News
GWR unveils Coronation train services to Swansea fit for a King!
GWR has commemorated the Coronation in style with a named train service fit for a King!
The 0848 London Paddington to Swansea service has become known as the ‘Flying Carolean’ from today, with Intercity Express Train 802103 featuring King Charles III’s official Coronation logo along with its new name.
The logo and name was applied to the side of the train live on the platform at Paddington following its arrival from Cheltenham at 0759.
The ‘Flying Carolean’ then departed to Swansea at 0848. After it reached its end destination in Wales, the Coronation logo and Welsh name ‘Y Carolean Hedegog’ was applied to the opposite side of the train.
‘Carolean’ refers to the name Charles and marks the new Carolean era, while GWR chose one of its Paddington to Swansea services to pay homage to the King’s 59 years as the Prince of Wales.
Rail Minister Huw Merriman, who helped to unveil the Coronation logo, said: “This tribute will take pride of place on our railway as we approach the Coronation celebrations and pay our gratitude to the King.
“It’s an honour to unveil the sign today and particularly fitting it will adorn a service to Wales – a country both His Majesty and Great Western Railway have served for many years.”
GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said:“We’re incredibly excited about the Coronation and have been working hard to ensure we have everything in place to carry passengers in and out of London.
“We want to pay our own special tribute to King Charles III and name a train service which not only reflects the new Carolean era, but also celebrates his long association with Wales, where we are incredibly proud to serve as part of the GWR network.”
Network Rail Interim Western Route Director, David Davidson, said:“We’ve been working closely with our train partners and others to prepare for the Coronation weekend. We’ve decked out Paddington station, have volunteers on hand across our stations and will be doing everything possible to give passengers a great experience this weekend.”
GWR is providing additional trains and extra carriages for the King’s Coronation but advises those travelling to allow plenty of time for their journeys.
With around 1.2 million people expected to line the streets of London on Saturday 6 May for the procession to Westminster Abbey, GWR will provide extra very early morning trains from South Wales, Devon and Cornwall, as well as in London and the Thames Valley, to take customers into central London. An hourly, overnight service is being provided tomorrow into Saturday.
GWR will also operate as many trains as possible on the Windsor branch line, between Slough and Windsor, for ticket holders to the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday. Three services will run per hour, with an extra carriage providing an increased 33% capacity per journey.
Up to 30,000 people are expected to attend the concert within the grounds of the castle. Once again, GWR will operate extra late night/early morning services between Windsor and Slough and between London Paddington and Reading. Those travelling are being warned to expect to have to queue in the designated area to board trains safely.
Business
First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead
THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon, marking the start of physical deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.
The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock shortly after 4pm on Wednesday, bringing tower sections and other heavy components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the existing gas terminal at Waterston.
A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, is due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.
The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.
Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the latest movements in emails to the Herald.
“The Peak Bergen arrived yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”
The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.
Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock. Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.
Weather conditions are currently favourable for this morning’s arrival of the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.
The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are expected to begin next week, subject to final police and highway approvals.
A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.
Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery programme continues.
Photo: Martin Cavaney
Crime
Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood
A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.
SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST
Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.
The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.
COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION
Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.
Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.
She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.
The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.
Local Government
Sewage leak at Pembroke Commons prompts urgent clean-up works
Council pollution officers say they have no enforcement powers over Welsh Water infrastructure
SEWAGE contamination on the Commons in Pembroke has prompted an urgent response from pollution officers, after a leak was reported by a member of the public on Tuesday.
Pembrokeshire County Council’s Pollution Control Team confirmed they were alerted yesterday afternoon to sewage surrounding a manhole cover on the site. The Herald understands that officers immediately notified Welsh Water (DCWW) network technicians to investigate the incident “as a matter of urgency”.
County councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, said the authority had been clear that it holds no enforcement powers over Welsh Water assets.
“Whilst we work constructively with Welsh Water, we have no authority to intervene on their apparatus or to carry out enforcement action against them for such pollution incidents,” the Pollution Control Team said in a statement shared with the councillor.
Urgent works underway
Council officers visited the site on Wednesday morning alongside contractors and Welsh Water technicians to assess clean-up options. According to the team, works will include cleaning the contaminated ground in and around the manhole cover and fencing off the affected area “until safe”.
Cllr Grimes said officers would return to the scene on Thursday to check on progress and ensure the area is properly secured.
Residents who notice any further issues have been urged to contact the Pollution Control Team directly.
Further updates are expected later this week.
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