Welsh railway bosses admit they have traditionally focused more on rugby

Apology for Wales football fans over post-match rail delays https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-67496716

Seeing as the Welsh Government wants us to ditch our cars the provision for midweek city games is pretty poor anyway. I normally take the car for midweek games as too often there is inadequate provision for the valley lines.

Surely it's no rocket science to lay on a few extra trains from Grangetown or Central

The network was basically built for wealth extraction, with all the wealth going to london.

Same with the railways the British government built in India - to extract the countries wealth.

Its ridiculous. The network copes with broken down trains or cancelled services and corrects itself, so it clearly could lay on some extra services or carriages, that people would pay for remember! These games are known many weeks or months in advance.

It just goes to show the sustainabilty push is often more words than actions.

That said..I do regularly get the train from Grangetown on Saturday games and I think its a decent service.

Just a thought.

Why aren’t trains required to keep to the 20 mph speed limit?

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Originally Posted by light up the darkness

Just a thought.

Why aren’t trains required to keep to the 20 mph speed limit?

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Because they're so knackered they can't go that fast up the valley.

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Originally Posted by TWGL1

The network was basically built for wealth extraction, with all the wealth going to london.

Same with the railways the British government built in India - to extract the countries wealth.

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Nothing wrong with a business led approach, providing wealth trickles down which it has.

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Originally Posted by NinianOpinion1927

Nothing wrong with a business led approach, providing wealth trickles down which it has.

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And Wales gets the final drop wrung out of the stinking flannel.

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Originally Posted by NinianOpinion1927

Nothing wrong with a business led approach, providing wealth trickles down which it has.

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Is that your view as a conservative or a general opinion you agree with ?

The problem with your statement of fact is included within it

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Originally Posted by fingers

Apology for Wales football fans over post-match rail delays https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-67496716

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Embarrassing

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

Is that your view as a conservative or a general opinion you agree with ?

The problem with your statement of fact is included within it

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It's just a fact, whether i agree with it or not.

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Originally Posted by NinianOpinion1927

Nothing wrong with a business led approach, providing wealth trickles down which it has.

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When and where has the wealth "trickled down"? I would have thought that the austerity years have proved the opposite applies, I suppose pensioners haven't done too badly, but all that's happened there is that they've kept pace with inflation while the large majority of the working population have not.

As for the real subject of this thread, what a shocking admission to make, even though most knew about it already.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

When and where has the wealth "trickled down"? I would have thought that the austerity years have proved the opposite applies, I suppose pensioners haven't done too badly, but all that's happened there is that they've kept pace with inflation while the large majority of the working population have not.

As for the real subject of this thread, what a shocking admission to make, even though most knew about it already.

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I suppose the trickle down argument was won during the cold war. Soviet Union living standards were far lower than the capitalist nations. I'm not some raving capitalist but those countries do seem to produce good overall living standards for everyone.

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Originally Posted by NinianOpinion1927

I suppose the trickle down argument was won during the cold war. Soviet Union living standards were far lower than the capitalist nations. I'm not some raving capitalist but those countries do seem to produce good overall living standards for everyone.

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For everyone? That’s a statement.

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Originally Posted by NinianOpinion1927

Nothing wrong with a business led approach, providing wealth trickles down which it has.

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Wealth trickles down is the biggest pile of muck. It doesn’t happen, ever. It is easily debunked.

its a state run railway, what does anyone expect? WG controls the airport (shite) and the trains (shite) and its getting worse.

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Originally Posted by HiVis

its a state run railway, what does anyone expect? WG controls the airport (shite) and the trains (shite) and its getting worse.

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Did you expect all the problems to be sorted overnight? There's a long term plan which will take a few more years yet. It's vital work. Things couldn't have carried on as they were with ATW.

I’ve always found it daft the Coryton/Radyr train is usually only a single carriage.

After the first few stops it’s standing room only and the guard can’t collect or check tickets. They must be missing out on a good few grand every matchday. From a financial perspective surely they can hook up a spare carriage and rota in an extra member of staff on a matchday?

Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice that 95% of my journeys to Ninian Park in the last 2 decades have been free :hehe:

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Originally Posted by Pedro de la Rosa

Wealth trickles down is the biggest pile of muck. It doesn’t happen, ever. It is easily debunked.

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Tbf I have recently heard a critique of trickle down economics but it was on a left wing programme. Completely biased so i wasn't entirely convinced

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Originally Posted by NinianOpinion1927

Tbf I have recently heard a critique of trickle down economics but it was on a left wing programme. Completely biased so i wasn't entirely convinced

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But because you've heard it on a right wing platform, you are convinced?

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

But because you've heard it on a right wing platform, you are convinced?

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Nah, I'm more convinced by looking at the living standards of the old Soviet Union, compared to their counterparts across the globe

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Originally Posted by TWGL1

The network was basically built for wealth extraction, with all the wealth going to london.

Same with the railways the British government built in India - to extract the countries wealth.

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absolutely correct

There is a valid argument that if the wealth was spread more evenly, the there would be no need for “trickling down”
There is also a counter argument, that the more wealth you share, the more certain folk would still fritter it away wastefully and soon be struggling again.

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Originally Posted by NinianOpinion1927

Tbf I have recently heard a critique of trickle down economics but it was on a left wing programme. Completely biased so i wasn't entirely convinced

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Trickle down economics has been used by most of the west in the last 30/40 years. The rich have got richer and the poor have got poorer. Giving tax cuts to the rich and privatising public services is a terrible, terrible idea unless you’re extremely rich to begin with.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

But because you've heard it on a right wing platform, you are convinced?

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mid week train to Cwmbran 21 55 next train 00 23
Whether or Not your on the right wing left wing up front in goal They dont give a **** about football.

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Originally Posted by llan bluebird

Seeing as the Welsh Government wants us to ditch our cars the provision for midweek city games is pretty poor anyway. I normally take the car for midweek games as too often there is inadequate provision for the valley lines.

Surely it's no rocket science to lay on a few extra trains from Grangetown or Central

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It used to be when Stephenson was about.

Don't worry, everything will be fine when we start using the Metro system...
Oh, hang on...

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Originally Posted by NinianOpinion1927

It's just a fact, whether i agree with it or not.

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No it isn't you plum

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Originally Posted by NinianOpinion1927

Nah, I'm more convinced by looking at the living standards of the old Soviet Union, compared to their counterparts across the globe

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Why when you say you are not a raving right wing capitalist .......do I think 🤔......something doesn't quite add up here ?

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Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

It used to be when Stephenson was about.

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I feel like this joke deserves more recognition.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Did you expect all the problems to be sorted overnight? There's a long term plan which will take a few more years yet. It's vital work. Things couldn't have carried on as they were with ATW.

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the service is utter dogshit. they have had nearly 6 years and we are not seeing any improvements. TfW are regularly at the bottom of the TOC league tables, and that is saying something when you consider Northern Rail are included.

As for the airport, its depressing, the less said about it the better.

the fact is, whether public or private, you need investment. Neither is better than the other without the right level of spend on continually renewing and upgrading.

TfW is shit, and state ownership hasn't improved things at all.

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Originally Posted by HiVis

the service is utter dogshit. they have had nearly 6 years and we are not seeing any improvements. TfW are regularly at the bottom of the TOC league tables, and that is saying something when you consider Northern Rail are included.

As for the airport, its depressing, the less said about it the better.

the fact is, whether public or private, you need investment. Neither is better than the other without the right level of spend on continually renewing and upgrading.

TfW is shit, and state ownership hasn't improved things at all.

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Don't know much about previous service but changed to the choo choo the past 5 weeks as my transport to work, yes there has been lateness, and a train was cancelled whilst i was sat on it at HHL station one morning, but on the whole the service hasn't been too bad, as long as I'm situated in the office I'm at, I will not be rushing back to the car, when are the next strikes!!!!!!! :frown:

James Price couldn't run a train set.

