The trouble is that things like electrification are outwith the control of the Welsh Government. They're aspirations rather than plans, not that there's anything wrong with having aspirations.
St Clears won New Stations 3 funding fairly recently.
I think that would all be OK if Newport Road were changed.
Sadly whilst there's a populist (some would say English nationalist), Conservative UK government in Westminster that's openly hostile to devolution, these plans will stay as long term aspirations.
While l agree the main thrust of your argument there is a certain irony in English nationalism being portrayed as a bad thing while Welsh and Scottish nationalism is fine.
You're right that there's nothing hugely new.
This is certainly the approach which suits the Prime Minister. In my view he cannot stand the idea of very popular and electorally successful Labour leaders, and does everything he can to undermine and humiliate Mark Drakeford, Sadiq Khan, Andy Burnham and others.
I'm struggling to interpret it too. But then that really does not mean much!
I'd disagree that Mark Drakeford is 'electorally successful'. He leads a minority Government which only got its latest Covid measures through because an opposition member had technical difficulties when trying to vote remotely.
He did however win a significantly increased constituency majority of more than 10,000. His party managed to secure almost 40% of all votes cast and gained vote share and a seat at recent elections.
I expressed no opinion on Welsh Labour's Covid policies; just noted that they were only able to implement them by good luck. By contrast, the Conservative party's electoral success mean their Government can do whatever it wants to, even if there are some dissenters on its own benches.
Blimey - wires all the way to Milford including the district? Very optimistic I think.
For freight?
And no obvious sign of electrifying to Barry or Penarth (or the rest of the Vale line). I realise they're not infrastructure currently under the control of the Welsh Government, but neither is the main line... And it would strike me as a more obvious thing to do than electrify to Milford (nice thought that would be). Maybe it is simply too detailed for these overview maps?
It's not too bad if you don't mind changing from bus to train at Pye Corner, Crosskeys or Newbridge. All are served by frequent buses (when Stagecoach drivers aren't on strike) from nearby stops.
I don't think it is though. There's usually an economic case for very large scale interventions all over the country, basically anywhere there's population. You can generate big benefits because you can benefit from the agglomeration. Lots of South Wales public transport interventions would be excellent value for money.
If you want a real example which is transport-related (albeit not rail) consider the privately-funded improvements to the A465.
I dare say the Welsh Government could fund electrification to West Wales in a similar way if they wanted to. However they want the UK Government to pay as rail infrastructure isn't devolved. The UK Government don't see an economic case as all they are responsible for is an hourly bi-mode train as far as Swansea and electrifying the last 40 miles of its journey from London isn't sufficient to justify the expenditure.Private financing pays for £550m Heads of the Valleys section
10/11/2020
Rhodri Clark
The Welsh Government has awarded a major road widening contract, which will use private finance and is estimated to be worth more than half a billion pounds.
The new contract to dual 18km of the A465 Heads of the Valleys road between Dowlais and Hirwaun uses the Welsh Government’s Mutual Investment Model (MIM), a PFI variant in which the government holds a stake.
The Future Valleys consortium of FCC, Roadbridge, Meridiam, Alun Griffiths and Atkins will work with Welsh contractors and design teams. Construction, estimated to cost more than £550m, is due to start early next year and end in mid-2025.
Wales made much less use than England of the Private Finance Initiative but has sought to develop the model to make up for limited investment cash in infrastructure.
For 30 years, the Future Valleys consortium will receive government payments – an amount the government declined to disclose – while operating and maintaining the road.
The MIM was developed when the government expected to spend more than £1bn of its own funding on the now-cancelled M4 Relief Road at Newport, which would have meant alternative funding was needed for the A465.
Asked why the government was using private finance instead of borrowing, a spokesman said: ‘The MIM was developed following a decade of austerity and unprecedented pressures on capital budgets. The model has provisions to secure community benefits, sustainable development and ethical employment practices.’
Welsh transport minister Ken Skates said: ‘While it is inevitable there will be disruption while the project is being built, the contract requires Future Valleys to mitigate these impacts, with financial penalties for non-performance.’
Finance minister Rebecca Evans said this was the first use of the MIM, which ‘provides the best opportunity to complete the scheme as quickly as possible’. She added that having such a large project ready to go ‘has the real potential to accelerate the regional recovery’.
Dualling the A465 between Gilwern and Brynmawr remains unfinished, with contractor Costain writing off £45m following arbitration of its dispute with the government.
Hope that the Patchway - Bristol TM electrification being in the "enhancements Post 2029" map isn't letting something slip.... Would hope that it would be well under way by then (if not complete!)
Thats up to Boris and co who are co.ing under pressure from Gwr to finish the job
Know this area fairly well.Like to know your thoughts on the reasons why?
