Random Stuff!!

[Sean123]

On a somewhat different tone has anyone any information on the latest news on the cardiff parkway development as it seems to have gone very quiet although I appreciate the current difficulties at hand

 

[Jerry]

Really not sure why the Welsh Conservatives have gone down the path of hardline Nationalism. They should be valuing the relationship with the UK while also valuing devolution and being able to make our own decisions in Wales for ourselves.

The problem with the Conservatives is that in general they are the party of government at UK level but at devolved level especially in Wales they don't get a look in. Forming a coalition with Labour is out of the question because of Westminster politics, Lib Dems are too weak and there's no common ground now with Plaid so the only way they can rule in Wales is via Westminster hence why they've purged the more pro devolution MS and are standing on an essentially role back devolution platform which also lessens the danger of losing voters to AWAP.

Mark Drakeford is a big Jeremy Corbyn fan and I have no doubt he’s a socialist. You only have to listen to his Facebook live’s to get that impression. I think Vaughan Gething is much centre, more electable and would be a better choice.

He may be but his party isn't. Look at the policies they've introduced and they aren't socialist. They recently voted against guaranteeing free school meals for children whose parent's are on Universal credit. As far as I know they really haven't adopted any of Corbyns policies like a national care service. It's actually Plaid who are proposing something similar to that if I remember correctly.

I wouldn’t be surprised if AWAP get some seats, a few people I’ve spoken to in the South are really annoyed with the way the Senedd has acted and all the confusing different rules of the Pandemic. Will Plaids potential gains come from the regional or constituency seats Jerry?

If AWAP are kept at 2 then that would be good as they can't form a group. Preferably none would be better but it does depend on how the list vote falls. Especially if Plaid pick up some of the marginal seats they have with Labour. At the moment Plaid are polling at 16 seats but obviously the hope is get 20+ as that gives a better chance of government and being an equal partner rather than a junior one. The one thing that Plaid now have with independence being a more mainstream topic is clear water between them and Labour.

 

[Jerry]

I could see the UK going back into some sort of EFTA or soft EU arrangement before then. We certainly need it.

I did read a report saying that ministers wanted to reopen the trade deal with the EU. EFTA would be a good compromise but not sure if the EFTA members would be keen on the UK joining.

 

[Jerry]

On a somewhat different tone has anyone any information on the latest news on the cardiff parkway development as it seems to have gone very quiet although I appreciate the current difficulties at hand

Last I heard it was full steam ahead. It's local for me so I keep an eye on the project and any news. I believe it was recently mentioned in the alternative to the M4 relief road report.
The plans were submitted to Cardiff Council on 21st January. Missed that!

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[aviatorconcorde]

J

I did read a report saying that ministers wanted to reopen the trade deal with the EU. EFTA would be a good compromise but not sure if the EFTA members would be keen on the UK joining.

I think the UK could negotiate it’s way back in EFTA personally, I think it’s a good half way house between brexit and full membership.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

Last I heard it was full steam ahead. It's local for me so I keep an eye on the project and any news. I believe it was recently mentioned in the alternative to the M4 relief road report.
The plans were submitted to Cardiff Council on 21st January. Missed that!

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good news. Glad things are being developed

 

[Sean123]

Thanks Jerry, I was starting to to become concerned that another infrastructure project would get kicked down the road or even canned

 

[Jerry]

Thanks Jerry, I was starting to to become concerned that another infrastructure project would get kicked down the road or even canned

Because it's a private project it tends to not get mentioned in with the plans for the Metro and Cardiff crossrail and transport upgrades that are being built by WG and Cardiff council.

 

[Jerry]

J


I think the UK could negotiate it’s way back in EFTA personally, I think it’s a good half way house between brexit and full membership.

It is what the WG and Plaid proposed in 2016 or 2017 i believe.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Staying with railways, how is electrification proceeding on the main line from Paddington? It had reached Bristol Parkway some time ago and I thought should have reached Cardiff Central by now (nearly typed Cardiff General....those were the days) thus allowing travel 'under the wires' all the way from one capital city to another.

