Plaid vote for Wales Rail

[merlodlliw]

It as just been announced on BBC Wales news, Plaid A.Ms have ganged up against Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones and voted through an amendment that the WAGAIR subsidy of several £Ms be withdrawn and spent on rail instead. The vote was held at Aberystwyth, during Plaids conference.

The Minister is reported as, not happy.

In my opinion common sense at last.

 

[Greenback]

Great news!

 

[Gareth Marston]

It was a non binding resolution passed from the floor not AM's to my understanding.

 

[merlodlliw]

It was a non binding resolution passed from the floor not AM's to my understanding.

Some A.Ms were involved, anyhow its a start to sense, other areas in Wales
are just as important. Here is the BBC take on it

Earlier, Plaid delegates voted to scrap the subsidy that supports the air link between north and south Wales and put the money saved into improving rail links instead.
The vote came during a debate on sustainable transport and was put forward by the party's National Executive and supported by the party's former chair, John Dixon.

The Welsh Assembly Government subsidy for the air service between Cardiff and Anglesey is believed to be £800,000 per year, the service has been dubbed "Ieuan Air" by its critics since it is routinely used by the Plaid leader, who is also the AM for Ynys Mon.

Although passed by conference the vote is not binding on the party's ministers or Welsh assembly group, who may choose to ignore the view of grassroots members. ends

It is interesting the true costing will not be given to anyone by the Minister,even his A.Ms
he ignores grass roots at his peril.

 

[krus_aragon]

I'd just noticed this myself.

Here's BBC coverage in Welsh, can't find any BBC coverage in English yet.

Edit: here we are

 

[57315]

Apparently the second WAG express service is in the system
07xx HHD -CDF
1817 CDF -HHD

 

[fairlie]

That's very good news. Here's hoping it's translated into policy!

 

[merlodlliw]

Apparently the second WAG express service is in the system
07xx HHD -CDF
1817 CDF -HHD

And the source of your information is?

 

[The Planner]

Its had a ghost path for a while, didnt know it had been offered. Will take a look on Monday if I remember.

 

[krus_aragon]

Apparently the second WAG express service is in the system
07xx HHD -CDF
1817 CDF -HHD

Wha??? I thought the second service was to run in the opposite direction to the current one (northbound in the morning), not just the same a few hours later. :/

 

[anthony263]

I thought the 2nd wag express service they planned was from Cardiff to Holyhead in the morning & back from Holyhead in the evening

 

[merlodlliw]

A lot of speculation came from the Arriva house magazine early this year,on letters sent out by the Minister to local Politicians, the second comming will be via Wrexham only , if the line is ever redoubled.

To run another so called Premier business semi fast two hours after Gerald to arrive in Cardiff at noon would be daft.

If anything ever happens, South/North would come first, but what about the impending cuts from October, local, Politicians are still awaiting an answer on the security of Gerald Wag Ex

 

[brianthegiant]

I certainly didnt realise the WAG is subsidising air travel, that sounds very hard to justify given that air already has a huge subsidy due to lack of any tax on the fuel. Now this out in the open there will be widespread opposition to it, especially in view of growing awareness re climate change / energy security. I would have thought that spending the same money on rail investment would a stronger cost-benefit ratio

 

[The Planner]

Wha??? I thought the second service was to run in the opposite direction to the current one (northbound in the morning), not just the same a few hours later. :/

0750 Holyhead, into Cardiff 1224 via Crewe and 1817 Cardiff, into Holyhead 2235 via Crewe lurking in the system....

 

[Gareth Marston]

0750 Holyhead, into Cardiff 1224 via Crewe and 1817 Cardiff, into Holyhead 2235 via Crewe lurking in the system....

With times at Shrewsbury of c 1030 southbound and c2010 northbound no connections with Cambrian either.

 

[merlodlliw]

0750 Holyhead, into Cardiff 1224 via Crewe and 1817 Cardiff, into Holyhead 2235 via Crewe lurking in the system....

If this is so,Planner what are the stops Up & Down, out of interest. It can not be confidential as Ghost stop start times have been given.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

With times at Shrewsbury of c 1030 southbound and c2010 northbound no connections with Cambrian either.

Lets see what Planner knows of the stops.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I certainly didnt realise the WAG is subsidising air travel, that sounds very hard to justify given that air already has a huge subsidy due to lack of any tax on the fuel. Now this out in the open there will be widespread opposition to it, especially in view of growing awareness re climate change / energy security. I would have thought that spending the same money on rail investment would a stronger cost-benefit ratio

This is common knowledge for over two years WAG have subd air travel between Mona and rhose

 

[57315]

WNXX states A Hereford stop on WAG2 in each direction.

 

[The Planner]

There are Hereford stops yes, I'll pull the schedules up tomorrow.

 

[tbtc]

WNXX states A Hereford stop on WAG2 in each direction.

I'm shocked at the WAG allowing English people onto their trains

 

[merlodlliw]

I'm shocked at the WAG allowing English people onto their trains

Chester/Crewe/Salop. Welsh Managed Stations already Plus Hereford.

On a serious note is this a loco hauled ghost?

 

[The Planner]

The following stopping patterns are sat in the system, doesnt mean it will happen.....

Bangor, Llandudno Jn, Chester, Crewe, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Newport. Same in the reverse direction.

 

[merlodlliw]

The following stopping patterns are sat in the system, doesnt mean it will happen.....

Bangor, Llandudno Jn, Chester, Crewe, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Newport. Same in the reverse direction.

No stops between Junction & Chester, this misses two Counties, I don't think missing Rhyl would be excepted
agree it wont happen. Anyhow the Minister as stated all future trains Hdd to CDF will go via Wrexham in place of Crewe.

But thanks for the info

 

[The Planner]

I didnt say it wouldnt happen either ! If a 57 turns up at 0750 at Holyhead on December 13th you'll know.

 

[merlodlliw]

I didnt say it wouldnt happen either ! If a 57 turns up at 0750 at Holyhead on December 13th you'll know.

Bet you a W/S mug, it wont.

 

[The Planner]

No thanks, I'll probably lose it if I dont use it...

 

[Gareth Marston]

Bet you a W/S mug, it wont.

You must a shed full of them merlodlliw!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The following stopping patterns are sat in the system, doesnt mean it will happen.....

Bangor, Llandudno Jn, Chester, Crewe, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Newport. Same in the reverse direction.

probs add Rhyl and Flint to that

 

[tbtc]

No stops between Junction & Chester, this misses two Counties, I don't think missing Rhyl would be excepted
agree it wont happen

Am sure these are just provisional - there's no way they'd omit Cwmbran, which is bigger than anywhere in North Wales and clearly has a much better need of trains to Cardiff.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Am sure these are just provisional - there's no way they'd omit Cwmbran, which is bigger than anywhere in North Wales and clearly has a much better need of trains to Cardiff.

I think its more about linking North and South Wales than providing an extra train for stations in SE Wales

 

[The Planner]

probs add Rhyl and Flint to that

Not in the schedules....