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1  All across the Great Western territory / Buses and other ways to travel / Re: Fishguard - Dublin ferry route on: March 08, 2025, 15:34:55
I think it's misleading to refer to the "failure" of the berthing structures.  It's apparent from reading between the lines of the recent explanations given by Stena (who run Holyhead port) that the one berth was damaged by an Irish Ferries ship and because it is adjacent to the Stena berth (see the picture above), both had to be taken out of service for repair.

The Fishguard-Dublin route was introduced as a temporary alleviating measure.  But the journey time was twice that of Dublin-Holyhead.
2  Sideshoots - associated subjects / The West - but NOT trains in the West / Re: Bristol artwork celebrates Brunel's pop-up Crimean hospital on: February 03, 2025, 14:48:17
And Betsi Cadwaladr
3  Sideshoots - associated subjects / News, Help and Assistance / Re: Browsers - what are you running? Are you seeing this? on: December 29, 2024, 11:51:15
Opera.  No issues apart from a bit of a jump as each page loads.
4  Journey by Journey / Shorter journeys in South and West Wales / Re: South Wales Valleys, 1963 on: November 25, 2024, 10:13:13
Surprisingly much is still running.

The through routes from Neath to Aberdare, Maesteg to Treherbert, and Quaker's Yard to Pontypool are long gone.

Not many would want to travel from Maesteg to the Rhondda rather than Bridgend.  Equally, not many would go from Quaker's Yard to Pontypool in preference to Cardiff.

Neath to Aberdare might theoretically be a runner.  Part of the line up the Neath Valley still exists and will be needed to feed the GCRE at Onllwyn.
5  Journey by Journey / Shorter journeys in South and West Wales / Re: South Wales Metro Electrification on: April 11, 2024, 11:22:44
Slightly perverse test since, as I understand it, the intention is to use the Class 398 tram-trains on the central Valleys lines.  A good number of them are is already at the new Taff's Well depot.
6  Journey by Journey / Bristol (WECA) Commuters / Re: County Cricket on the move from Bristol? on: December 08, 2023, 10:58:48
I take WelshBluebird's points about access for locals.  However, for international matches many spectators are from away.

The ground is not up to the standard of any of the others which host international cricket.  Temporary stands have to be erected for fixtures and even then the capacity is limited.

I've been to several international matches there.  There is no shade unless you happen to be in the pavilion and the temporary toilet facilities (largely those blue building site portabogs) are both inadequate in number and minging.

The last time I was there, the ticket/security check involved a 20 minute queue snaking down Nevil Road. Poorly compared with everywhere else except Lord's.

There is no car parking to speak of within any reasonable distance and, pending the opening of Ashley Down Station, no convenient rail connection.  There are bus services via Gloucester Road, Muller Road and Ashley Down Road so not very far away.  But you still probably have to park somewhere and catch a bus if you're not local.

I also agree, however, that a green field stadium somewhere off the ring road or the M4 is not the answer.  The majority of cricket played at Bristol is attractive only to a local audience and moving out of town would not improve attendance at Glos CCC matches.

A conundrum. 

The ground is fine for Glos CCC cricket but it is not up to scratch for anything beyond that.  As has been said above, there is competition for 100 franchises and as it stands Taunton would get the vote over Bristol as it's a much better appointed ground, as is Sophia Gardens of course.

7  Journey by Journey / Shorter journeys in South and West Wales / Re: Transport for Wales: More cash for rail operator as ticket sales fall on: October 26, 2023, 11:27:31
I suspect the Valley Lines closures for electrification may also have had an impact on numbers.  For example, Treherbert to Pontypridd is closed from 24/04/23 until Feb 2024 for re-signalling, re-railing, extra passing loop, and OLE (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE").  While there's a rail replacement bus, many will have reverted to car or used the "ordinary" bus.

8  Sideshoots - associated subjects / Railway History and related topics / Re: Built but never opened ... on: October 10, 2023, 13:42:36
Only one train... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llangurig_branch
9  Journey by Journey / Shorter journeys in South and West Wales / Re: Train fire near Llanelli - late on 26th August 2020 on: August 27, 2020, 18:41:02

The double track line curving round to the right is the Swansea & District Line.

The location is Morlais Junction.  The single track straight ahead is effectively the start of the Heart of Wales line towards Pontarddulais.  The line was already out of commission at the other end because of flood damage at Llangynllo near Knighton so it's bustitute time for a good few weeks.
10  Sideshoots - associated subjects / The Lighter Side / Re: Every picture is interesting and paints 1000 words [DotD 15.5.20] on: May 16, 2020, 14:00:39
Quote
Abercynon does not translate well but could be derived from "River confluence of the offering" or "Mouth of the hound"

I think you're over-translating here.  Abercynon is at the mouth of the River Cynon which runs down the Cynon Valley (not surprisingly) and is where it meets the River Taff, which runs down from Merthyr Tydfil and beyond.     The railway from Cardiff via Pontypridd also splits here - one branch to Aberdare (where the River Dare runs into the Cynon) and the other to Merthyr.   

Abercynon was also once known as "Navigation".  Trevithick's railway from Penydarren Ironworks terminated here, giving him access to the Glamorganshire Canal.  So the location has an honourable railway (and industrial revolution) history.
11  All across the Great Western territory / Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them / Re: Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare - old tunnel as cycle path? on: May 05, 2020, 20:39:04
Here's a 2018 press article on the Abernant Tunnel with some quite good photos showing the brickwork appears in good condition. 

And there's a 2011 YouTube video walk-through with very wobbly camera.
12  Sideshoots - associated subjects / Heritage railways, Railtours, buses, canals, steamships and other public transport based attractions / Re: Dartmoor Railway - Okehampton to Meldon Viaduct on: January 06, 2020, 20:46:59
You can find their filed accounts at https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk

Both DR and the parent company have yet to file their 2018 accounts and the 2017 ones show massive trading losses.  It appears that the operations are only kept afloat by funding from the American owner.   In fact, both sets of accounts have auditors' statements saying that they can only certify the businesses as going concerns on the basis of subsidy from the ultimate American parent. 
13  All across the Great Western territory / Fare's Fair / Re: 2020 rail fares now online on: November 30, 2019, 14:24:43
Move to Wales!

As an example, my usual Valley Lines journey to CDF» (Cardiff - next trains) & back goes down from £4.05 to £3.30.  And it might even be a 150 with a state of the art bog instead of a Pacer.



14  Journey by Journey / Shorter journeys in South and West Wales / Re: Long live the 153 - now compliant into the next decade on: November 18, 2019, 20:21:11
153 wouldn't do any good on any of the re-opened lines although one runs intermittently on the Cardiff Queen Street - Cardiff Bay branch.  Journey time 4 minutes.

The Valley lines now have a "likely to be rammed" checking page. 
15  Journey by Journey / Shorter journeys in South and West Wales / Re: Transport for Wales - customer service on: October 29, 2019, 15:24:06
Not my experience.  I travelled from Bromsgrove to New Street and back the other day and bought the tickets using the TfW (Transport for Wales) app while I was waiting on the platform.

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