The Railways in South Wales – In Transition

Jeremy Segrott delivered a superb presentation to us today on “The Railways in South Wales – In Transition”. During the afternoon we looked at the last 50 years of the railways on the mainline and along the Valley lines. Over this time the mainstay of local services were the Pacer units (Classes 142 & 143) and the Class 150 dmu’s, some of which have spent over forty years in the area. This has now completely changed with the introduction of 77 of the new Class 197 units plus the Class 231 FLIRT units, along with extensive electrification throughout the area, although not everywhere, along with the Class 800 on the mainline from Paddington.

After the interval we were taken along some of the Valley lines looking at stations and improvements that have been made since the loss of the coal trains and the mines. All except one small station, with an unpronounceable name, that still has platforms just fifty-two feet in length. Electric trains began work on the Valley lines in 2024, with an improved frequency of service and bright, clean, open plan trains.

Jeremy also took us further forward looking at the about to be introduced tram-trains in and around Cardiff, with rail and road running.

He obviously had a couple of favourite loco’s, which we kept seeing at various points, one was 37219 which has served the area on and off since new, and HST 43002 which has worked the London to Cardiff and Swansea routes most of its life and was again photographed hauling the final service from South Wales to London.

A superb, really well presented afternoon’s entertainment with some great photographs.

Dave Elsdon

Branch Secretary