Llandudno development

[llandudno stea]

Has any one got any news on the re-development of Llandudno station,its been on the cards for over 12 years now,and every date they give just passes in the night.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Has any one got any news on the re-development of Llandudno station,its been on the cards for over 12 years now,and every date they give just passes in the night.

The current "delay" was caused because it was to be done using in part European money. ATW were to manage the project, however there is a clause in the ERDF funding that the investment must be "in perpetuity" something a UK rail franchise clearly cannot guarantee! Its due to take place next year as they have at long last found someone else willing to lead i believe the north wales transport consortia TAITH. This problem has hit the entire Welsh NSIP scheme including Aberystwyth though why it wasn't clocked at the start and why its taken so long to sort i don't know.

 

[The Informer]

It will happen soon!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The current "delay" was caused because it was to be done using in part European money. ATW were to manage the project, however there is a clause in the ERDF funding that the investment must be "in perpetuity" something a UK rail franchise clearly cannot guarantee! Its due to take place next year as they have at long last found someone else willing to lead ..I believe the North Wales transport consortia TAITH. This problem has hit the entire Welsh NSIP scheme including Aberystwyth though why it wasn't clocked at the start and why its taken so long to sort I don't know.

Thank you for this excellent summation of matters. As you say, the Welsh NSIP scheme has been a victim of the lack of "implications understanding" by those who were expected to have been fully aware of these at the time of the first stages, then of the subsequent happenings.

 

[merlodlliw]

Thank you for this excellent summation of matters. As you say, the Welsh NSIP scheme has been a victim of the lack of "implications understanding" by those who were expected to have been fully aware of these at the time of the first stages, then of the subsequent happenings.

Gareth is correct,The local elected A,M for Aberconwy Janet Finch Saunders is playing hell about the entire matter, and quiet right too, a total mess that those on huge salaries who were paid to do this job in the public sector should be brought to book, Almost like WCML with only VT realising what the small print meant.

Bob
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It will happen soon!

Yes thanks for the tip, I realise you can not say more.

Bob

 

[The Informer]

Bob,

If i could spill i would. Lets just say things are progressing and evidence may well be seen in the new year.

Thanks

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If i could spill I would. Lets just say things are progressing and evidence may well be seen in the new year.

Your position is both understood and respected. Let us see what 2013 has to reveal.

 

[Durham Ox]

Has any one got any news on the re-development of Llandudno station,its been on the cards for over 12 years now,and every date they give just passes in the night.

The removal of the disused Platform 4/5 and redundant track will commence in Jan2013 with the construction of the new car par
k in its place following on. This constitutes Phase One with the remainder of the station refurbishment and new build after that.

 

[llandudno stea]

Thanks for all the info,its nice too know that things seem to be on track,here is another problem we have,in May we have the Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza and in the last couple of years we have started to attract specials in to the station,like Ststesman rail but the powers that be are trying to stop any big trains coming in to Llandudno,anyone know why?

 

[asylumxl]

Thanks for all the info,its nice too know that things seem to be on track,here is another problem we have,in May we have the Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza and in the last couple of years we have started to attract specials in to the station,like Ststesman rail but the powers that be are trying to stop any big trains coming in to Llandudno,anyone know why?

From a previous thread I vaguely remember something about fouling the points maybe, but I could be totally wrong.

 

[Gareth Marston]

From a previous thread I vaguely remember something about fouling the points maybe, but I could be totally wrong.

depends on how long the excursion is, in the good old days passengers would just move along and alight on the platform and stock would be shunted out of way. Now they panic about them falling off onto the track and of course have no where to shunt extra long trains.

 

[llandudno stea]

Funny how Newport gets a new station for one golf comp(ryder cup) no hold ups yet Llandudno gets blighted by red tape for over 12 years.

 

[185]

All train operators have an obligation to keep their stations fit-for-purpose and in working order. ATW cannot use the excuse that the EU are witholding funding to avoid spending on the most basic things required to keep the station spic and span, it's a mess at the moment.

 

[Masbroughlad]

All train operators have an obligation to keep their stations fit-for-purpose and in working order. ATW cannot use the excuse that the EU are witholding funding to avoid spending on the most basic things required to keep the station spic and span, it's a mess at the moment.

More than a mess - it is an embarrassing disgrace.

 

[Gareth Marston]

All train operators have an obligation to keep their stations fit-for-purpose and in working order. ATW cannot use the excuse that the EU are witholding funding to avoid spending on the most basic things required to keep the station spic and span, it's a mess at the moment.

Are you sure? no doubt if I look at my copy of the ATW franchise agreement I'll find a sufficiently fuzzy section that can be interpreted in more than one way. The answer to most basic things that don't happen in the ATW area has always been "its not in the franchise agreement"

 

[PHILIPE]

Funny how Newport gets a new station for one golf comp(ryder cup) no hold ups yet Llandudno gets blighted by red tape for over 12 years.

