Business
Transport for Wales services to be impacted by industrial action
THE MAJORITY of Transport for Wales (TfW) services across the Wales and Borders network will be suspended on two days in October due to the on-going national industrial action.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers (RMT) has announced two days of strike action will take place on Saturday 1 and Saturday 8 October, across Network Rail and 15 train operators.
ASLEF has also announced strike action on Saturday 1 and Wednesday 5 October across 12 train operators, while TSSA have announced strike action on 1 October at Network Rail and 11 train operators.
TfW is not involved in this industrial action, but as a result of the dispute between unions and Network Rail, TfW will be unable to operate a number of rail services on Network Rail infrastructure on 1 and 8 October, while some services will be much busier than usual on 5 October.
More information about the industrial action can be found on the TfW website.
Saturday 1 and Saturday 8 October – very limited rail service, do not travel by train
The only services operating will be on the Core Valley Lines in South Wales and a Cardiff to Newport shuttle, with one train operating hourly in each direction, between 07:30 and 18:30.
No other TfW services across Wales and the Borders network will be able to operate.
Train services will operate between Cardiff Central and Rhymney, Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil in an hourly service in each direction between 07:30 and 18:30.
Customers are reminded there will be very limited road transport capacity between Radyr and Cardiff before 07:30 and after 18:30, when TfW is unable to operate trains via Llandaf and Cathays.
Amended timetables for Saturday 1 October will be in online journey planners from Tuesday 27 September.
Friday 30 September and Friday 7 October (the days before the strikes)
There is also expected to be disruption on the days prior to the industrial action, and services will be much busier than usual.
Customers are advised to only travel if necessary on Friday 30 September and 7 October, and to check online journey planners for any short-notice late night service alterations as a result of the following day’s strike action.
Core Valley Lines – Saturday 1 and Saturday 8 October
The first services of the day that depart Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil will all be timed so they will be arriving into Radyr after 07:00. No trains will run before 07:00 on any lines except between Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil – Radyr.
No pre-planned road transport services will be in operation before 18:30 on Core Valley lines.
Services are likely to be much busier than usual – particularly the first services of the day.
All other TfW services – Sunday 2 and 9 October
No trains will run before 07:00 on these days, and those trains that do run are likely to be much busier than usual – particularly the first services of the day. There is also expected to be disruption to services due to trains being displaced from the previous day’s strike action.
In particular, services to Cardiff are expected to be busier than usual on the morning on 2 October due to the Cardiff Half-Marathon.
Customers are urged to check the TfW website, app or social media before they travel, particularly for the first services of the day from their station of origin.
Services on these days are to be extremely busy and customers are encouraged to travel via the alternative dates of Monday 3 or 10 October.
Wednesday 5 October
Some of our services are likely to be extremely busy as a result of the severely-reduced timetable put in place by other operators. This includes:
- Services between Carmarthen and Newport
- Services between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton
- Services between Cardiff and Cheltenham
- Services between Chester and Holyhead
- Services between Chester and Manchester Airport
- Services between Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly
Due to the closure of Birmingham New Street station, services between North Wales and Birmingham International will terminate at Wolverhampton.
Customers are advised to only travel if necessary and customers are encouraged to travel via the alternative dates of Tuesday 4 or Thursday 6 October.
Amended timetables for Wednesday 5 October will be in online journey planners from Thursday 29 September.
Existing tickets
Advance ticket holders are entitled to change their journey using the ‘Book with Confidence’ and the change of journey fees should be waived if applied before 18:00 the day before travel. You’re still able to change your tickets after this time, and up until the departure, but a change of journey fee of £10 will apply to each ticket changed.
Customers with Anytime, Off-Peak or Advance tickets, also Ranger/Rover tickets, for a TOC on strike – dated for 1, 5 or 8 October are permitted to travel either on the day before the date on the ticket or up to 11 October 2022.
If you have a return ticket and cannot make your outward journey because of a strike, you’re permitted a refund on your ticket even if the latter is not affected by a strike. The same applies if the return journey is affected by a strike but the outward was not.
Alternatively, customers can claim a full refund, with no admin fee charged. Season ticket holders can apply for compensation via Delay Repay.
Business
TSB to close branches, including Carmarthen Blue Street
TSB BANK has announced a substantial reduction in its physical presence, with plans to shutter 36 branches across the UK.
This move is anticipated to result in the termination of approximately 250 jobs.
A spokesperson for TSB remarked, “The decision to close a branch is never taken lightly, but our customers are now predominantly engaging in digital banking activities, necessitating a recalibration towards a more balanced provision of digital and in-person services.”
The banking giant has emphasised its enduring commitment to maintaining a national branch network while highlighting the expansion of alternative banking avenues such as video, telephone, and digital services.
