Newport Station was depressing. How could so many bad design points get into one project? Pity the station canopy on platform 1 wasn't extended to meet the new footbridge / entrance structure.
Etc...
As a past resident of Risca (which overlooked the line to Ebbw Vale on which I travelled a few months back) I found your comments interesting and found myself agreeing with most - if not all - of what you said. Some station transformation projects (
IMHO▸ ) work well - such as Reading - but I really don't get what has been done to Newport. Maybe I am missing something
Train ride to Ebbw Vale was interesting. I nominate this route for the most in need of vegetation cut-back... it's a wonder there's any paint left on the trains. Progress evident on track doubling. Why, o why, did some GSM-R▸ masts and equipment rooms get put on the formation of the second track???
I agree with all of this and everything else from your
OP▸ which I have cut out to save a bit of space!
Didn't have time to alight at Pye Corner this time. Its predecessor at Bassaleg Jn wouldhave been my local station, had it not closed when I was about 2 years old.
I used to work at the British Alcan Aluminium plant at Rogerstone which is near Bassaleg. I seem to remember at one time there was talk of extending the rail line into the plant to reduce the need for bring ingots in by road. Sadly those plans and the factory itself are a distant memory.