Welsh railways as way to economic recovery

Welsh railways as a way to economic recovery
The Welsh railways in the Railway magazines
At present the welsh assembly has achieved a lot in terms of railways since its first term of office in 1999.
In summary:
Line and maintenance depot upgrades
New lines though some came in over budget
A station for Cardiff International airport and a rail service from there to Bridgend and Cardiff
Improved service provision on present infrastrucuture in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, with proposals fro line reopening from Carmarthen to Lampeter Parkway.
Trial service franchise to London Marylebone from WrexhamAssembly government preparations for rail reopenings and service improvements on Anglesey and the remaining Blaenau ffestiniog branch.

AlsoThe UK government on St David’s Day committed itself to rail electrification from Paddington to Cardiff and to investigate in conjunction with new trains that could run in Diesel mode as far as Swansea with more fast services from there to Bristol and Manchester to make up for the fact that there would only be one train an hour Paddington service.The Transport secretary also committed further investigation into whether there would be further electrification, train and infrastructure improvements to the Cardiff and Newport valleys network, subject to new trains being obtained and obtainable by the Welsh Assembly’s devolved transport authority.

This is based in part on an academic study by Cardiff university.However The one train an hour service to Aberystwyth has been delayed by problems with the late 1990s introduced signalling system, developed from an obsolete version on the European Rail networks (not used by its high speed rail trains that are about to run to St pancras I think) and for trains with differing underfloor / axle layout.If the service frequency improvements were to occur then the business case for the two additional stations with one at Bow St would be enhanced as part of the next all Wales franchise or devolved taxation or bond issues initiated by the Welsh assembly government. However whether ERTMS (the signalling system in question) is what is required for this is beyond my expertise. I think however that conventional signalling could deliver said service improvements by activating the built dovey Junction loop more effectively but that would require assessment by the Dft and the Welsh Assembly Government.

The methods by which that and the valley lines upgrades are assessed could be used as templates for further services to be upgraded and new lines built (such as to Lampeter) and for the employment of Uk citizens and welsh residents in its construction.James WareInformation for this based on reading Rail magazine Issue 667 and Modern Railways April 2011.