Tbf Vale will have metro branded trains and 4tph to Penarth and Barry. Ebbw is getting 2tph and there's an aspiration to run another 2 to Abertillery. Maesteg only gets 1 (there's long term plans for 2) so it's the Maesteg - Cheltenham that really gets the short straw.
And it's normal for them to be at junctions so they can close one route to enable works on the track, while keeping the other route open for electric trains.
I thought that too. Maybe the current service is not reliable enough for it to be deemed worth showing!
Would that be because they are on the Cheltenham route and therefore not on a Metro line as such?
The file for the map is dated May 2021 so I guess they just haven’t updated it yet!
Yeah exactly why I don't think it will be. Perhaps if they ever extend it and/or get it to 4tph then they will. The map above is more an aspirational boundary.
It really irks me to see those masts in such a position that it can never be double tracked properly.
Epping to Ongar was peak times only before it closed
Agree, however until Network Rail install a passing loop somewhere then it's not going to happen.
I noticed earlier this year that at Birchgrove the cable trunking is on posts planted in the middle of where a second track would go. Cannot even get access down the line with a van now. I cannot fathom the logic (possibly none).
Agree on both counts. Would it be so much more difficult to place them somewhere which could allow for future doubling?
I think that the case for funding would be better if the passengers actually paid for their tickets.
Yes, when we went on a rover as far as Maesteg I did feel I would not be exposing my Granddaugher to that kind of experience again. Penarth is a far nicer place !.
Why? Because Maesteg is poor? Not a snarky question.
The improvement is to extend the Newport-Crosskeys service to Ebbw Vale. Few passengers travelled to/from Newport, let alone bought tickets. Maybe there's a big untapped market further up the valley though?
There was quite a lot of bad behaviour, bad language and open discussion of fare dodging. Did not expect that so far from Croydon !.
Let's just say the ticket machines at Garth, Sarn and Wildmill have apparently been away for repairs for some time now. Last time I was in Maesteg it appeared to be a cash only town.
Maesteg is a pretty sad place. You can see from its wonderful Market Hall and the empty redundant chapels how amazing it used to be. Sadly, no more.
Possibly a candidate for a frequent service to connect it with the action (Cardiff) ?.
A service that stops short of the two busiest stations on the route (Newbridge and Ebbw Vale Town) and was frequently cancelled anyway is hardly going to see lots of patrons. It'll be different once it's had a fair trial.
Many of the guards dread the Maesteg runs during school finishing times as the local students have become well known for causing absolute havoc on the train, often the BTP make an appearance
Newbridge is within the Newport built-up area and supports a frequent bus service to the city, Ebbw Vale isn't and doesn't so it will be interesting to see what happens. I think the service will be most useful for passengers changing at Newport for destinations further east and north. TfW must avoid making it the first one to be cancelled every time they're short of trains or crew though.