I catch the train from Llanishen so it's quite a decent service and the new trains are great, but when i lived in Pontyclun the service was shocking, one train an hour on the main east-west line.

The issue is the lack of integration of a car-train plan. Cardiff Bay wants us to ditch or reduce car journeys, so why isn't there a mega car park and long trains every 10 mins from Tongwynlais with direct access to the M4, at least you can get people in and out of the city.

Its ok for me i live 5 mins from the train statin but i bet 90% of the south Wales doesn't

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Originally Posted by llan bluebird

I catch the train from Llanishen so it's quite a decent service and the new trains are great, but when i lived in Pontyclun the service was shocking, one train an hour on the main east-west line.

The issue is the lack of integration of a car-train plan. Cardiff Bay wants us to ditch or reduce car journeys, so why isn't there a mega car park and long trains every 10 mins from Tongwynlais with direct access to the M4, at least you can get people in and out of the city.

Its ok for me i live 5 mins from the train statin but i bet 90% of the south Wales doesn't

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one an hour ?

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Originally Posted by HiVis

the service is utter dogshit. they have had nearly 6 years and we are not seeing any improvements. TfW are regularly at the bottom of the TOC league tables, and that is saying something when you consider Northern Rail are included.

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And, at the moment, I wouldn't expect anything else, whether it was run by state or otherwise.

We're in the middle of a major upgrade to rail services across Wales. Things that should have been done during Arriva's tenure. As with many huge projects like this there have been faults and delays. Services will eventually improve, but for you to moan that we've had 6 years and not seen any improvements shows how little you know about what is actually going on.

"What do we want?"
"Better rail services"
"When do we want them?"
"Yesterday"
"Are we prepared to be inconvenienced in the meantime?"
"No."

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

And, at the moment, I wouldn't expect anything else, whether it was run by state or otherwise.

We're in the middle of a major upgrade to rail services across Wales. Things that should have been done during Arriva's tenure. As with many huge projects like this there have been faults and delays. Services will eventually improve, but for you to moan that we've had 6 years and not seen any improvements shows how little you know about what is actually going on.

"What do we want?"
"Better rail services"
"When do we want them?"
"Yesterday"
"Are we prepared to be inconvenienced in the meantime?"
"No."

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so why didn't WG upgrade the network when Arriva had the franchise?

as for your comments, utter nonsense. Everyone understands that to upgrade the network there will be disruption. Except we aren't see the network upgraded, its taking an age, and services are suffering continuously.

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Originally Posted by HiVis

so why didn't WG upgrade the network when Arriva had the franchise?

as for your comments, utter nonsense. Everyone understands that to upgrade the network there will be disruption. Except we aren't see the network upgraded, its taking an age, and services are suffering continuously.

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WG didn't have any control over the rail infrastructure, they took it over from Network Rail after the franchise with Keolis Amey was agreed. Upgrades are a part of franchise agreement. Why should the tax payer bail out a franchise that had no agreement to improve the network (which was the case)?

Has nothing been upgraded? Yes it'll take an age, but get a grip ffs you whinger.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

WG didn't have any control over the rail infrastructure, they took it over from Network Rail after the franchise with Keolis Amey was agreed. Upgrades are a part of franchise agreement. Why should the tax payer bail out a franchise that had no agreement to improve the network (which was the case)?

Has nothing been upgraded? Yes it'll take an age, but get a grip ffs you whinger.

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The rolling stock TfW use for the Carmarthen to Manchester service had two carriages, overcrowded, not punctual, and is usually the same train as they use on the valley lines. Terrible service.

It shows just how bad Arriva turned the network that it’s taken them this long to start make large changes. Westminster giving out a contact to them for 15 years with 0% growth requirement built in shows how much effort they put into a Welsh service.

I saw my old local station Pontypool is undergoing an upgrade, there are more on the way and a bunch of new trains.

I don’t live in Wales anymore so can someone tell me if there any positive signs of improvements across the wider network? (Ideally from somebody who isn’t gonna moan about everyone mildly related to the project).