possible Felindre / Swansea Parkway station?

[Caaardiff]

mods note - split from here

https://assets.publishing.service.g...WALES_PARKWAY_STATION_SCOPING_STUDY_FINAL.pdf

https://swalesmetroprof.blog/2019/02/05/a-swansea-bay-parkway-but-where-and-why/

Initial 2018 report into the use of SDL and Swansea Parkway and another article in response detailing some concerns and better suggestions. A fair bit of reading!

The location of the proposed Felindre station makes sense in it's close link to the M4 and potential for parking. I can't see any suggestion of new parking replacing the current P&R nearby, but it does touch on the potential usage.

TfW will be increasing their Cardiff - Swansea all stops service to hourly in the near future and some clever planning and thinking is needed to make this work if it goes ahead. It seems long term the aspiration for the Swansea Metro is almost a circular link, linking Llanelli, North Swansea, Neath and Port talbot into Swansea. For now I think the best way forward is:

Swansea
- Current Manchester - Milford Haven remains to call at Swansea (2 hourly)
- Cardiff - Swansea all stops (Hourly) If necessary some of these extend to Llanelli to plug some gaps in reduction in services between Swansea & Llanelli.
- Swansea - Pembroke Dock (2 hourly)

SDL
- Cardiff - Carmarthen services that connect from Mk4 Manchester - Cardiff services run via SDL (2 hourly)
- Cardiff - Fishguard Harbour - Increase of services to/from Fishguard.
Currently there are limited trains to/from Fishguard. Some start Cardiff, some Swansea, some Carmarthen. Use these as "gap fillers" with Cardiff - Fishguard seeing 3-4 services a day that run at the hourly gaps with GU aren't running. Other Fishguard services start Swansea to plug a few gaps where there may be a reduction in Swansea - Llanelli trains.
- The 1 Manchester - Tenby train per day.

Long term I would like to see improvements on link to Tenby/Pembroke Dock with an hourly service subject to improvements to the line. IF this happens then an hourly Cardiff - Tenby (or Pembroke Dock if possible) service to be created and Fishguard services to all move to Swansea.
People from Swansea, Neath & Gowerton connecting to/from Mk4 services at Cardiff will need to either use the TfW stopping service or GWR. Either way the current plan is to change anyway.

Personally for a Swansea "Metro" a new station in the Morriston area and improvements to Llansamlet would be more beneficial, but if they are really looking to get people out of cars then Swansea Parkway could well work.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Dec 2022 ==

I think you need to go back there for a reality check, its admittedly not a Ribblehead but at least that would have tourist appeal, this is an isolated derelict ex steelworks with a couple of industrial units built on it. The station would presumably have to go on the site of the current wood yard.
Its the wrong side of the M4 for any local suburban traffic and a shuttle to Port Talbot Parkway would be totally pointless.
The attached satellite view from Google Maps shows just how in the middle of nowhere it really is.

One thing your google image doesn't show is to the bottom right, just off that photo, is Llangyfelach, Morriston, the DVLA which is a huge employer and a huge hospital nearby. It's right next to the M4 and a main road into Swansea. It would have to have a good bus link to make it work, but it's hardly on top of a hill miles from civilisation as you make out.

 

[popeter45]

https://assets.publishing.service.g...WALES_PARKWAY_STATION_SCOPING_STUDY_FINAL.pdf

https://swalesmetroprof.blog/2019/02/05/a-swansea-bay-parkway-but-where-and-why/

Initial 2018 report into the use of SDL and Swansea Parkway and another article in response detailing some concerns and better suggestions. A fair bit of reading!

The location of the proposed Felindre station makes sense in it's close link to the M4 and potential for parking. I can't see any suggestion of new parking replacing the current P&R nearby, but it does touch on the potential usage.

