South Wales 'Metro' updates

[Bald Rick]

However, how many sporting events does the GN see ?

It sees 60,000 at Arsenal about 25 times a year, with a similar number over at Spurs on the similarly toiletless WA.

I assume you’ve experienced the valleys after an event at the stadiums, and or generally a weekend evening ?

I have, several times. Have you tried Wembley Park after an event at Wembley, or Finsbury Park after an Arsenal game, etc etc?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

It sees 60,000 at Arsenal about 25 times a year, with a similar number over at Spurs on the similarly toiletless WA.




I have, several times. Have you tried Wembley Park after an event at Wembley, or Finsbury Park after an Arsenal game, etc etc?

Or even Finsbury Park (the park as well as the station) - after music events , let alone Alexandria Palace for concerts .......?

 

[positron]

Can we not do the toilet discussion again it's been done to death and isn't changing no matter what we say so it's pointless.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Jul 2023 ==

Back to the actual metro works. I notice the Lloyd George Avenue entrance to the bay station is closed. Presumably that means they're gonna be starting on the actual construction of the second platform?

I notice the new track is further over than the old one would have been. It's going to be a tight squeeze to fit platform 3 in when the time comes.

 

[Western 52]

A landslip is being reported near Troedyrhiw this morning. Not sure how bad this is?

Landslip blocks Welsh railway line

Structural engineers are at the site but disruption is expected throughout the day

www.walesonline.co.uk

 

[Signal_Box]

It sees 60,000 at Arsenal about 25 times a year, with a similar number over at Spurs on the similarly toiletless WA.




I have, several times. Have you tried Wembley Park after an event at Wembley, or Finsbury Park after an Arsenal game, etc etc?

No, football isn’t my think. Valley people are a very different beard to those who attend premier league football however.

 

[MrCheeseGrater]

Trees beginning to be cut down between Coryton and Whitchurch ahead of OLE instillation. Already lots of trees and vegetation cut back around Birchgrove and Heath low level.

 

[Avowedsevern]

No, football isn’t my think. Valley people are a very different beard to those who attend premier league football however.

The fact that people are ignoring this point is hilarious. The 398's will be piss covered within the month.

 

[Signal_Box]

The fact that people are ignoring this point is hilarious. The 398's will be piss covered within the month.

You know it, I know it…but hey ho I’ll stick to my car.

 

[Markdvdman]

Merthyr to Abercynon bus replacement extended to Friday to to a landslip. It is unreal. No 'timetables'. that is pathetic and they are saying minbuses! Come on what are they doing???? At least give timetables commuters will not be happy I can vouch for that!

 

[Llanigraham]

Merthyr to Abercynon bus replacement extended to Friday to to a landslip. It is unreal. No 'timetables'. that is pathetic and they are saying minbuses! Come on what are they doing???? At least give timetables commuters will not be happy I can vouch for that!

That reads as if you think they caused the landslide on purpose just to inconvenience passengers.

 

[Markdvdman]

No I mean they should at least provide timetabled bus replacements. Minibuses too. That is what I am complaining about it is pathetic! the Landslide I agree is not their fault but they keep changing it day by day and suddenly Friday!

 

[anthony263]

Might be less minibuses as Peyton travel been stripped of their rail replacement contracts

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jul 2023 ==

I noticed today while driving the 600 bus to Aberdare that they've wired Abercynon Station and by the looks of it wiring up the merthyr branch as ive seen no wiring on the branch to Aberdare yet

 

[Anonymous10]

Any idea how much work had been done for the metro along the Rhymney line, heard off family several closures have been in place past Bargoed recently and along the line as a whole.

 

[5021]

Any idea how much work had been done for the metro along the Rhymney line, heard off family several closures have been in place past Bargoed recently and along the line as a whole.

Queen Street to Coryton and Rhymney was completely closed for the first weekend of this month (1 and 2 July) so hopefully something significant has "occurred".

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jul 2023 ==

Might be less minibuses as Peyton travel been stripped of their rail replacement contracts

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jul 2023 ==

I noticed today while driving the 600 bus to Aberdare that they've wired Abercynon Station and by the looks of it wiring up the merthyr branch as ive seen no wiring on the branch to Aberdare yet

As I understand TfW's website (which isn't easy to do) and RTT the minibuses are still only running Abercynon - Merthyr Vale to serve Quakers Yard. Otherwise there are NO replacement buses, just rail ticket acceptance on the roughly parallel normal T4 bus route - which from the website map appears not to serve Quaker's Yard which sort of makes sense. Hope they're using some bigger buses than usual....

 

[AdamWW]

As I understand TfW's website (which isn't easy to do) and RTT the minibuses are still only running Abercynon - Merthyr Vale to serve Quakers Yard. Otherwise there are NO replacement buses, just rail ticket acceptance on the roughly parallel normal T4 bus route - which from the website map appears not to serve Quaker's Yard which sort of makes sense. Hope they're using some bigger buses than usual....

The banner regarding this disruption says:
"Road transport is shuttling between Abercynon and Merthyr Tydfil." so despite no mention of them on Journeycheck it's possible they are running replacement buses but as usual aren't being very consistent about their information.

 

[Markdvdman]

They are running them after I asked on Twitter. Not helpful on timings though!!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jul 2023 ==

Updated on tfw journey checker. Merthyr 35 mins past every hour, Abercynon 45 mins past the hour. Supposed to be half hourly another let down

 

[Anonymous10]

They are running them after I asked on Twitter. Not helpful on timings though!!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jul 2023 ==

Updated on tfw journey checker. Merthyr 35 mins past every hour, Abercynon 45 mins past the hour. Supposed to be half hourly another let down

I suppose at least they've given times. Well this time.

