCO World Heritage site that is Bath, something that even the Bath Preservation Trust laughed out of court.

The same argument about minimal time saving would apply between Cardiff and Newport and the first and last few miles out of and into Paddington for that matter. Trains cannot run at high speed there either.

Having closed the line between Bath and Chippenham last year for six weeks to prepare for electrification, using these arguments so late in the day is nonsensical after so many tens of millions have already been spent on sections that will not now see electrification.

He ignored the effects of pollution that diesel traction brings, with Bath and Bristol being two of the most polluted cities in the country

 

[Tinkerman]

The argument that the Westminster transport secretary used when trying to justify the axing of electrification between Bristol and Bath was that there would be little time saved in electrification presumably because by the time the trains picked up speed they would have to slow again for the next station. He also tried a spurious argument that the gantries and overhead wires would be unsightly in the UNESCO World Heritage site that is Bath, something that even the Bath Preservation Trust laughed out of court.

The same argument about minimal time saving would apply between Cardiff and Newport and the first and last few miles out of and into Paddington for that matter. Trains cannot run at high speed there either.

Having closed the line between Bath and Chippenham last year for six weeks to prepare for electrification, using these arguments so late in the day is nonsensical after so many tens of millions have already been spent on sections that will not now see electrification.

He ignored the effects of pollution that diesel traction brings, with Bath and Bristol being two of the most polluted cities in the country

Spot on Local.

The gantries and bridges along that stretch are very low in places so would have certainly played a role in the decision. Thing i don't like in all of this is the way that the UK Government has gone back at the very last minute against their own words on these things, and Alun Cairns appears a mere puppet for Westminster at the moment. Lost all respect for the guy.

The line between Port Talbot and Swansea has been closed on most Sundays since the last time that i can remember, so this U-turn should have been made public when they placed the order for Bi-Mode trains. At this point it became perfectly clear what they were going to do, why order Bi-Mode if it was ever going to be fully electric ?

The opaque, smoke and mirrors kind of state that the UK is becoming is really starting to annoy and frustrate me.

 

[Jerry]

The HMRC has agreed to move from it's existing site in Llanishen to the development in Central Square. The new 12 storey building 6 Central Square will have space for 4,000 people 3,600 of which will work for HMRC. Also the Wales Office will move from it's offices in Cardiff Bay as well and they could be joined by other departments like the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Works and Pensions to form a UK Government hub.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/commercial-property/biggest-ever-office-deal-wales-13445410

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Jerry

With all this development in Cardiff I wondered if there is some resentment in other towns and cities in Wales about the capital seeing so much, in the way that much of the UK looks rather pointedly at the money and development thrown at London.

 

[Tinkerman]

TLY,

Absolutely. Swansea feels the most hard done by with all these things, but as Cardiff keeps on growing (still the fastest growing city in the UK), more opportunities will begin to arise in the likes of Swansea etc.

The growth in Cardiff, and indeed the whole Cardiff City Region extending outwards to St Mellons to the East, to Cowbridge in the West and North along the A470 corridor to around Abercynon/Pontypridd has been absolutely astronomic in the last 5 years. Train commutes are now busier than ever, more people live in the vicinity than ever before and the number of jobs in the area is the highest i've ever seen it.

All of this in CWL's hinterland will continue to provide us with some aviation related surprises in the near, and not so distant future.

 

[Jerry]

Jerry

With all this development in Cardiff I wondered if there is some resentment in other towns and cities in Wales about the capital seeing so much, in the way that much of the UK looks rather pointedly at the money and development thrown at London.

Definitely! It almost mirrors it! If something is announced for Cardiff you'll always see people complaining about it a lot of them from the Valleys. People from North Wales in particular I think feel forgotten when it comes to investment. There is a Cardiff and the rest of Wales divide in the country which is also reflected in which areas are more nationalist as well.

 

[Tinkerman]

Just to add, the agreement today with the UK Government and Rightacres (The developer), is the largest ever lease agreement of property in Wales in terms of square feet of office space and the number of jobs.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Thank you for that, both of you. I was last in Swansea about five years ago and I couldn't help but notice how run down parts of the central area were. Hopefully with the Swansea City Deal this will begin to be addressed if it hasn't already in the five years since I was there.

I haven't been to Newport for a couple of years but when I was there I saw quite a lot of new development around the bus station area: not necessarily to do with the bus station but in that part of the city.

