Harold Hill
On Moderation
'environmentally terrible' LoLz ..
We're taking another major step in building the #SouthWalesMetro with the start of piling work on the Aberdare Line Our work will be particularly noisy and will be done mostly at night to keep our teams safe Find out more here: https://trc.cymru/piling
At first read, I thought that was a more relaxed version of "Work from home".TFW's "Work in your area" page has stated...
If only!At first read, I thought that was a more relaxed version of "Work from home".
Are they still planning on having gaps of electrification around Pontypridd, Cardiff Queen Street and some tunnels?
From a quick Google Earth survey: the problem at Pontypridd is the retaining wall south of the station (and the necessity of bespoke wall brackets for masts in said wall); the problem at Merthyr is the viaducts to the south of the station, the problem from Lisvane to Caerphilly is Caerphilly Tunnel; the problem at Bargoed is the cut-and-cover tunnel immediately south of the station (for the bus interchange); and the problem around Cathays is the Cardiff Uni Student Union building (conveniently going right over the tracks), which leads right to the complex area around Cardiff QS.Yes, they are. The more complex areas, and where bridges are particularly problematic, will be free of wires and trains/trams will use batteries through those areas.
and the problem around Cathays is the Cardiff Uni Student Union building (conveniently going right over the tracks), which leads right to the complex area around Cardiff QS.
You'd really hope that any buildings put up in the last few years when electrification has been on the cards would not cause any issues with the potential for wiring. Else somebody has really dropped a ball during the planning process.The Cardiff Uni SU building is actually quite high up over the tracks, high enough I reckon for live wires to safely run underneath it.
Over the past 18 months though various other Uni buildings have sprung up around Cathays station, including a new 'Centre for Student Life' that itself has been built over the existing SU building, and a new STEM building built on a car park directly next to Cathays station. Maybe the proximity of all of these buildings pushed up against the railway has caused issues for wires.
Cardiff Council hasn't exactly been known for sensible planning decisions over the past few years, virtually anything that applies for planning permission in Cardiff is rubber stamped and waved through without an iota of scrutiny.You'd really hope that any buildings put up in the last few years when electrification has been on the cards would not cause any issues with the potential for wiring. Else somebody has really dropped a ball during the planning process.
Thanks for the info!From a quick Google Earth survey: the problem at Pontypridd is the retaining wall south of the station (and the necessity of bespoke wall brackets for masts in said wall); the problem at Merthyr is the viaducts to the south of the station, the problem from Lisvane to Caerphilly is Caerphilly Tunnel; the problem at Bargoed is the cut-and-cover tunnel immediately south of the station (for the bus interchange); and the problem around Cathays is the Cardiff Uni Student Union building (conveniently going right over the tracks), which leads right to the complex area around Cardiff QS.
Interestingly, Radyr is fully electrified while Pontypridd isn't, and both are junctions - I'd say an additional straw to break the Pontypridd camel's back is the switch diamond at Ponty's northern throat - which happens to be right under a footbridge toward the station. Cardiff QS also has one, to the north of the A4161 (albeit without a footbridge right above).
Radyr has no such turnouts. (TFW must really loathe the idea of cross-contact bars )
That's easy to say and equally easy to disprove as Cardiff Council planning committee meetings are all webcast and available online. The scrutiny has always seemed very thorough to me, even when I personally disagree with a decision.Cardiff Council hasn't exactly been known for sensible planning decisions over the past few years, virtually anything that applies for planning permission in Cardiff is rubber stamped and waved through without an iota of scrutiny.
By dropping the ball I meant Network Rail and its successor body as owner. I would suggest that if due representation was made, it would be very difficult for a planning body to wave something through from such a key stakeholder (who quite probably has statutory rights in relation to building rights adjacent to the railway, although I am not an expert on the subject).Cardiff Council hasn't exactly been known for sensible planning decisions over the past few years, virtually anything that applies for planning permission in Cardiff is rubber stamped and waved through without an iota of scrutiny.
I agree, for example I'm interested in the new rolling stock but not in reading about the demand for airports in Cardiff and Bristol!Splitting rolling stock out provides consistency with the rest of the forum, prevents threads becoming too cumbersome and makes it easier for users wanting information about specific Metro developments to find it, rather than having to skim through post after post about very tangential issues, such as airport expansion plans, which digressed considerably, or aspects of the Metro which they may have less interest in.
Agreed. Rail UK forums operate very well by having very clearly defined sub-forums for discussion of specific topics, rail and non-rail related. This thread is very clearly in the heavy rail 'Infrastructure & Stations' sub-forum, which is being generous in itself as we know the Metro is a mix of heavy and light rail.Splitting rolling stock out provides consistency with the rest of the forum, prevents threads becoming too cumbersome and makes it easier for users wanting information about specific Metro developments to find it, rather than having to skim through post after post about very tangential issues, such as airport expansion plans, which digressed considerably, or aspects of the Metro which they may have less interest in.
I imagine Yorkie puts in a huge amount of time to trying to ensure the forum operates effectively, to the benefit of all. We should respect the decisions that he makes in trying to do that. Many forums have a rule that public criticism of the administrators is not allowed “My gaff, my rules”, and whilst I’m not aware if that’s the case here, it’s certainly good practice as a user not to do so.
If I were them I wouldn’t be putting those videos out to the public!
If I were them I wouldn’t be putting those videos out to the public!
Just to pick up on that, the recent service downgrades to one train per hour at the heads of the valleys really hasn't helped that thinking. Certainly some friends / family I have back home are more likely to think the hourly service is now the normal rather than the frequency increasing to four per hour.After decades of public transport in Wales being run down by successive governments, there's still a huge amount of scepticism amongst the public that the Valley lines upgrade and Metro will ever happen.
Much better to have a reliable hourly service atm, than lots of cancellations that leave people in the lurch. GWR has also cut a lot of services - I don't think the TOCs have much control over staffing levels at the moment given the amount of pinging going on.Just to pick up on that, the recent service downgrades to one train per hour at the heads of the valleys really hasn't helped that thinking. Certainly some friends / family I have back home are more likely to think the hourly service is now the normal rather than the frequency increasing to four per hour.
I think the "I'll believe it when I see it" attitude is very strong amongst valleys people at the moment - and who can blame them after everything the last hundred years has thrown at them?Just to pick up on that, the recent service downgrades to one train per hour at the heads of the valleys really hasn't helped that thinking. Certainly some friends / family I have back home are more likely to think the hourly service is now the normal rather than the frequency increasing to four per hour.