That said, reports of problems in the Severn Tunnel surfaced last year with the fittings for electric power quickly wearing out. There was even a suggestion that the passage through the Severn Tunnel might have to be under diesel traction for a long time to come.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

Staying with railways, how is electrification proceeding on the main line from Paddington? It had reached Bristol Parkway some time ago and I thought should have reached Cardiff Central by now (nearly typed Cardiff General....those were the days) thus allowing travel 'under the wires' all the way from one capital city to another.

That said, reports of problems in the Severn Tunnel surfaced last year with the fittings for electric power quickly wearing out. There was even a suggestion that the passage through the Severn Tunnel might have to be under diesel traction for a long time to come.

It’s been done and is in use right up to Cardiff Central.
UK government need to extend electrification down to Swansea. It’s a disgrace they’re yet to do it. So much for all this “levelling up” and green deals.

hopefully when covid calms down we can proceed.

 

[Jerry]

It’s been done and is in use right up to Cardiff Central.
UK government need to extend electrification down to Swansea. It’s a disgrace they’re yet to do it. So much for all this “levelling up” and green deals.

hopefully when covid calms down we can proceed.

The TUC released a report with 16 projects that could help boost the Welsh economy quickly as part of the covid19 recovery and electrification of both the south and north Wales mainlines are part of the 16.
The Welsh government did ask the UK government for the money to do it themselves but UK government refused.
What Wales needs is responsibility for the infrastructure like they do in Scotland, so we can decide where to invest.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

The TUC released a report with 16 projects that could help boost the Welsh economy quickly as part of the covid19 recovery and electrification of both the south and north Wales mainlines are part of the 16.
The Welsh government did ask the UK government for the money to do it themselves but UK government refused.
What Wales needs is responsibility for the infrastructure like they do in Scotland, so we can decide where to invest.

it’s shocking. I’m no communist but there’s an urgent need for the wealth to be re-distributed around the UK, I’m sure people living north of the midlands would have similar complaints.

What are the 16 projects?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

It’s been done and is in use right up to Cardiff Central.
UK government need to extend electrification down to Swansea. It’s a disgrace they’re yet to do it. So much for all this “levelling up” and green deals.

hopefully when covid calms down we can proceed.

Thanks for that.

It's not just South Wales that is lacking. Bristol hasn't got electrification - Bristol Parkway is in South Gloucestershire and only has electrification because it happens to be on the main line between Paddington and Cardiff. Brunel's main line between Bristol TM and Paddington via Bath was due to be electrified as was the line between TM and Parkway. Millions of pounds of public money were spent on preparation but then the UK Government pulled the plug.

Apart from the section Swindon- Bristol Parkway and the short section between Wootton Bassett and Chippenham the entire South West government region (population 5.5 million) has no electrified railway with none in prospect.

Peripheral English regions are equally disadvantaged and they have no devolved government or secretary of state at Westminster to at least to stand in their corner.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

TLY - Absolutely shocking. No wonder people are angry.

Lets hope Boris really means it with his level up programme.

 

[Jerry]

It's not just South Wales that is lacking. Bristol hasn't got electrification - Bristol Parkway is in South Gloucestershire and only has electrification because it happens to be on the main line between Paddington and Cardiff. Brunel's main line between Bristol TM and Paddington via Bath was due to be electrified as was the line between TM and Parkway. Millions of pounds of public money were spent on preparation but then the UK Government pulled the plug.

I was reading an article earlier and it stated that the UK government over estimated the demand for rail in the south east by 50% and under estimated it in the rest of the UK by 50% hence why outside of the south east of England there's been very little investment in rail infrastructure. I believe that it's been stated that Albania has more electrified line than Wales.

 

[Jerry]

What are the 16 projects?