I do a lot of walking and always like to have a look around the non-touristy bits of towns and cities that I visit as I believe they are the true heart and soul of such places.

Incidentally, there was another piece in the local Bristol paper last week about people moving to South Wales from the Bristol area, as far west as Cardiff in some cases, to take advantage of the lower house prices and this trend is increasing with the prospect of no bridge tolls. The downside is that house prices in South Wales are rising as a result and Bristol and its environs are experiencing more and more people moving in from the London area where of course house prices are considerably higher which in turn pushes up Bristol house prices even more.

This is all very good if you already own a house but not at all good for would-be house owners.

It seems to add up to a micro migration of people.

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/property/heres-how-much-more-you-282508

 

[Jerry]

There are plans to build 20,000 new houses around Cardiff in the years to come with essentially new suburbs being developed. Plasmawr is the first part of it.
I haven't been into the centres of Newport or Swansea for a long time and I've no doubt they've changed quite a lot. Every time I go into Cardiff city centre it always looks different.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

There are plans to build 20,000 new houses around Cardiff in the years to come with essentially new suburbs being developed. Plasmawr is the first part of it.
I haven't been into the centres of Newport or Swansea for a long time and I've no doubt they've changed quite a lot. Every time I go into Cardiff city centre it always looks different.

The landscape is certainly changing with hundreds of thousands of houses needed across the UK as a whole in the coming years.

I find wry amusement in the fact that there are often a lot of objectors to new housing schemes, especially if Green Belt land is involved, yet the objectors are frequently people who themselves moved into houses that were built on former open countryside in the past. It's the "S*d you, I'm all right" attitude.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Arms Park 1931: Wales 13 Scotland 8

One of my favourite Internet pastimes is to roam through the British Pathe newsreels on YouTube. Pathe has put all its newsreels on YouTube going back to the year dot (or at least year dot in Pathe terms). Some are unedited rough cuts. In the pre-tv days this was the only way that people could see something of the world beyond them - on the cinema newsreel screen.

I found this one this evening. It features the Wales-Scotland game at the Arms Park in 1931. It is of surprisingly good quality and shows the famous old rugby ground in all its pomp in the pre-war years, with glimpses of Cardiff outside the ground. The many spectators on roofs around the ground would be victims of the Health and Safety Brigade these days.

The newsreel begins with Land of My Fathers played by the band on the pitch and sung by the spectators pre-match although, for some reason, the sound doesn't cut in until the 42nd second of the recording.

I love the touch judge in his plus-fours or is it plus-twos?

It's less than three minutes long in its entirety but I found it a fascinating brief look at life in Cardiff all those years ago.

 

[superking]

I like yr self LY like looking at old films/news reels. When looking at them my thoughts are always did that really happen as a lot of things on these films would never be allowed to happen with health & safety rules now inforce.

 

[Jerry]

Half term holidays could be cheaper for Welsh families this year welsh schools break up for the holiday a week later than English schools which could lead to places like Center Parcs being a lot cheaper and of course holidays in winter sun destinations like Tenerife as well.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/half-term-wales-not-same-13664856

 

[Jerry]

Not saying that rugby players are stupid but Scott Baldwin was in this case! Petting a Lion like it's a dog is not a good idea!
http://www.punditarena.com/rugby/bbarry/wales-international-missed-pro14-match-bitten-lion/

 

[TheLocalYokel]

He's obviously keen on Lions but he was never one himself was he?

 

[Jerry]

He's obviously keen on Lions but he was never one himself was he?

Nope he never got picked for the Lions he's not even first choice for Wales. I can imagine he will never love it down though with his team mates! Lol

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Rugby - Wales

I'm reading that Wales is to tighten further its selection criteria for those playing for clubs outside Wales.

I understand that anyone playing outside Wales with fewer than 60 Welsh caps won't be considered for selection for the national team, albeit this won't apply to players' existing contracts.

What is the thinking behind this? In England there is often a cry that not enough English footballers play for foreign teams. if they did, so the argument goes, it would improve their own game and consequently the England football team's chances.

Doesn't playing for a top club in, say, England or France enhance a player's value to the Welsh national team as he's getting top level experience at club level?

I know that Jerry is a big rugby fan and naturally a fervent supporter of Wales. Can you help me on this, Jerry? Or anyone else might have a view for that matter.