Wales might be freezing its rail fares, but for some parts of the Network it has temporarily retained old rolling stock too.

The class 398 tram-trains still not in use in the Cardiff area

A number of its new class 197 DMUs have never entered service, and a few others have been out of service for months because they have faults that are proving difficult to fix due to lack of spare parts.  (and if can't get parts already, what will it be like in 30 years)

So in meantime, the aging class 150s, some class 153s (38-40 year old) and the class 158s and mk4 carriages (34-37 year old) continue in service.

From my occasional travels in South Wales it is also clear their train orders made 8 years ago (and which business case would have been formulated nearer 10 years ago), have rather too many 2car units which get crowded on certain services and desperately need lengthening to cope with current (and growing) passenger numbers

Overall good they are freezing fares, but TfW need a plan to handle the additional passengers their new trains (where they have been introduced) seem to be carrying.

14:05 Frome to Swindon due 14:58
15:44 Swindon to Frome due 16:38
16:43 Frome to Swindon due 17:34
17:44 Swindon to Salisbury due 18:55

Facilities on the 17:44 Swindon to Salisbury due 18:55.
Toilet facilities are not available. Disabled toilet facilities are not available.
This is due to a fault on this train.

We found out we'd bought fake flights at check-in

The fire brigade have been responding to a fire at a train depot near London Paddington.

To allow the fire brigade to deal with the incident, power to the overhead electric wires which powers electric trains was switched off.

As a result, major disruption has occurred on this route this morning.

However, the fire has now been safely extinguished, and we are slowly starting to reintroduce the train service. However, delays and short notice cancellations should be expected as continue to restore the train service.

Taking the Bus or Tram in Florence? Please Don't Make These Mistakes.

Florence's public transport is run by Autolinee Toscane (AT). Buses and trams. One company, one system.

It's cheap, it works, and it can save you hours of walking in the heat. But every week, tourists get fined, miss their stop, or waste money — because nobody explained the rules before they got on.

I'm Italian. I've watched people argue with inspectors, buy the wrong ticket, and stand at bus stops without signaling — wondering why the bus drove past them.

Only in this day and age could a brewer call itself a "Beverage Company"   

Memorial service remembers Great Heck train disaster 25 years on


Ten men died and 82 people were injured at Great Heck, near Selby, on 28 February 2001

A memorial service has been held to remember the 10 people who died in the Great Heck rail disaster 25 years ago.

The service at Selby Abbey was held to mark the anniversary of the crash in which 10 men died – including the two train drivers – and 82 people were injured.

Tony Thompson, a retired British Transport Police officer, who attended the disaster said it was "really important" to remember those who were killed and were affected. "More than 1,000 people – the fire, the police, ambulance, the railway, the hospitals – were involved in the response. Some people from an emergency response perspective still suffer from some of the effects of what they dealt with on that day," he said.

In the early hours of the morning on 28 February 2001, a Land Rover towing a trailer veered off the M62 and landed on the tracks of the East Coast Mainline near the village of Great Heck.

A southbound passenger train hit the vehicle and derailed, before it was then struck by a freight train travelling on the northbound line at a combined speed of 142 mph (228 km/h).

Gary Hart, the driver of the Land Rover who had fallen asleep at the wheel, was later convicted of 10 counts of causing death by dangerous driving and served 30 months of a five-year jail term.

Steve Dunn was on the footplate of the freight train, which was carrying 1,000 tonnes of coal. His widow Mary said the service had extra resonance for her as his funeral was also held in Selby Abbey. "I was probably sitting today where I was sat for his funeral. But I think the service was lovely, it was done really nicely, really tasteful, and it gave people time to just stop and think a bit," she said.

Judith Cairncross, sister of Great North Eastern Railway senior conductor Raymond Robson, said the service "eased the stress of the last 25 years".

"It's been a lovely day and a lovely service and it helps with the memories of Raymond – not of that horrible day, because it was atrocious - but life going forward," she said.

During the service members of the bereaved families were invited to light a candle in their memory, which they were then given to take home.

Joanne Weddle-Wheatley was engaged to passenger train driver John Weddle at the time of the crash. She said: "It makes it purposeful that we can be together, laying wreaths and sounding horns, it's quite poignant to commemorate the two drivers who were lost. Over the 25 years it has been difficult at times but you have to live."

Meanwhile rail workers, survivors and families gathered at Newcastle Central station.

Survivor Thomas Kaplanis was working in first class as a waiter on the day of the crash and his spine was broken in two places. He said: "It was horrific because when the train was derailed. It crashed and obviously I came out of the train but I didn't know whether I was dead or alive to be honest. It was an horrific experience."

Train fares in Wales to be frozen for a year



Rail fares will be frozen for the next 12 months on Transport for Wales services from St David's Day, in a decision agreed by the Welsh government.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said keeping fares at the current level would provide "certainty to passengers at a time when many are struggling with the cost of living".

While some rail passengers said they welcomed decision, Plaid Cymru said "decades of underfunding of rail funding" needed undoing.

Reform said Labour had failed while in power in Cardiff Bay despite having a "generation to establish a functioning transport network".

The move comes after the UK government announced rail fares in England would be frozen for the first time in 30 years.

Rail passengers in Bangor, Gwynedd, on Saturday morning welcomed the decision.

"At least it's not going up," said Edward Eggers. "I've got a railcard, as long as it stays at this price, I'm decently happy with it. I would always advocate for it being lower but I think the transport system just needs the money, so I'll pay what I need to."

Joshua Cooper said rail fares could be "quite expensive" with a return ticket between Cardiff and London costing in excess of £100 on Saturday. "When you compare car and train it doesn't look worth it to go by train," he said. "Many friends and family members talk about it being so expensive at the moment."

The fare freeze from 1 March will apply to advance single tickets, return tickets and the "tap in, tap out pay-as-you-go" service, the Welsh government said.

The system is currently used in south Wales and will be extended to other parts of the network in the near future.

"More people are choosing to travel by train in Wales, services are growing faster and they are more reliable," Morgan said, adding that the fare freeze would make train travel "more attractive and cheaper".

Plaid Cymru said: "To deliver real, tangible change in our rail network - we must begin the process of undoing decades of underfunding of rail funding by Westminster government and the devolution of rail infrastructure - something Labour have failed to demand."

Reform UK Wales said Labour had had a "generation to establish a functioning transport network in Wales" but had "failed to do that and now they're rightly being punished".

The Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats and Green Party have been asked to comment.