Taken from Today's South Wales Echo (and a journey that'll effect me):-
Barry Island traders fear their hopes for a bumper May Bank Holiday could be derailed because no trains will be running to the resort over the weekend. Network Rail has picked the May Bank Holiday weekend of May 2, 3 and 4 to carry out ^essential maintenance work^ on the track between Cardiff and Barry Island and along the Vale of Glamorgan line from Bridgend.
The decision, which was taken 18 months ago, has astounded traders at the popular South Wales resort which has suffered tough times in recent years due to poor weather. One veteran trader has predicted that visitor numbers will drop by about 20% because day trippers from the South Wales Valleys will be unable to visit by train. Replacement buses will be put on but restrictions on what can be carried on them will be imposed. The decision could also lead to increased traffic congestion at the resort as day-trippers revert back to their cars.
Marco Zeraschi, known to many as ^Mr Barry Island^, runs a cafe and shop on the promenade at Barry. He said: "This is one of our busiest times of the year and they have dropped the ball as far as the timing of this work is concerned. To pick a Bank Holiday is ridiculous".
He said the work should have been carried out overnight so that the daytime trains were not affected. "Being conservative, I would say we will see a 20% drop in visitors due to this".
Ian Rogers, owner of Barry Island Pleasure Park, said: "It^s ridiculous, just unbelievable. They haven^t event thought of Barry Island as a resort".
Former Barry Island trader Paul Halley, chairman of the Pride in Barry group, said the resort was hoping to see an increase in the number of visitors to the resort because the credit crunch made it too expensive to go abroad. "This kind of thing can only dent those hopes,^ he said. ^If people cannot come by train, they may choose not to come".
He said car parks at the resort were packed during the Easter holiday and he feared that there could be even more cars this bank holiday due to the train cancellations.
"I would like to see the Vale council open the land at the former holiday camp as an overflow car park", he said.
A spokeswoman for Network Rail said is was investing ^750,000 to renew nearly 2km of track at Cogan and Barry, starting from May 2. She said: "Work will be carried out over four weekends from May 2 to May 17, when engineers will be working round the clock so that normal services can resume for peak periods on the weekdays". She said the work was planned 18 months in advance after consultation with Arriva Trains Wales to find ^the most appropriate times that will minimise inconvenience to passengers^ on lines that were mainly used by commuters.
Replacement buses will be provided by Arriva Trains Wales between Cardiff Central, Barry Island, Penarth and Bridgend via the Vale of Glamorgan line on May 2, 3 and 4, and on May 9, 10, 16 and 17.
An Arriva Trains Wales spokeswoman said: "Dogs, except guide dogs, cycles, prams and large items of luggage will not normally be conveyed on replacement road coach services".
A Vale council spokeswoman said the possibility of using land at the former holiday camp as a car park was being discussed. The work will also impact on fans travelling to the Heineken Cup semi-final between Cardiff Blues and Leicester Tigers at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.
Simon Turton, special events manager for Arriva Trains Wales, said: "The effect of the number of engineering works taking place on Sunday will mean that capacity on all services is likely to be extremely limited and customers are advised that access to trains will be on a first-come, first-served basis".