TfW will be increasing their Cardiff - Swansea all stops service to hourly in the near future and some clever planning and thinking is needed to make this work if it goes ahead. It seems long term the aspiration for the Swansea Metro is almost a circular link, linking Llanelli, North Swansea, Neath and Port talbot into Swansea. For now I think the best way forward is:

Swansea
- Current Manchester - Milford Haven remains to call at Swansea (2 hourly)
- Cardiff - Swansea all stops (Hourly) If necessary some of these extend to Llanelli to plug some gaps in reduction in services between Swansea & Llanelli.
- Swansea - Pembroke Dock (2 hourly)

SDL
- Cardiff - Carmarthen services that connect from Mk4 Manchester - Cardiff services run via SDL (2 hourly)
- Cardiff - Fishguard Harbour - Increase of services to/from Fishguard.
Currently there are limited trains to/from Fishguard. Some start Cardiff, some Swansea, some Carmarthen. Use these as "gap fillers" with Cardiff - Fishguard seeing 3-4 services a day that run at the hourly gaps with GU aren't running. Other Fishguard services start Swansea to plug a few gaps where there may be a reduction in Swansea - Llanelli trains.
- The 1 Manchester - Tenby train per day.

Long term I would like to see improvements on link to Tenby/Pembroke Dock with an hourly service subject to improvements to the line. IF this happens then an hourly Cardiff - Tenby (or Pembroke Dock if possible) service to be created and Fishguard services to all move to Swansea.
People from Swansea, Neath & Gowerton connecting to/from Mk4 services at Cardiff will need to either use the TfW stopping service or GWR. Either way the current plan is to change anyway.

Personally for a Swansea "Metro" a new station in the Morriston area and improvements to Llansamlet would be more beneficial, but if they are really looking to get people out of cars then Swansea Parkway could well work.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Dec 2022 ==


One thing your google image doesn't show is to the bottom right, just off that photo, is Llangyfelach, Morriston, the DVLA which is a huge employer and a huge hospital nearby. It's right next to the M4 and a main road into Swansea. It would have to have a good bus link to make it work, but it's hardly on top of a hill miles from civilisation as you make out.

zero point in the premier mk4 service to divert around swansea, why go to such lengths to avoid such a population center for the main Welsh service
with your proposal might as well just close swansea all together as every aspect seems to be avoid swansea at all costs

 

[Caaardiff]

zero point in the premier mk4 service to divert around swansea, why go to such lengths to avoid such a population center for the main Welsh service
with your proposal might as well just close swansea all together as every aspect seems to be avoid swansea at all costs

That wasn't my suggestion. Mk4 services terminate at Cardiff. I suggested those services that connect with Mk4 services running Cardiff - Carmarthen.

 

[Noddy]

The attached satellite view from Google Maps shows just how in the middle of nowhere it really is.

That is a completely disingenuous crop. Not only is it close to J46, the other side of which are the north-western suburbs of Swansea, junctions 45 (Swansea N(E) suburbs and Pontardawe), J47 (Gorseinon) are only short hops down the motorway and Morriston Hospital is 6 minutes drive. So while the station itself might be isolated (currently), there are decent urban populations and workplaces within a 20-30min drive. I’d also point out that given this location, if built, it may rather quickly find development going on around it in the near future…

 

[Coolzac]

That is a completely disingenuous crop. Not only is it close to J46, the other side of which are the north-western suburbs of Swansea, junctions 45 (Swansea N(E) suburbs and Pontardawe), J47 (Gorseinon) are only short hops down the motorway and Morriston Hospital is 6 minutes drive. So while the station itself might be isolated (currently), there are decent urban populations and workplaces within a 20-30min drive. I’d also point out that given this location, if built, it may rather quickly find development going on around it in the near future…

I agree, and it would make sense for development. I'm sure developments would prove popular with the M4, new rail link, maybe a fast bus service into Swansea centre all on the doorstep.

 

[paul1609]

That is a completely disingenuous crop. Not only is it close to J46, the other side of which are the north-western suburbs of Swansea, junctions 45 (Swansea N(E) suburbs and Pontardawe), J47 (Gorseinon) are only short hops down the motorway and Morriston Hospital is 6 minutes drive. So while the station itself might be isolated (currently), there are decent urban populations and workplaces within a 20-30min drive. I’d also point out that given this location, if built, it may rather quickly find development going on around it in the near future…

The main reason that the DVLA doesnt appear in my crop is that its 1.9 miles away from the existing car park so about 2.6 miles from the proposed parkway station by comparison its only 3.9 miles away from Swansea station and the city centre. Morison Hospital is in another direction but similar distance its 5.4 miles from Swansea.
I leave the debate to let others decide its viability in the circumstances.