The affected branches, as outlined by TSB’s official website, are as follows:
- Alloa
- Bedworth
- Birmingham, Pype Hayes
- Bridlington
- Buxton
- Carmarthen, Blue Street
- Cwmbran, General Rees Square
- Dovercourt
- Edinburgh, Leith
- Felixstowe
- Frome
- Glasgow, Cardonald
- Glasgow, Castlemilk
- Haddington
- Hounslow
- Lerwick
- Leven
- London, Bethnal Green
- London, Clapham
- Longton
- Manchester, Middleton
- Newcastle Upon Tyne, Milvain
- Peterhead
- Sheerness
- Stornoway
- Torquay, St Marychurch
- Whitehaven
- Amble
- Aylsham
- Banff
- Bedlington
- Bude
- Crook
- Flint
- Tenbury Wells
- Whitchurch
The closures are expected to be implemented gradually, beginning this year, marking a significant transition in TSB’s operational strategy amidst the evolving landscape of banking preferences.
Business
Welsh home sales increase but pricing comes under pressure
HOME sales continued to increase in number in Wales during April according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Market Survey as a higher number of listings and good buyer demand led to more transactions taking place.
A net balance of 35% of surveyors in Wales reported that house sales rose through the month of April, the fifth consecutive month that this balance has been on an upward trajectory. Surveyors in Wales also appear optimistic on the short-term outlook for sales, with a net balance of 14% of surveyors anticipating a rise over the next three months. This balance is the second highest across all UK regions, after Northern Ireland.
New buyer demand is also said to have risen through April according to the survey. A net balance of 37% of respondents in Wales reported that new buyer enquiries had increased.
On the supply side, a net balance of 47% of respondents in Wales note that new instructions to sell had risen. This is at a faster rate than was seen in March when the net balance was 41%.
However, surveyors are not as positive on the pricing front. A net balance of -8% of surveyors in Wales reported that house prices have fallen over the past three months, which is just below the UK average which sits at a net balance of -5%.
Looking forward on house pricing, a net balance of -15% of Welsh surveyors expect that prices will edge lower over the next quarter.
The intense demand for rental property appears to have softened a little in April. A net balance of 17% of surveyors in Wales noted a rise in tenant demand for rental properties which is down from 50% in March. Supply of rental property is said to have fallen flat through April. On the expectations front, a net balance of 17% of respondents in Wales anticipate that prices will rise over the next three-month period.
Commenting on the sales market, Melfyn Williams, MRICS of Williams & Goodwin The Property People Ltd, in Anglesey said: “The property market in our areas is showing promising signs of activity, particularly at the lower end. Homes in this bracket are ticking over nicely, keeping the market vibrant and buoyant.”
Anthony Filice, FRICS, of Kelvin Francis Ltd in Cardiff said: “There was a marked increase in listings, viewings and sales agreed across all price ranges, even over £1,000,000. There is a wide choice of properties, and if sensibly priced, are selling well. There is confidence, but it is still a buyers’ market.”
Discussing the rental market, Paul Lucas, FRICS of R.K.Lucas & Son in Haverfordwest added: “Demand for all types of property remains in a dwindling supply. Many landlords are leaving the letting market.”
Regarding the UK picture, Simon Rubinsohn, Chief Economist, RICS, comments: “Feedback to the latest RICS survey demonstrates the sensitivity of the sales market to interest rates at the present time, given the continuing challenge around affordability.
“A modest back up in mortgage pricing has contributed to the flatlining in the buyer enquiries metric over the past month, as well as the slightly more cautious signals around near-term expectations.
“That said, there is still a strong perception that activity in the market will pick up in the latter part of the year and into 2025, irrespective of any political uncertainty around the general election.
“As far as the lettings market is concerned, an increasing number of respondents are also drawing attention to affordability constraints, and this is reflected in a more modest pace of rental growth. But a fundamental problem in the market across much of the country remains the imbalance between demand and supply with new instructions continuing to decline”.
Business
Paul Butterworth appointed Vice Chair of Regional Learning and Skills Partnership
Paul Butterworth, the CEO of Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, has been appointed as the new Vice Chair of the Regional Learning and Skills Partnership (RLSP) for south-west Wales.
Covering Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea, the RLSP is dedicated to bridging the gap between education, skills, and regeneration. It aims to ensure that the skills provision is aligned with the economic priorities and opportunities of the region, as well as tackling the new skills landscape that is happening within the energy, construction, manufacturing and digital sectors.
As CEO of Chambers Wales, Paul brings a wealth of experience and a passion for the economic and skills development of Welsh businesses with him to the board.
As the voice of the business community with policymakers, Paul will advocate for enhanced skills training, infrastructure improvements and the creation of skilled jobs, all aimed at creating local economic growth.
Upon his appointment, Paul said: “I am determined to create a better and fairer business landscape for West Wales to ensure that the local economy has the best available skills development for future project development and the transition into the green economy and energy sector to ensure West Wales thrives.”
Jane Lewis, Regional Partnerships Manager at RLSP, said: “We are delighted to have Paul on the board. He will be instrumental in achieving our goals and look forward to the positive impact his appointment will have on the region.”
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