Welsh Budget 2013/14

[LNW-GW Joint]

At the risk of setting off another thread of bi-polar posts on Welsh politics, I will just note that the draft Welsh Budget 2013/14 published today scarcely mentions rail.
http://wales.gov.uk/docs/caecd/publications/121001draftbudgetnarrative1314.pdf

We will continue to fund the redoubling of the rail line between Wrexham and Chester...

is about the only positive statement. The Valleys/Swansea electrificaton is noted in the sense of

we have secured significant investment for...

but this is in the UK/DfT budget.

I can't see any reference to the Cambrian at all, let alone an hourly service.
The Rail/Air service spend remains at £174m for the next 2 years, so Gerald and Wagair must be safe for that period.

This is the draft and might be amended before it gets approved, depending on the usual wheeling and dealing.

 

[Greenback]

I wasn't expecting there to be any mention of rail at all, to be honest. Whether we like it or not, it is not very high on the political agenda in Wales.

 

[anthony263]

I wish they would get and decide whether or noot they are going to get the extension done on the Ebbw Vale branch to Ebbw Vale Town since it needs to be decided pretty soon so network rail can plan for it.

 

[Gwenllian2001]

I wasn't expecting there to be any mention of rail at all, to be honest. Whether we like it or not, it is not very high on the political agenda in Wales.

Yes, quite a change from the last administration which was distinctly pro-rail.

 

[merlodlliw]

No its not,it is this administration that confirmed a date for the Wrexham redouble, the last administration just ring fenced the money with no date after our protests,I am not a Labour voter either, the last administration was also very pro road. Of course the Wrexham redouble will fit nicely into the next WAG elections with a Minister on either end of the line, so I am not that Nieve.

In fairness to the Last Minister, rail did fit in a higher priority than 39 out of 42 in the Ministerial pecking order Portfolio, but he was too obsessed with Wagair, which just runs now to keep Cardiff airport open,so it seems.

my opinion of course

Bob

Taken from the budget, for an easy read

Growth and Sustainable Jobs
10.19 As part of our Programme for Government aim of growth and sustainable jobs, we are committed to developing a world-class transport system to provide safe,
affordable and sustainable road, rail, and air transport for all with budgets of £434.4m revenue and £218.6m capital in 2013-14. We reviewed the National
Transport Plan (NTP) in December 2011 to ensure that transport funding is used effectively and that investment decisions reflect the Government’s
overarching priorities.
10.20 Improving transport is one of the seven high level investment priorities we set out in the Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan for Growth and Jobs. In this
Draft Budget, we are allocating £65m (£15m in 2013-14 and £50m in 2014-15) of additional capital investment in support of this investment priority. This
funding comprises:
• £40m for the Brynmawr to Tredegar section of the A465 Heads Of The Valley Dualling Programme. This investment - £10m in 2013-14 and £30m in 2014-
15 – will accelerate delivery of 7.8km of new and reconstructed dual carriageway as part of the wider Heads of the Valleys regeneration
programme; and

• £25m for improvements to the A55 Conwy Tunnel. This additional capital will deliver an essential upgrade of the Conwy Tunnel to improve safety. £5m
will be invested in 2013-14 and £20m in 2014-15.
10.21 In addition, we have secured significant investment for Wales between 2014 and 2019 which is the next railway investment period, with the electrification of the Valleys Lines and Cardiff to Swansea mainline, providing the basis for a network of integrated public transport provision across South Wales.
10.22 In West Wales we are upgrading the A477 from St Clears to Red Roses and in North Wales we have recently announced the preferred route for the A487 from Caernarfon to Bontnewydd and are supporting a programme of station upgrades with a major interchange at Llandudno already committed and others planned for upgrading to start next year.
10.23 We will continue to fund the redoubling of the rail line between Wrexham and Chester to enable further journey time improvements and the provision of additional capacity in the future. Other key actions being taken forward as part of the National Transport Plan such as the development of community transport schemes and improving the TrawsCymru Network of Long Distance Bus Services are important as part of improving public services for rural communities.

 

[Greenback]

Yes, quite a change from the last administration which was distinctly pro-rail.

I don't think it's a question of being pro rail or otherwise. The fact is that funding for the NHS, social services, education and trying to boost the economy, all from a limited pot of money, are a much higher priority both in the media and politically, than railways.

 

[Gareth Marston]

I don't think it's a question of being pro rail or otherwise. The fact is that funding for the NHS, social services, education and trying to boost the economy, all from a limited pot of money, are a much higher priority both in the media and politically, than railways.

Given the size of the budget its all about one or two schemes getting the go ahead and many many more not. I worked out that the entire welsh transport infrastructure budget until 2020 could be spent on proposed road schemes in Montgomeryshire alone. Wales is a country where many of its politicians believe economic prosperity will follow the construction of a bypass/dual carriageway. Its deeply rooted.

