Two rail set-backs

 Railfuture reports:

ORR [the Office of the Rail Regulator] has approved a new Grand Union train service between London and South West Wales from the end of 2024. As well as a choice of operator and more price competition, it will offer new direct journey opportunities. Passengers travelling between London Paddington, Bristol Parkway, Severn Tunnel Junction, Newport, Cardiff, Gowerton, Llanelli and Carmarthen will benefit from five more return services each day. Grand Union proposes to build a new Parc Felindre station on the Swansea District line that would bypass the city itself.

This will be good news for Llanelli, which is not best served by rail at present, but not so good for Swansea City centre or, presumably Neath.

Founded in 2013,battery and hybrid train manufacturer Vivarail has gone into administration. Class 230 trains are no longer being maintained, so the Bletchley –Bedford service is suspended. These were also set to enter service next year on the West Ealing -Greenford branch, using Vivarail’s Fast Charge system to re-charge their battery in just ten minutes