Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

News

Future of Wales’ new and improved rail services revealed

Published

on

KEOLISAMEY, the new operators of Wales and Border rail services, have outlined their plans for the next 15 years of travel services.

The company, who won the £5bn bid to take over the services last month, say they will spend £800m on new trains, increasing capacity by two-thirds, and provide new trains for 95% of journeys within five years.

600 additional staff will be recruited and four new Cardiff light rail stations will be built, as part of the South Wales Metro.

They will be at Gabalfa, Crwys Road, Loudoun Square and The Flourish.

The company takes over from Arriva Trains Wales in October.

Carwyn Jones, the First Minister, has called the plans a ‘landmark moment in the future development of Wales’.

He said: “People said they wanted affordable fares and newer, cleaner trains and we have worked hard to ensure this is reflected in what we are launching today.”

All new trains, rail cars and buses will be red and black, and branded with Transport for Wales logos, rather than company logos.

The French-Spanish joint venture said that half of the new trains will be built in Wales and £1.9bn is being put towards improving the travel experience for passengers.

Looking to modernise the train services, smart ticketing will provide flexible fares and cheaper off-peak prices. WiFi on the trains will also be improved.

They are promising an additional 285 extra services on Monday to Friday, with 294 extra Sunday services.

The company said that Wales’ railway will be ‘unrecognisable’ in five years.

Alistair Gordon, Chief Executive of Keolis UK, said: “For too long the railways in Wales have suffered from under investment and, while the changes we need to make will take time, we are creating a platform for future economic growth and prosperity that will benefit all of Wales now and for generations to come.”

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said: “It is important that future investment provides visible and practical improvements to the rail travel experience on a franchise with the potential to grow transport links between England and Wales.”

James Price, Chief Executive of Transport for Wales, said: “This is more than a significant investment in rail services, it’s also an investment in the future prosperity of Wales.”

 

Community

Milford Haven Carnival organisers appeal for help from residents

Published

on

MILFORD HAVEN ROUND TABLE is asking residents in Hakin and Hubberston to help keep roads clear ahead of this Saturday’s Carnival Procession.

Organisers say the event is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet, with a large number of floats, lorries and support vehicles expected to make their way through Hakin before the procession begins at Waterloo Square.

Residents living along Gelliswick Road, Rectory Avenue, Glebelands and Picton Road, particularly near the junction with Observatory Avenue, are being asked to avoid double parking or parking on pavements where possible between around 11.45am and 1.00pm.

The route being used by the floats and support vehicles is shown on the map.

Some of the vehicles involved are large, and organisers say keeping the roads as clear as possible for the short period will help ensure the procession reaches Waterloo Square safely and on time.

Milford Haven Round Table said the carnival “belongs to the whole community” and thanked residents for their continued support.

They added: “Your understanding and cooperation, even for this short time, will make a huge difference and help make this year’s Carnival another fantastic day for our town.”

Residents are also being encouraged to share the message with friends, family and neighbours who live along the affected roads.

 

Continue Reading

Crime

New Year’s Day drug-driver banned after police stop in Milford Haven

Published

on

A NEW YEAR’S EVE drive has resulted in a 12-month road ban after a motorist was found to be more than twice the legal cannabis limit.

Ridwan Rahman, 20, was stopped by police as he drove his Vauxhall Astra along Steynton Road, Milford Haven, on January 1.

“Police noted the car accelerating away from traffic lights in an erratic manner,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“When officers asked the vehicle to stop, they smelt cannabis coming from inside.”

A blood test later showed Rahman had 5.2mcg of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in cannabis, in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Rahman, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to drug-driving. He was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries, who disputed the prosecution’s claim that he had been driving erratically.

“He does not accept that he was driving in an erratic manner, nor that he accelerated away from the traffic lights,” she said.

“The officers told him he had been stopped because the vehicle’s registration plate light was not working.”

Rahman, of Carbon Close, Newport, was fined £323 and ordered to pay a £129 court surcharge and £85 costs.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

 

Continue Reading

Crime

Fishguard man jailed after breaching order banning contact with mother

Published

on

A FISHGUARD man has been jailed after breaching a restraining order which banned him from contacting his mother.

Steven O’Sullivan attended his mother’s home on June 22, despite the order having been imposed in November 2012. It prohibited him from having any direct or indirect contact with her.

“She felt she needed to phone the police because she was frightened of her son,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He had been dropped off at his mother’s property by a female, and his mother went upstairs to ring the police because he makes her feel vulnerable.”

When officers arrived, they found O’Sullivan inside an outbuilding, crouching beside an outside toilet.

“There have been a number of previous breaches, the most recent being on June 5,” continued Ms Vaughan. “Now we have yet another one on June 22.”

O’Sullivan, of Gwelfor, Fishguard, is currently on remand at Swansea Prison. He is also accused of stealing beer and food worth £45 from the Nisa store in Haverfordwest on June 21.

Representing him in court, solicitor Tom Lloyd said there had been no threats of violence when O’Sullivan went to his mother’s home.

“But the aggravating factor is his previous convictions,” he told the bench.

“He was particularly upset and had nowhere else to go. This was why he went to see his mother.”

Magistrates jailed O’Sullivan for eight weeks. He was also ordered to pay a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

He is due to return to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on July 7 to enter a plea in relation to the alleged theft offence.

 

Continue Reading

Health10 hours ago

Wales begins early NHS winter planning after long waits and ambulance pressure

Ministers say health boards and councils must act now to ease pressure on hospitals, ambulances and social care before winter...

Crime2 days ago

Judge calls pensioner a ‘dirty old man’ as he avoids jail for exposing himself to women

Judge says 75-year-old Stewart Laugharne behaved ‘disgracefully’ as he avoids jail but is ordered to sign sex offenders register A...

Health2 days ago

Stroke services consultation reaches halfway point as public urged to have say

HYWEL DDA University Health Board is urging people to take part in its consultation on the future of stroke services,...

Business2 days ago

Welsh firms eye share of £5bn defence drone boom

WELSH defence and aerospace firms could be in line for a share of billions of pounds in new military spending...

Community3 days ago

Thousands line Cardigan streets for Lord Rhys homecoming parade

THOUSANDS of people lined the streets and quayside in Cardigan on Saturday as the town marked 850 years since Lord...

Crime4 days ago

Dyfed-Powys Police rated only ‘Adequate’ in organised crime inspection

A WATCHDOG has rated Dyfed-Powys Police only “Adequate” in its response to serious and organised crime, despite praise for the...

News5 days ago

Two taken to hospital after aircraft ditches in Cardigan Bay

Coastguard helicopter spotted two casualties after light aircraft came down off west Wales coast TWO people were taken to hospital...

Sport5 days ago

Long Course Weekend gets underway in Tenby as thousands head for county

Three days of swimming, cycling and running begin with The Wales Swim at North Beach THOUSANDS of athletes and supporters...

Climate5 days ago

Welsh waters, Westminster profits: Crown Estate row reignited in Wales

PLAID CYMRU has renewed calls for the Crown Estate to be devolved to Wales after figures showed income linked to...

News6 days ago

Reform MS: ‘I felt like shouting get out of the water’

Paul Marr says children playing in streams at Pembrokeshire beaches deserve better protection from pollution risks REFORM UK MS Paul...

Popular This Week