Recent content by Paul Dancey

I recently used the last available space in the Cogan car park to catch a train straight through to Cathays. I've often wondered whether that patch of wasteland is where the entrance to the tunnel to Ferry rd in Cardiff was, as it's been never been used for anything all the time I've lived in...

Caught a glimpse of 756102 moving around the depot at Canton yesterday evening when my train from Penarth was waiting for a platform at Central. Not the best of photos as it was taken with my phone through the window into the sun.

Which still leaves me asking what's the point of spending loads of money on a a second platform. Will it mean trains from Cardiff drop passengers off on the existing platform and then reverse onto the new platform to pickup passengers traveling back to Cardiff? or will services alternate between...

Just to mention that evidence of the original second platform at Dingle still exists, but is heavily overgrown and is probobaly crumbling to pieces underneath. The outline of the original building on platform one, which was demolished some years ago, is still in evidence. So I would have thought...

I don't know the bus situation elsewhere is South Wales, but Cardiff bus have certainly had staffing issues due to staff self-isolation and rising sickness levels and adopted a Saturday timetable for many of their weekday services on Monday 10th January, which was due to end today.

Since their introduction I've noticed the journey up the Penarth branch seems to vary considerably. Some units accelerate nicely and take it in their stride, and even accelerate well when pulling away from Dingle road. Others seem to struggle particularly when pulling away from Dingle road...

I believe these proposals first appeared in the original CVL Electrification plans and were modified again in Jan 2020. See https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/south-wales-metro-updates.117763/post-4436008

Personally I'd love to see this extension happen. But aside from overcoming previous objections, there is the issue of a pinch point just beyond the current buffers due to a "rear extension" on a property, before the line of the original track bed can be regained. It may be possible to "steal" a...

I've often wondered if you could squeeze in a new station adjacent to River View (Rd) on the Penarth line, immediately after it diverges from the Barry line and before it goes under the road bridge. That would give you direct street access to Pont Y Werin bridge and Penarth Marina. But it might...

Had my first train journey since the start of the pandemic yesterday. An out and return from Penarth to Barry. Three 150s, one of which had been refurbed and was very smart and a 769. The final leg from cardiff to Penarth, was the 769 (002). Had a nice open feel inside, and seemed quieter than...

When I look back, I'm amazed that in the late 1970's, when I changed jobs, I was able to ship my motorbike by train from Bangor, North Wales, to Bristol Temple Meads. Especially as I believe that involved a change at Crewe. If I remember correctly there was a limit on the amount of fuel allowed...

A while back I seem to remember there was a proposal to jack up the clock tower and move it forward into central square. But I could never understand how that was going to make the difference, unless you can then demolish part of the existing building at track level, or somehow open it up below...

769002 at Penarth this afternoon. First time I've seen or heard one in the flesh. So much nicer sounding than the sprinters and pacers we usually get. Looking forward to catching one when they come into service.

I believe most if not all of the Transport for Wales fleet have Wifi, including the Pacers currently used on this route. I guess it all depends on what you call a short hop, Rhymney to Cardiff is around an hour and end to end on the line it's around an hour and a half. Even on my short hop from...

Absolutely agree, it's hard to see any logic to double tracking any of the line if it continues to be four trains per hour max, unless it's in preparation for extending the line beyond the present terminus presumably as a single track. A two platform terminus would be confusing for passengers...