Recent content by Markdvdman

I know a lady that works in Pullmans and she said the cost of replacement parts for the 15x series especially 150s is high so it cannot go on forever sadly!

On the 7:23am from Swansea to Cardiff (leaves Llanelli at 6:51am) - 3 of the last 4 on a Monday have been a 150. This weeks was bad as the 5 car London train failed just leaving Swansea (temporary) and they all ran to the 150. Left 2 mins late and got into Cardiff too late for me to catch the...

398019 is on Merthyr platform currently. Only thing I am noticing is at peak times, they are interfering with timetabled services IF the timetabled service is slightly delayed. However, they have no choice really have to be tested and training needs going on

The only issue with the franchising is it will drag on as it always does and commuters will suffer the longer it goes on. In Wales at least it is allegedly South West Wales first next year. However, where a lot of the old fleet suffer is in lack of provision for USB sockets. However, you are...

I noticed at least in Merthyr Tydfil how old the buses Stagecoach are using are! It is a travesty, plus the fares are too high and the train is cheaper. Once upon a time buses were ALWAYS cheaper than the train!

Burnham is very pro net zero, and the cost to this country is alarming! Address that and cost of living will come down it is a simple policy - like decarbonisation and without carbon there can not be life! It is insane!

Pay as you go has helped but it is not ALL fares - only specific routes. Also, you are bound by 2.5hr time limits, cannot break a stop and some people are frightened of ths ues of it I have spoken to them and they do not trust it! I have used it and can be great. Example Merthyr to Caldicot...

I carry a 45W charger for my S23 Ultra, but also carry a few powerbanks. It adds wait but on some 231s, people have put vhewing gum in USB A ports! The 197s are sometimes too loose, and the 150s sometimes just do not work (understandably). So I like to cover all bases :)

The seats look very narrow. They are not designed for comfort but for speed. I despise this ideology

They managed to fit 4 seats on pacers remember NARROW aisles. That is how I see the 398s! The 756s have lovely roomy ailes! Should have gone for 756s all the way all due to this ideological on street running when traffic is chaos in Cardiff at the best of times!

Wikipedia can be wrong it has been proven to be many times although I do like it! No way is it 7cm! I saw the driver passing last week and he nearly filled the front width and no he was not a bodybuilder or Big Bert!

I have walked the old Mynydd Mawr railway Cross Hands to Llanelli a few times. Going via Tumble it is 15 miles, or 32k steps at my height to the Llanelli Railway Station. Currently cannot be done as there is a landslide it is route 47. What is interesting is the bridges the first two from...

I recall they said they were going to go live in 2023 and bring rail fares down! Notice they no longer mention that - they should be forced on that or apologise the rail users for fantasy truths! Ideology as usual! Looks like 4 years later for full usage. I am not looking forward to these...

The problem is stations like Troedyrhiw have no way to buy tickets other thsn payg. Until that changes.....

Well speaking to fellow passengers this am about the return ooff 150s. They are not happy. Understandable this is dying stock. It is dreadful to go back years. There will be many more cancellations for sure.