Business

Transport for Wales to review train timetables amidst changing travel patterns

Published

10 months ago

July 19, 2023

IN THE WAKE of the Covid pandemic and its far-reaching impacts on travel behavior, Transport for Wales (TfW) has announced a comprehensive review of all train timetables. The move comes after what has been described as “massive” changes to travel patterns, as more people work from home and choose weekend commutes over the traditional weekday rush.

TfW’s chief executive, James Price, addressed MPs and acknowledged that the current timetables are no longer suitable for the evolving demands of commuters. The paradigm shift brought about by the pandemic has seen a decline in the number of passengers using buses and trains, leading to challenges for TfW in maintaining services without compromising their efficiency.

Speaking at the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, Mr. Price played down concerns that the review might result in fewer services. He highlighted the unanticipated poor performance of services between north and south Wales, especially on the Welsh Marches line. However, he emphasized that this particular route remains the only profitable service under TfW’s ownership.

The Committee raised concerns about the subpar services and disruptions faced by passengers due to the ongoing South Wales Metro work. Some constituents even faced disciplinary action from their employers for chronic tardiness to work, a situation that TfW is keen to address.

In response to questions from MPs, Mr. Price affirmed that the Welsh government has been providing additional funding to the bus sector to maintain services in the face of reduced passenger numbers. He assured that an announcement on TfW’s plans for future services would be made shortly.

One of the key questions directed at Mr. Price was regarding the feasibility of hourly services between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury by March 2024. He acknowledged that some plans might need to be postponed due to constraints posed by the availability of trains and the capacity of Network Rail, which operates and maintains most of Wales’ track.

Mr. Price justified the timetable review, explaining how the pandemic had dramatically altered travel patterns. The existing timetables, designed years ago with a different work culture in mind, no longer suit the current landscape where working from home and weekend commuting are increasingly prevalent.

“We’ve seen our pinch points completely moved. So we’re reviewing all of that,” he stated.

Despite acknowledging the Welsh Marches line’s recent struggles, Mr. Price expressed optimism that performance would improve. He attributed the issues to the temporary withdrawal of Class 175 trains for safety checks, leading to the use of inferior trains with reduced capacity and slower speeds. He assured the Committee that the return of the Class 175 trains had brought the service closer to acceptable levels, and TfW’s ambition was to achieve excellence in its operations.

The Welsh Marches line, surprisingly, is the only line that currently generates profits for TfW. Mr. Price noted that this financial success allows the organization to cross-subsidize other services and invest in the improvement of less lucrative lines.

While TfW is undertaking a significant upgrade of the Valleys lines network, costs have escalated from over £260 million to a staggering £1 billion. Mr. Price attributed the cost overrun to factors such as inflation, the pandemic’s impact, and unforeseen infrastructure constraints.

Amidst concerns about the disruptions caused by the upgrade, Mr. Price reassured MPs that most of the disruptive work had been completed. He expressed hope that people would soon be able to resume using the Valleys lines without further interruptions.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative Leader Andrew RT Davies MS, said: “The change in timetables being proposed by the TFW CEO are concerning, the service’s record on late trains is dreadful, with only 64% of trains arriving on time on the Wales and Border Lines. I and many users will be concerned that a timetable change will ultimately lead to fewer services being offered.

“The Labour Government has failed to ensure that there is a reliable public transport system in Wales. Considering their plans to punish motorists by grinding the traffic flow to a halt with their looney 20mph speed limit roll out and their banning of new road buildings, they must ensure public transport is a viable alternative.

“Labour themselves appear to be completely out of answers, with customer satisfaction still low, the people of Wales deserve a public transport system that benefits them, not a scaled back service that continues to be late.”

Business

Paul Butterworth appointed Vice Chair of Regional Learning and Skills Partnership

Published

7 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Richard Lewis

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.”