These are 16 projects that the report for the Wales TUC believes could be started in the next 2 years create over 59,000 jobs and total £6 billion in public investment.
Broadband upgrade
R&D for decarbonising heavy industry-experimental technology (e.g. cement, petrochemicals, CCS demonstration, hydrogen)
Expand and upgrade rail network
Build battery factories for EVs
Electric car charging points (rural)
Build cycle lanes and pedestrianisation
Build social housing (using domestic offsite manufacture)
Retrofit social housing
Energy efficiency assessments
Retrofit public buildings
Upgrade ports and shipyards for offshore wind supply chain
Build manufacturing facilities for offshore (including floating) wind turbines
District heating
Reforestation schemes
Environmental restoration (including flood defences)
Support farmers to switch to Organic Agriculture
Based on the projects’ scores against criteria, four projects were discarded from the list:
Road building (as scoring by far the lowest)
National water transfer network (as the only project that could not start work within two years)
Solar generation (on schools, commercial roofs, private roofs) (as scoring by far the lowest)
Retrofit private rental homes (as scoring lower and starting slower than public housing retrofits).
The full report is available in a download via the link below.

Job Creation in Wales from Infrastructure Investment

Almost 60,000 jobs could be created in Wales in the next two years through government investment in key infrastructure projects. This research – carried out for the Wales TUC by Transition Economics – shows that fast-tracking spending on projects such as social housing, public transport, and...

www.tuc.org.uk

 

[aviatorconcorde]

These are 16 projects that the report for the Wales TUC believes could be started in the next 2 years create over 59,000 jobs and total £6 billion in public investment.
Broadband upgrade
R&D for decarbonising heavy industry-experimental technology (e.g. cement, petrochemicals, CCS demonstration, hydrogen)
Expand and upgrade rail network
Build battery factories for EVs
Electric car charging points (rural)
Build cycle lanes and pedestrianisation
Build social housing (using domestic offsite manufacture)
Retrofit social housing
Energy efficiency assessments
Retrofit public buildings
Upgrade ports and shipyards for offshore wind supply chain
Build manufacturing facilities for offshore (including floating) wind turbines
District heating
Reforestation schemes
Environmental restoration (including flood defences)
Support farmers to switch to Organic Agriculture
Based on the projects’ scores against criteria, four projects were discarded from the list:
Road building (as scoring by far the lowest)
National water transfer network (as the only project that could not start work within two years)
Solar generation (on schools, commercial roofs, private roofs) (as scoring by far the lowest)
Retrofit private rental homes (as scoring lower and starting slower than public housing retrofits).
The full report is available in a download via the link below.

Job Creation in Wales from Infrastructure Investment

Almost 60,000 jobs could be created in Wales in the next two years through government investment in key infrastructure projects. This research – carried out for the Wales TUC by Transition Economics – shows that fast-tracking spending on projects such as social housing, public transport, and...

www.tuc.org.uk

All worthy projects.

Thought this was interesting. Train fares to London from South Wales are absolutely crazy, but not sure if this deal would of actually changed anything.

Trains: Plans for new Cardiff to London services hit buffers

Regulator dismisses bid by Grand Union Trains to run new services from Cardiff and Carmarthen.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Jerry]

All worthy projects.

Thought this was interesting. Train fares to London from South Wales are absolutely crazy, but not sure if this deal would of actually changed anything.

Trains: Plans for new Cardiff to London services hit buffers

Regulator dismisses bid by Grand Union Trains to run new services from Cardiff and Carmarthen.

www.bbc.co.uk

That's a shame! The competition would've been good for the route.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

All worthy projects.

Thought this was interesting. Train fares to London from South Wales are absolutely crazy, but not sure if this deal would of actually changed anything.

Trains: Plans for new Cardiff to London services hit buffers

Regulator dismisses bid by Grand Union Trains to run new services from Cardiff and Carmarthen.

www.bbc.co.uk

That's a shame! The competition would've been good for the route.

I did a bit of digging into Grand Union. It's an open access rail company so has to survive on commercial realities and its founder started two other open access rail companies that were later sold to Arriva. As far as I can determine, of these only a route from Euston to Blackpool remains extant - others were rejected for various reasons - although the Blackpool route is awaiting things to begin returning to normal post-pandemic before commencing service.

Grand Union was going to operate released East Coast Main Line Inter City class 225 electric trains on the Cardiff-Paddington route initially, expanding the service to hourly in 2023 using new Hitachi class 802 bi-mode train sets, the type operated by Great Western on this route.

It would would aim to provide everyone with a seat but in the event of this not being possible 50% of the fare would be refunded.

Competition is invariably good for the customer and such a venture would prove useful to see how it would be able to compete with franchised rail companies.