200 to 1: English Rail Investment V Wales Rail Investment !

I include an updated chapter on the rail industry and funding in Wales in my book (from late Oct 2024), "How to build a Metro". So please head over and take a look.... PS October 2023. Given PMs announcement cancelling HS2 north of Birmingham and a suggestion of £1Bn for OLE on the NWML I … Continue reading 200 to 1: English Rail Investment V Wales Rail Investment !

UK Government Cock Ups, Wales, Zen and The Art of Independence…

Whilst a student in Manchester in the 1980s, studying the Philosophy of Science (as part of my Physics degree) I read Robert Pirsig’s famous work, “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”.   I’ll probably summarise this very poorly, but in his book, Pirsig explored, two world views which he manifests in his characters.  One world view … Continue reading UK Government Cock Ups, Wales, Zen and The Art of Independence…

GBR – WISP Consultation. My response…Jan 2022

The nascent Great British Railways and their transition team are/will be responsible for the new "Whole Industry Strategic Plan". They are are currently consulting on that and have a call for evidence open until Feb 2022. I submitted my response to that "call for evidence" which is as set out below... PS I also submitted … Continue reading GBR – WISP Consultation. My response…Jan 2022

South Wales Metro & Devolution

This is the full version of the article that appeared in the December 2021 edition of Rail Technology Magazine and the February 2022 edition of Rail Professional. As many will know, I have been involved in the South Wales Metro project in various roles  since my first report on the subject, “A Metro for Wales … Continue reading South Wales Metro & Devolution

Severnside – My 2012 Blog

I just found an old blog (see below), that was originally published by the IWA in 2012 on the subject of "Severnside", which I thought I should share unedited! Interesting to see how much, and how little, has changed since 2012. Especially the Climate Emergency, Brexit, the cancellation of GWML electrification to Swansea, a recognition … Continue reading Severnside – My 2012 Blog

What sort of Britain do we want?

July 2021... In February 2020, I published a blog “What sort of Wales do we want?” followed up by “The environment, Tax and Wales” earlier in 2021, and then augmented by a blog to counter the fallacious, "Wales isn't capable and cant afford independence" trope in March 2022. I also followed up in early 2024 … Continue reading What sort of Britain do we want?