Royal Welsh Show

[EltonRoad]

Saw there's an additional train to the Royal Welsh Show again this year, starting today until Thursday. Any indication as to what stock is on it?

 

[merlodlliw]

I have seen 158s a few years ago, no idea now. Then they parked the stock at Llandod.
this DMU does a bypass of Swansea, probably sprinter stock now?
M

Departs Station Status
07:30 Cardiff Central On time
Train last reported
07:49 Bridgend On time
07:59 Pyle On time
08:08 Port Talbot Parkway On time
08:39 Pontarddulais 08:41
2 mins late
08:48 Pantyffynnon On time
08:52 Ammanford 08:54
2 mins late
08:58 Llandybie 09:00
2 mins late
09:07 Ffairfach 09:09
2 mins late
09:11 Llandeilo 09:13
2 mins late
09:23 Llangadog 09:25
2 mins late
09:28 Llanwrda 09:30
2 mins late
09:36 Llandovery 09:38
2 mins late
09:47 Cynghordy 09:49
2 mins late
09:57 Sugar Loaf 09:59
2 mins late
10:05 Llanwrtyd On time
10:13 Llangammarch 10:15
2 mins late
10:19 Garth (Powys) On time
10:26 Cilmeri On time
10:34 Builth Road On time

 

[Greenback]

For a few years I saw this train at Llanelli (or between Swansea and Llanelli when I was commuting into work at around 0830. It was usually class 150's. The train called at Swansea and Llanelli in those days. Last year I think we were away when the show was on. Did the service miss Swansea and Llanelli in 2009?

There were always quite a few waiting on platform 1 at Llanelli. I'm surprised they no longer call here, as there is a large agricultrural community in Carmarthenshire. The timigs by train tog et to the Royal Welsh from llanelli and Carmarthen are not so attractive this year.

 

[merlodlliw]

For a few years I saw this train at Llanelli (or between Swansea and Llanelli when I was commuting into work at around 0830. It was usually class 150's. The train called at Swansea and Llanelli in those days. Last year I think we were away when the show was on. Did the service miss Swansea and Llanelli in 2009?

There were always quite a few waiting on platform 1 at Llanelli. I'm surprised they no longer call here, as there is a large agricultrural community in Carmarthenshire. The timigs by train tog et to the Royal Welsh from llanelli and Carmarthen are not so attractive this year.

Yes it missed Swansea last year(2009)

 

[Pacerpilot]

For a few years I saw this train at Llanelli (or between Swansea and Llanelli when I was commuting into work at around 0830. It was usually class 150's. The train called at Swansea and Llanelli in those days. Last year I think we were away when the show was on. Did the service miss Swansea and Llanelli in 2009?

There were always quite a few waiting on platform 1 at Llanelli. I'm surprised they no longer call here, as there is a large agricultrural community in Carmarthenshire. The timigs by train tog et to the Royal Welsh from llanelli and Carmarthen are not so attractive this year.

Same this year, the 1Z37 0730 Cardiff - Builth Rd runs via the District Line and the Hendy Loop, thus avoiding Llanelli and Swansea. Im not sure what stock has been allocated as Im not working any of the specials this week, but more than likely to be a 4 car 150. The sets will stable Waterloo Siding at Llandod during the day.

 

[Greenback]

Pacerpilot, are you privy to the reasons the train no longer calls at Swansea and Llanelli?

 

[merlodlliw]

I was told one of the reasons it bypasses Swansea, was to speed up what is in effect a slow slow train. Could also be other reasons.

 

[Greenback]

I can see that cutting out the reversals at Swansea and Llanelli will save time, but to balance that there is the loss of custom due to the train being seen as an inconvenient way of reaching Builth from Swansea, Llanelli, Burry Port, kidwelly, Ferryside and Carmarthen. These are predominantly Welsh speaking rural areas, exactly the sort of places that I would have thought would warrant a direct train up to Builth!

I would suggest running adirect train from Carmarthen, with good connections at Llanelli for Caridff and Swansea passengers, but there are probably lots of good reasons, ecs moves etc, why this would not be viable.

Still, travelling to the show by train from west of Port Talbot is not so attractive as it was a few years ago, and I think that is a shame.

Is it really the 'everything must revolve around Cardiff syndrome' again?!

 

[merlodlliw]

I can see that cutting out the reversals at Swansea and Llanelli will save time, but to balance that there is the loss of custom due to the train being seen as an inconvenient way of reaching Builth from Swansea, Llanelli, Burry Port, kidwelly, Ferryside and Carmarthen. These are predominantly Welsh speaking rural areas, exactly the sort of places that I would have thought would warrant a direct train up to Builth!

I would suggest running adirect train from Carmarthen, with good connections at Llanelli for Caridff and Swansea passengers, but there are probably lots of good reasons, ecs moves etc, why this would not be viable.

Still, travelling to the show by train from west of Port Talbot is not so attractive as it was a few years ago, and I think that is a shame.

Is it really the 'everything must revolve around Cardiff syndrome' again?!

I agree Greenback, It amazes me that a special is not put on from North Wales, after all the Royal Welsh Show is the largest rural event in Europe,
attracting a hell of a lot more people than the Mel stadium.

 

[Greenback]

A train from North Wales is something I haven't considered before, but yes, it makes as much sense as a train from Cardiff or Carmarthen!

 

[Gareth Marston]

of course if the Mid Wales railway was still open the station would be right outside the main entrance and better placed than the HoW to receive traffic from S Wales and N Wales and would do a lot to relive road congestion in the area.
The RWAS didn't move to Llanelwedd permanently until the late 60's.

 

[Greenback]

It certainly would have made a useful strategic link today as well.

 

[Pacerpilot]

Pacerpilot, are you privy to the reasons the train no longer calls at Swansea and Llanelli?

I do not know the exact reason but I shall dig a little deeper for you tomorrow. With 1Z37 calling at Port Talbot at 0810,it would put it at Swansea (theoretically) at 0830ish. 2M51 departs Swansea for Salop 45minutes later, I suppose I can see the logic

 

[Greenback]

Thanks Pacerpilot

I'm sure it used to leave Llanelli between 0830 and 0845, as I used to see the crowds waiting for it on the other platform when Iw as heading to Swansea for work on the 0827.
The advantage would have been a connection out of an earlier train from the west, a better arrival time for those going to the show, and the extra train would have allowed the 0916 departure to be free from serious overcrowding.

 

[Pacerpilot]

I know the Loco hauled specials ran via the District in 2006 but 2007 definitely ran via Llanelli. I worked a return service one evening that week formed of 2 x 150, 1 x 153, so even the train is getting shorter (Bubble car next year? )

And Ive found a shot of 2 x150s passing through Llangennech in 2008 so it ran via Llanelli that year too.

 

[Greenback]

Yes, I can definitely say that it called at Llanelli in 2007 and 2008. We moved here in May 2007 and I commuted daily on the 0827 (or sometimes the 0804), and I well remember seeing the crowds lining the platform for the special. The Wednesday was always the busiest day!

When my train was late, I used to see the train arrive, it was usually at least 2 150's!

 

[robert2000]

on tuesday, the 14.05 from shrewsbury was a 153, with a 150 on the back, then the same 150 was back in shrewsbury for the 18.05, im not sure what happened to the 153, i presume they had fun in llandrindod, telling every1 to change trains.