Electrification

[Rhobat Bryn]

One of the many pleasures of belonging to the Circle is the opportunity to see so many photos relating to Wales' rich railway history. My personal interest is the Barry Railway and I am grateful to those many photographers in the early days who took the trouble to stand with their early photographic equipment and take the pictures on which I, among many others, rely today for my understanding of our companies' histories.

As many of you will no doubt know, the electrification of the line from Paddington to Swansea is due to begin soon and be completed by 2017, followed by the electrification of the Valley lines by 2020. These will be the first electrified lines in the history of Welsh railways; so there is an opportunity for us to be its witnesses, both for our own benefit and that of future generations.

To that end, the Circle committee has decided to launch an appeal for volunteers who would like to be part of a project documenting the electrification process as it happens. We are looking for anyone with suitable cameras to contact the Circle so that we can form a team to undertake this challenge. It is envisaged that the Circle committee will appoint a photographic coordinator, once the level of interest is known, to undertake organising the necessary work.

In the first instance could you contact me so that we can gain an idea of the degree of interest and support among our members.

Indoor Meetings Coordinator

indoormeetings@wrrc.org.uk

[Rhobat Bryn]

It has been suggested to me by a fellow member of the Circle that my claim that the future electrification of railways in South Wales being the first in our history is incorrect. In support of this, he cites the Swansea & Mumbles Railway which was electrified in 1928 and ran electric passenger services from 1929. While I can see his point of view, I can't see how I can agree with it. Whatever the name of the company, electrification brought with it the use of tramcars as were used in other urban systems, such as Cardiff. And if it looks like a tramcar and sounds like a tramcar then it is a tramcar and thus, in reality, is a tramway. There's little else to suggest that it was, after this date, a railway other than its history.

[Newport_rod]

If you’re planning to record the changes wrought by electrification it might be worthwhile noting that the following bridges are due for reconstruction – so you might want to photograph them before any changes

• Caldicot, Station Road
  Rogiet, Rogiet Road
  Undy, Church Road
  Undy, The Ramp
  Magor, Redwick Road
  Llandevenny, Llandevenny Road
  Newport, Somerton Road
  Newport, Chepstow Road B4591 (bridge under railway)
  Newport, Clytha Park Road
  Newport, Cardiff Road (A48)
  Cardiff, Trowbridge Road
  Cardiff, Mardy Road
  Cardiff, Beresford Road
  Cardiff, Splott Road

Source Western Mail http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales ... ad-7070938

[RichardHC]

Members might like to see the latest news on the South Wales main line and valleys network electrification proposals which have just appeared on the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-30128378

Richard
(WRRC Member 379)

[Rhobat Bryn]

Finally this long running saga has finally been resolved and we can all get on to looking to the future of Welsh railways and not just its past. For me, the more significant announcement is that responsibility for the Wales franchise will pass to the Welsh Government which means that it will be making the decisions on railway development from 2018 on. The campaign to reopen the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen has already received backing in principle, if somewhat guarded, from the First Minister. To quote:

"In principle, I would be supportive of considering the possibility of reopening the line. There are a number of problems, for example the permanent way is no longer there to the north of Carmarthen. There's a road there now. There are certain sections of the track where the Gwili is on part of the track, and there are areas where the track is totally gone. Lampeter, for example, one bridge disappeared south of Lampeter. So it wouldn't be a cheap option, but, to be ambitious, I do think that long-term, this is something that would benefit the area because I do know that there are a number of communities that would benefit from the reopening of the line."

So watch this space.

[RichardHC]

This is the latest from the BBC on this project

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-30728002

[Rhobat Bryn]

Very little is inevitable these days in politics. But the cost of the line in England has overrun considerably meaning that the Westminster Government is not willing to provide the extra funds needed to honour their commitment. Very tellingly, the Secretary of State for Transport has been unavailable for interview all day to answer questions regarding his decision. The only way forward on this is for the National Assembly to have control over Network Rail's Wales Route.