Recent content by welshdragon

I'd love it to be a new junction signal, but this is a replacement (and repositioning) of the signal protecting the level crossing a few hundred yards further along the down main. Totally agree with the comments about the inadequacy of Pontyclun station for parking etc. - and this for what...

Hi How about Ton Pentre? You can see the train up at Treherbert making its way up or down, with intermediate stops at Ynyswen and Treorchy too. Also, Cathays - you can see the train coming on to the straight up by the Tal Y Bont halls of residence from Llandaff. --- old post above --- --- new...

Many interesting comments here about the future of the suburban lines that radiate out of Cardiff (coming from the Rhondda I don't refer to the Cardiff Valleys - the Valleys and Cardiff and geogaphically and cuturally very different). What it needed here is forward thinking. Not something...

As Michael Y pointed out, the correct spelling is Conwy, and not Conway, which as an anglicisation of the Welsh word. Bear in mind that the Welsh language has been spoken in the Britsh Isles for far longer than English - so Conwy has been around far longer than Conway. See also Llanelli...

I don't expect to see any electrification here any time soon, even in my lifetime. The Pacers out of Cardiff will continue for many years to come (worst luck). One point of note - may people use the train in the valleys as many would use a bus service - taking a trip one, two or three stops...

Ystrad Rhondda station was renamed Ton Pentre in 1987, with a new Ystrad Rhondda station opened a mile or so further south, together with the cretation of a passing loop allowing for the introduction of a 30-minute interval service between Treherbert and Cardiff. Abercynon North station on the...

I totally accept that not all SE trains are new, but I am sure there are many outside of the South East that would agree that investment outside of the SE would be welcome - and not just in S Wales as I mentioned previously (overcrowding is an issue here too, as well as Bristol, Birmingham...

tbtc is right in that there was a West Wales - Waterloo return that ran via Bristol, Bath, Westbury, Salisbury, Andover, Basingstoke, Clapham Junc (to set down only Salisbury - Waterloo_ and return. Seemed to recall it running through Cardiff around 13.00 on it way up. The overnight diagram...

I think that the main issue for rail users outside of SE England is that we see so much investment there - Crossrail being the clearest example. The vast bill for this project can be found, but not far smaller sums for a number of initiatives (new stock, line doubling, electrification, upgrades...

Must agree with you - on all counts! From my (extensive) experience of FGW HST services, I really don't see an issue. The trains have had a good makeover, the only issue for me is the height of the seats on 2nd class (sorry - standard!) which means that you now feel hemmed in rather than...

York - Tenby (summer Saturday up until late 80s) Tenby - York (summer Saturday up until late 80s) To be pedantic for a moment, the summer Saturday London services ran to Tenby rather than Pembroke Dock as at present Cardiff Central - Plymouth Plymouth - Cardiff Central Swansea -...

Sugar Loaf - on the Heart of Wales line - surely one of the best journeys in the world (apart from the rolling stock in use on most days!). The only access there is a path - no road for some miles.