Maesteg half-hourly doesn't really need to be done before electrification does it? And for all of those, getting the necessary extra stock should be easier after electrification (only DfT seems to think building new DMUs is a good idea now, and then only for the Intercity routes they are electrifying).There's a whole host of " add ons" in S Wales that need addressing especially with electrification on the way they ideally need to be done first.
Aberdare-Hirwuan
Ebbw Vale Parkway-Ebbw Vale Town
Abertillery
Passenger traind into Newport from Ebbw Vale line.
Maesteg half hourly
Personally, I think Aberdare - Hirwuan needs some carefull thinking about, there's only a relatively small gap to bridge to Glyn-Neath and you meet another freight-only line which could be openned to passengers right to the edge of Swansea (near Swansea Docks / the Park & Ride site). That one might be better as a tram though, so it can run on to the current Swansea bus and rail stations.
Something else that needs considering before the wires go up is the service pattern for S. W. Wales. I think most of you already know my opinion on that...
What time would you suggest? I think some on here said 16:15 was too early, and isn't the 17:21 slot is blocked by one of the standard Cardiff - Holyhead stoppers?I have to agree with one point you make, Gerald's return at 1821 from Cardiff is too late, however has the train is open access paid for by WG, I suppose the Minister can dictate what time he wants it to run.
You don't even need to go to WAG-Express levels of improvements, just making ATW use the standard class mark2s from original Gerald (plus their other mark2s) to ease crowding on Manchester trains and cascade 158s and 175s around to get 150s off stuff like the Fishguard express boat train would be nice. And it's about time Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury (Cambrian main line) got an hourly service, though I have my concerns about shorter trains as a side-effect of that, the alternate hours Cambrian Coast portion must be retained in my opinion.Well, he "got" railways that were of direct benefit to him, he got a nice First Class carriage to take him down to Cardiff and some decent food for his journey.
Shame the same level of improvements weren't there for other lines of course...