 

[Noddy]

The main reason that the DVLA doesnt appear in my crop is that its 1.9 miles away from the existing car park so about 2.6 miles from the proposed parkway station by comparison its only 3.9 miles away from Swansea station and the city centre. Morison Hospital is in another direction but similar distance its 5.4 miles from Swansea.
I leave the debate to let others decide its viability in the circumstances.

Do you even know where Morriston Hospital is? It's 2.1 miles from the proposed station site off Bryntywod (according to Google route planner), not anywhere near 5 miles. The DVLA is 1.6 miles (not 2.6 miles) from the station site, less than half the distance from Swansea station.

Here is a route planner map showing what is broadly achievable within a 20 min drive (at roughly 7am):

and here is the same for Swansea station:

 

[paul1609]

Indeed but as Ive said in my post DVLA is 1.9 miles away from the existing park and ride car park and the another approx.0.6 miles to the proposed platforms past the DPD warehouse.
Morriston Hospital is around the same distance but only 5.4 miles from Swansea. In both these cases by far the majority of the traffic comes either from Swansea or the M4.
Your within 20 mins diagram looks impressive until you realise that the area is mostly fields see os map attached.

 

[Noddy]

Indeed but as Ive said in my post DVLA is 1.9 miles away from the existing park and ride car park and the another approx.0.6 miles to the proposed platforms past the DPD warehouse.
Morriston Hospital is around the same distance but only 5.4 miles from Swansea. In both these cases by far the majority of the traffic comes either from Swansea or the M4.
Your within 20 mins diagram looks impressive until you realise that the area is mostly fields see os map attached.

Once again you haven’t centred your map correctly-the proposed location is on the east side of Bryntywod road. You’ve centred your map 1km further west.

I don’t doubt there are a lot of fields around the site (especially to the north), as I regularly work in the area. It’s a Parkway Station very close to a motorway junction, which in tern is close to a number of other motorway junctions. There is a large amount of settlement nearby (including most of the northern half of Swansea itself) as the 20 minute polygon shows, which goes out even as far as Neath and the edge of Llanelli.

 

[anthony263]

Gorseinon is very close too plus our adventure travel 46 bus from Gorseinon to Morriston could have its route modified to serve the station.

I think a hourly/half hourly tfw service shuttle between Llanelli and port talbot parkway with some new stations st Grovesend , Morriston and Llandarcy would also help the area be great if a station could be opened on the SDL at llansamlet

 

[Coolzac]

Gorseinon is very close too plus our adventure travel 46 bus from Gorseinon to Morriston could have its route modified to serve the station.

I think a hourly/half hourly tfw service shuttle between Llanelli and port talbot parkway with some new stations st Grovesend , Morriston and Llandarcy would also help the area be great if a station could be opened on the SDL at llansamlet

I think that would be fantastic if possible!

I think a combination of a regular service, good bus links plus an additional couple of stations would prove incredibly popular.

 

[redengine]

Do you even know where Morriston Hospital is? It's 2.1 miles from the proposed station site off Bryntywod (according to Google route planner), not anywhere near 5 miles. The DVLA is 1.6 miles (not 2.6 miles) from the station site, less than half the distance from Swansea station.

Here is a route planner map showing what is broadly achievable within a 20 min drive (at roughly 7am):View attachment 124845

and here is the same for Swansea station:

View attachment 124847

People would tend to drive to Neath (where the Milland Road car-park is just off the A465), rather than fighting through traffic light soup to Swansea High Street. That's actually what makes this proposal sub-optimal, as because Lon-las Junction to Skewen East Junction has been closed, the effect of it would be to halve the service, splitting this market between two stations, rather than just improving services at Neath.