Business

Expansion for Ashmole & Co with acquisition of Jones Ward Accountants

Published

2 days ago

May 5, 2024

Tom Sinclair

CHARTERED, Certified Accountants, Ashmole & Co, are delighted to announce their expansion following the acquisition of JonesWard accountancy firm in Carmarthen.

Ashmole & Co Carmarthen has today taken over JonesWard who have closed their office in Lammas Street, Carmarthen. All JonesWard staff, including Ian Jones and James Ward, have transferred over to Ashmole & Co and will be based in the Old School, the Quay, Carmarthen.

JonesWard informed their clients that the administrative burden of running a practice had increased significantly over recent years due to the constant changing money laundering and tax regulations, software requirements and so on. Over the past 12 months it had become more challenging to maintain the level of service they had been used to providing.

Ian Jones said, “We feel Ashmole & Co share the same values as us and have the necessary expertise and resources to ensure we can continue to provide the personal touch and level of service clients have been accustomed to. Myself and James are not retiring but we will be supported by Ashmole & Co’s partners and staff from now on in their Carmarthen office.”

Ashmole & Co partners Sharon George, Carwyn Morgan and Vinal Patel will strive to ensure JonesWard clients will continue to receive the high quality of service they are used to.

Vinal Patel, Partner with Ashmole & Co said, “It is our priority to make the transition as smooth as possible with all employees of JonesWard having already transferred to Ashmole & Co and are now based in our office on the Quay in Carmarthen. We look forward to meeting our new clients and working closely with them to meet their needs in the future.”

Ashmole & Co Chartered and Certified Accountants have been established since 1897 and are one of the largest accountancies and auditing practices in south Wales, now operating from thirteen offices throughout south and west Wales including Swansea, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest and Ammanford.

Business

Dragon LNG explores integration of LNG and CO2 liquefaction processes

Published

2 days ago

May 5, 2024

Tom Sinclair

DRAGON LNG, based in Waterston, Milford Haven, recently announced a significant step towards sustainable energy solutions.

The company awarded a contract to Worley, global professional services company of energy, chemicals and resources experts, to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study.

The study is focussing on exploring the potential benefits of integrating LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas)
regasification and CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) liquefaction processes at Dragon LNG’s facilities. This integration holds promise for a more efficient operation, with the potential to reduce energy consumption, carbon intensity and the levelized cost of CO2 export not only at the Dragon site but also for Haven industry companies.

If feasible, the technology at Dragon would support wider collaboration with RWE Pembroke Net Zero Centre, whose CO2 would be transported to the Dragon facility for processing before being shipped via non-pipeline transport (NPT) to carbon sequestration sites.

Key aspects to be addressed in the feasibility study include:

Technical Solutions: Worley will evaluate various technical approaches to seamlessly integrate LNG and
CO2 liquefaction processes, ensuring optimal energy efficiency and effectiveness.
Carbon Intensity Reduction: Dragon LNG is committed to sustainability, and the study will assess how the integration of processes can contribute to lowering the carbon intensity of operations, aligning with broader environmental goals.
Economic Viability: Understanding the financial implications is crucial. The study will delve into the levelized cost of CO2 and other economic factors to determine the feasibility and financial benefits of the proposed integration.

Commenting on the partnership, a spokesperson for Dragon LNG stated, “We are excited to collaborate with Worley on this important initiative. As a responsible energy provider, Dragon LNG is continuously seeking innovative ways to enhance our operations while minimizing our environmental footprint. This feasibility study represents a significant step towards achieving those objectives.”

Worley’s expertise in engineering and consultancy services including in the CO2 and LNG sectors makes them an ideal partner for this endeavour. Their track record of delivering sustainability solutions aligns perfectly with the ambitious goals of Dragon LNG.

This collaboration underscores Dragon LNG’s commitment to driving sustainable practices within the energy sector. By exploring the integration of LNG regasification and CO2 liquefaction processes, the company aims to pave the way for a cleaner, more efficient energy future with their ambition of a net zero terminal by 2029.