The travelling public wish it hadn't happened if thats what you call modern design. Cafe and toilts on 2/3 in wrong place at the other end to where the trains now stop and an assault course of a footbridge to cross platforms

 

[185]

Are you sure? no doubt if I look at my copy of the ATW franchise agreement I'll find a sufficiently fuzzy section that can be interpreted in more than one way. The answer to most basic things that don't happen in the ATW area has always been "its not in the franchise agreement"

Agree to some extent, but these things are outside of the complex franchise agreements, they are the basics of operating as a train operating company in a safe and proper manner. I'm sure if ATW are looked at closely enough, the ORR would find fault with many things they do.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Agree to some extent, but these things are outside of the complex franchise agreements, they are the basics of operating as a train operating company in a safe and proper manner. I'm sure if ATW are looked at closely enough, the ORR would find fault with many things they do.

Welsh Government manage the franchise. On the Cambrian we had 5 years of punctuality officially knocking around the 60% mark (Dec 03-Dec 08), it only got sorted when ATW got access to the ORCAT flow between BHM New St and INTL. Apart from it being mentioned in the monthly meeting there was no sanction against the operator.
Evidence like that points at there either being a reluctance to penalize the TOC for poor performance or the franchise agreement not giving any levers to do so. Plaid Cymru when in power hinted at the latter. Wales and Borders is a 15 year franchise the experience of them in Mid Wales is not exactly awe inspiring.

 

[llandudno stea]

There seemed to be some work going on at the derelict part of the station today,i pray they have started this development after years of false starts.
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There are sidings still at Llandudno,problem is they have been left to wrot,it would be nice to get a turntable as in Holyhead.

 

[krus_aragon]

There are sidings still at Llandudno,problem is they have been left to wrot,it would be nice to get a turntable as in Holyhead.

There isn't a turntable at Holyhead though: steam trains turn on the triangle at Valley instead.

 

[merlodlliw]

There isn't a turntable at Holyhead though: steam trains turn on the triangle at Valley instead.

what I thought, I am sure that was what he meant.


Bob

 

[llandudno stea]

Having seen the turntable inside the York museum surely it could be achieved at Llandudno with a bit of will power,European money,Welsh assembly,CCBC money,Westminster money as we have a local tory now on the cabinet,a brilliant tourist draw having our own turntable.

 

[merlodlliw]

Having seen the turntable inside the York museum surely it could be achieved at Llandudno with a bit of will power,European money,Welsh assembly,CCBC money,Westminster money as we have a local tory now on the cabinet,a brilliant tourist draw having our own turntable.

The very best of luck, but the two triangles on the North Wales line is all you will get reminded of, I don't foresee a turntable returning to The Junction,let alone the "Never On Sundays" line, well for 40 weeks of the year.

Bob

 

[llandudno stea]

Still waiting to find out who has got the contract to turn Llandudno station into a modern setup.
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All has been revealed now and builders are on site,thank you all for your input.

 

[John55]

Still waiting to find out who has got the contract to turn Llandudno station into a modern setup.
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All has been revealed now and builders are on site,thank you all for your input.

For those gripped by suspense http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/nor...-station-s-5-1m-revamp-starts-55578-32136365/

 

[Gwenllian2001]

Funny how Newport gets a new station for one golf comp(ryder cup) no hold ups yet Llandudno gets blighted by red tape for over 12 years.

Well I hope that the 'design team' who were let loose on Newport are kept well away from Llandudno.

 

[krus_aragon]

Well I hope that the 'design team' who were let loose on Newport are kept well away from Llandudno.

I doubt that the Ryder Cup's due to be held at Maesdu any time soon...

 

[llandudno stea]

Very true Krus aragon and even if Maesdu was capable of holding the Ryder cup,being in North Wales means we would;nt get a look in.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Well I hope that the 'design team' who were let loose on Newport are kept well away from Llandudno.

Definitely a different team on Llandudno!

 

[brianthegiant]

I have a few observations re LLJ, aside from the general poor condition, a few issues struck me:

Why the pointless security fence between the station car park, and the Iceland/Asda car park, which you can walk around but with difficulty for anyone with pushchair/wheelchair etc? Surely both parties would benefit from more trade if the fence weren't there.

May have missed something but not obvious at station entrance what facilities there are on platform ( incl cafe etc).

Bustitution connections to Blaenau/Betws for weekend tourists are poor. Evening bus to Betws leaves 10 mins before train arrives and returning on sunday afternoon arrives LLJ 10 mins after train leaves . Unless there really are more people travelling out of the Blaenau/Betws area at weekends?

Bus stops only show a summary of bus times, they don't show time of arrival or intermediate stops, which is a pain in you're trying to plan onward connections.