 

[5021]

Might be less minibuses as Peyton travel been stripped of their rail replacement contracts

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jul 2023 ==

I noticed today while driving the 600 bus to Aberdare that they've wired Abercynon Station and by the looks of it wiring up the Merthyr branch as I've seen no wiring on the branch to Aberdare yet

Interesting; as of 1 July when I rode both lines on an Explorer ticket there were no wires up at all north of Pontypridd. The masts were complete at Abercynon but on the Merthyr branch many were no more than the basic pole, particularly on the single line sections. Work was more advanced on the Aberdare line overall though even there one pole was lying flat on the ground by the footbridge (which is no doubt the problem!) at the Up end of Penrhiwceiber station and the masts had not yet reached Aberdare itself. Energisation is due on 7th October but particularly after what happened between Llandaf and Radyr a few months back I would think they would have wanted to leave the wiring as late as possible because of the likelihood of theft.

 

[Avowedsevern]

Energisation is due on 7th October but particularly after what happened between Llandaf and Radyr a few months back I would think they would have wanted to leave the wiring as late as possible because of the likelihood of theft.

There’s been an incident of theft with the wiring already?

 

[markymark2000]

No I mean they should at least provide timetabled bus replacements. Minibuses too. That is what I am complaining about it is pathetic! the Landslide I agree is not their fault but they keep changing it day by day and suddenly Friday!

I can't say this did happen but knowing TFW and how their control staff have zero clue when it comes to replacement buses, I would put money on the fact they have taken the current Quakers Yard shuttle minibuses and just asked them to do the full end to end service.

Might be less minibuses as Peyton travel been stripped of their rail replacement contracts

Any proof? They were still on it as of 2 weeks ago.

 

[Markdvdman]

Markymark funny you should say that! A Merthyr Vale shuttle bus from Abercynon was changed to all stops to Merthyr. Of course TFW do not seem to know what is going on as usual!! Will be getting off at Abercynon in a bit to see if they are running like that still.....

 

[Anonymous10]

I can't say this did happen but knowing TFW and how their control staff have zero clue when it comes to replacement buses, I would put money on the fact they have taken the current Quakers Yard shuttle minibuses and just asked them to do the full end to end service.


Any proof? They were still on it as of 2 weeks ago.

Sorry I'm not local only that the line was closed, hence the question.

 

[markymark2000]

Sorry I'm not local only that the line was closed, hence the question.

Sorry, it seems either I or the site found your post to quote instead of the one above. Sorry about that.

 

[Dai Corner]

I can't say this did happen but knowing TFW and how their control staff have zero clue when it comes to replacement buses, I would put money on the fact they have taken the current Quakers Yard shuttle minibuses and just asked them to do the full end to end service

I was at Abercynon this afternoon and saw a full-size coach going to Merthyr as well as a minibus which I presume was the Quakers Yard service.

Three TfW staff or contractors were on the platform giving away Metro branded tubs of ice cream. Two were in the car park supervising the buses.

 

[markymark2000]

I was at Abercynon this afternoon and saw a full-size coach going to Merthyr as well as a minibus which I presume was the Quakers Yard service.

Three TfW staff or contractors were on the platform giving away Metro branded tubs of ice cream. Two were in the car park supervising the buses.

Did the staff with the buses have ARR on their high Vis or Sword? Very, very different sets of staff.

 

[Dai Corner]

Did the staff with the buses have ARR on their high Vis or Sword? Very, very different sets of staff.

I didn't notice I'm afraid. They did look more like security than customer service or marketing people.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Unfortunately, TfW have taken on a wealth of rather desperate Sword agency security. They're particularly prominent at Newport, brought in to make sure people do not try to enter the closed off areas where the roof is being repaired. However, they consider themselves to be more important than they are, and hassle passengers on the daily. The WHSmith clerk, a lovely older lady, was telling me how sick of them she was.

"They're clearly just bored and want to nag someone to pass the time," she said to me. I told her they're probably failed police applicants

 

[Anonymous10]

Unfortunately, TfW have taken on a wealth of rather desperate Sword agency security. They're particularly prominent at Newport, brought in to make sure people do not try to enter the closed off areas where the roof is being repaired. However, they consider themselves to be more important than they are, and hassle passengers on the daily. The WHSmith clerk, a lovely older lady, was telling me how sick of them she was.

"They're clearly just bored and want to nag someone to pass the time," she said to me. I told her they're probably failed police applicants

Failed police and traffic wardens . I've had interactions with them certainly less than helpful.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Failed police and traffic wardens . I've had interactions with them certainly less than helpful.

I'm glad you agree. One of these delightful chaps, after taking some time to get to me due to struggling to fit in the aisle of the 170, approached me when I took a picture of one of TfW's 170205 seats (with a XC seat cover, that's why) sternly told me I was not allowed to take photos on board a train. I'm sure this nonsense made him feel very important, I'm sure.

 

[markymark2000]

Unfortunately, TfW have taken on a wealth of rather desperate Sword agency security. They're particularly prominent at Newport, brought in to make sure people do not try to enter the closed off areas where the roof is being repaired. However, they consider themselves to be more important than they are, and hassle passengers on the daily. The WHSmith clerk, a lovely older lady, was telling me how sick of them she was.

"They're clearly just bored and want to nag someone to pass the time," she said to me. I told her they're probably failed police applicants

They are prominent all up the valley, wannabe bus coordinators. They are on every station up the Rhonnda and spend their day winding up bus drivers telling them to stop 10 metres forward or back even if that means parking on a pedestrian crossing or park closer to a certain point so that they don't have to walk as far. No care for where the actual bus stop is.

TFW doesn't want proper bus coordinators who know bus times and are trained to sort buses, they ask for Sword instead.