 

[merlodlliw]

On my return from Tonfanau last Thursday, I noticed the road straitening between Dolgellau & Mach, I wonder how much employment this will bring to the area, there seems an obsession new roads will bring new jobs, I have yet to see this occur in rural areas.

Bob

 

[Rogercas]

Probably won't provide any more jobs but it will improve access to the coast for tourists. So some spin off by way of more visitors is possible.

That particular stretch of road (Maes yr Helmau re-alignment) has been a nightmare accident spot for years and the work has been deferred for nearly 20 years. Seven bad bends, a dangerous junction and a narrow carriageway throughout.

Together with the A470 widening taking place north of Dolgellau, it will make my motoring a lot easier!

 

[Gareth Marston]

Probably won't provide any more jobs but it will improve access to the coast for tourists. So some spin off by way of more visitors is possible.

That particular stretch of road (Maes yr Helmau re-alignment) has been a nightmare accident spot for years and the work has been deferred for nearly 20 years. Seven bad bends, a dangerous junction and a narrow carriageway throughout.

Together with the A470 widening taking place north of Dolgellau, it will make my motoring a lot easier!

Remember how any suggestion of rail investment was dismissed "as it was a declining mode?" With forecourt petrol and diesel sales dropping 12% from 2008 any money spent on roads no matter how you dress it up is to still akin to investing in a declining mode.

 

[merlodlliw]

Probably won't provide any more jobs but it will improve access to the coast for tourists. So some spin off by way of more visitors is possible.

That particular stretch of road (Maes yr Helmau re-alignment) has been a nightmare accident spot for years and the work has been deferred for nearly 20 years. Seven bad bends, a dangerous junction and a narrow carriageway throughout.

Together with the A470 widening taking place north of Dolgellau, it will make my motoring a lot easier!

I don't recall seeing this road with a speed restriction previous, if it was an accident blackspot, was it so signed out of interest.
I note in the Wrexham area, a lot of speed restriction signs erected on country roads this week , 60 to 50. I take your point about visitors, but the season is only 12 weeks of summer.
While on roads in my neck of the woods, we have the B5430 Gwynfryn to Coedpoeth which takes 98% of Wrexham bound traffic off the A525 through Bwlchgwyn(30 mph), yet the B5430 remains very narrow/dangerous with no speed restrictions, yet handles thousands of vehicle movements daily,whereas the A road only sees hundreds of vehicle movements.
But at 1200Ft a b s l, rail is a non starter here.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

While on roads in my neck of the woods, we have the B5430 Gwynfryn to Coedpoeth which takes 98% of Wrexham bound traffic off the A525 through Bwlchgwyn(30 mph), yet the B5430 remains very narrow/dangerous with no speed restrictions, yet handles thousands of vehicle movements daily,whereas the A road only sees hundreds of vehicle movements.
But at 1200Ft a b s l, rail is a non starter here.

A very dangerous bit of rat-run which I too use a lot.
I've been expecting speed bumps to get the heavies off it, but no sign of any traffic management yet.
Mind you, the longer/lower A525 main road is continuous bends and probably no safer.

 

[Rogercas]

Yes, I use the B5430 every visit to Wrecsam and agree the 'bottom' half should have a speed limit. Having said that, it's a better road than those parts of the A470 which are being reconstructed.

I'm not pro road, but the good doctor Beeching left me without a direct rail service. Machynlleth is useful as a railhead, but I can drive direct to Shrewsbury in 90 minutes, so unless I'm going further east road wins.

 

[merlodlliw]

A very dangerous bit of rat-run which I too use a lot.
I've been expecting speed bumps to get the heavies off it, but no sign of any traffic management yet.
Mind you, the longer/lower A525 main road is continuous bends and probably no safer.

A few years ago, under Clwyd County Council,funding was available to commence phase two of the Brymbo steelworks link road.
Phase one in place is A525 just off the Wrexham Expressway to the steelworks,phase two was in the opposite direction A525(four Crosses) to steelworks,bypassing Bwlchgwyn & Coedpoeth,.the steelworks closed & that put paid to phase two, as you say the rat-run,(saves two miles), the bypasses were Euro money due to withdrawal of the Railway from Wrexham to the steelworks,& the decision to send steel by road.
Has you are both aware, the bottleneck through Coedpoeth never sees a week without traffic lights, due to the state of the road failing under so much traffic.I often note Network Rail vehicles parked up in Coedpoeth on the A525,presume NR staff live in the village & on call.

 

[Gareth Marston]

I was told there was a conference in Cardiff last Monday on the future of rail services in Wales/ re letting of Wales and Border franchise.

 

[merlodlliw]

I was told there was a conference in Cardiff last Monday on the future of rail services in Wales/ re letting of Wales and Border franchise.

Yes their seems to have been this conference after checking ,all community rail Officers were invited to attend, I know my local rail Officer went, but no feedback, ill ask what went on.
I wonder if WG organised it or some other outfit
Bob