Transport news

A number of train services travelling through Cardiff will be cancelled or diverted over the weekend

A key Cardiff train station will be closed for several days while National Rail staff carry out engineering works.

There will be no trains to or from Cardiff Queen Street from Saturday, July 25, to Monday, July 27.

The work means a number of services which would normally travel through the train station will be affected with many journeys being cancelled over the weekend and others operating on different routes to normal.

Ahead of the disruption Transport for Wales has urged passengers to check whether their route is disrupted and plan their journey ahead of travelling. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here.

Which services are impacted?

All train services to Cardiff Bay are cancelled but pre-purchased tickets will be accepted on Cardiff Bus services instead.

A rail replacement shuttle bus service will also be running at Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street, and Cardiff Bay during early mornings and late evenings on Saturday and Monday.

On Sunday the replacement service will only run in the late evening.

All Coryton services will be cancelled for three days with tickets being accepted on Cardiff Bus. Meanwhile Penarth services won’t run or Saturday or Monday but will on Sunday.

Across the three days rail replacement buses will operate between Cardiff Central and Radyr calling at Llandaf, Cathays, and Cardiff Queen Street.

All Treherbert, Merthyr Tydfil, and Aberdare services will be diverted via the city line between Cardiff Central and Radyr.

Services between Rhymney and Cardiff Central will be replaced by rail replacement buses

Trains between Bridgend and Barry Island to Rhymney will still be running but they will start and end at Cardiff Central.

Passengers can find more information about the pick-up and drop-off locations of bus replacement services on the Transport for Wales website.

The train company has warned buses may be busier than normal and urged people to allow extra time for their journeys.

Parking will cost £5 for the whole day

Swansea council is taking over the running of two former NCP car parks in the city centre. The council said the move means hundreds more car parking spaces will be available in the city centre costing just £5 to park all day.

The car parks at Orchard Street and the Kingsway will cease being operated by NCP on Friday, July 24, and the council is stepping in to keep them open and available to existing users including permit holders.

The remaining NCP car park at York Street will remain under the control of NCP and is not part of the council’s future car parking plans. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here

The council said it will look at carrying out a number of upgrades to both sites to bring them in line with other council-operated car parks in other parts of the city centre.

Cabinet member Andrew Stevens said: “The previous announcement by NCP going into administration and potentially closing their car parks in Swansea, was a concern when we were given the news.

“Fortunately, the council own the freehold for both the Kingsway and Orchard Street sites. This has given us the opportunity to take over the running of both sites and keep them both running without any disruption for car park users.

“This also means we now have even more car park spaces that cost just £1 an hour and £5 all day.

“During the next few months we will be looking to carry out some works to upgrade payment equipment and other features within the former NCP car parks. This is to ensure they meet the standards found in our other city centre car parks.”

Recently, the council opened the newly completed Copr Bay North multi storey car park in the city centre, increasing parking provision for residents, city centre workers and visitors to the city.

Cllr Stevens added: “Swansea is now in an excellent position in terms of car parking provision in the city centre. With the inclusion of the two former NCP car parks into our overall offer, we now have some of the cheapest parking fees anywhere in the country.”

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Cardiff council has approved introducing a workplace parking levy but the details are still being finalised

Two major motoring organisations have questioned plans to introduce an annual charge for businesses based on the number of employee parking spaces they provide. Cardiff council has approved introducing the scheme, and says it could raise £10m a year.

The scheme is designed to encourage workers in the city to travel either by walking, cycling, or using public transport. The money raised is ring-fenced to fund public transport projects such as bus routes and cycle lanes.

The size of which businesses any such scheme would affect were it to ultimately be implemented is currently unknown however the council is using an estimate of £750 per employer-provided parking space. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here

The only other place in the UK that has such a charge is Nottingham, which introduced it more than a decade ago.

Both the AA and think-tank the RAC Foundation have raised concerns.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, said: “The most common argument against a workplace parking levy is that it is a tax on workers. The council aims to use the levy to raise funds to improve public transport services.

“Essentially this means a section of the city’s travelling public will be targeted (assuming that employers will pass the levy on to their employees) for the benefit of the rest. This is not fair and equal taxation.”

He also raised the point that workplace parking spaces are already taxed through business rates so any WPL would essentially act as a “double-tax” – which he called “unacceptable”.

Mr Cousens said: “City centre workers are some of the most regular and best consumers and customers feeding money into shops and services at a time when town and city centres are seeing lower footfall and spending.

“Undermining that source of income, because the workers having to fork out more of their money on travel and parking means they have less to spend in shops, is not very clever. “

Steve Gooding, director of transport policy at the RAC Foundation, said: “The fact that Nottingham is the only place in the UK with such a scheme hints at the difficulties – politically and practically – of implementing the levy even though the national enabling law was passed more than quarter of a century ago.

“Cardiff Council is explicit that its proposal is a way of raising money to support public transport but businesses will rightly ask why they should have to pay for something that might not benefit them.

“One of the reasons firms offer parking is that often trains and buses don’t – and won’t – service their premises.”

He questioned whether if such a levy was being implemented with environmental aims any consideration would be given to businesses who have employees who drive electric cars as their vehicles would not emit exhaust fumes.

Cllr Dan De’Ath, the council’s member for climate and transport, said discussion around the scheme is in its early stages and that any details, if implemented at all, would be subject to an extensive consultation first.

However, he said “doing nothing is not a realistic option” as the city is facing increasing congestion and pressure on its transport network and less funding.

“The assessments carried out to date indicate that a workplace parking levy is the lowest-burden option capable of generating a significant and reliable funding stream for transport improvements.

“Despite concerns raised when the scheme was first proposed Nottingham has continued to attract investment and grow its business base with improved transport links regarded as an important factor in supporting the city’s economic development.”

He said the council will work closely with businesses as proposals are developed”.

Trafficwas brought to a standstill on the M4 in Newport on Thursday morning as emergency works are being carried out on the westbound carriageway.

At its peak, traffic maps displayed 50 minute delays at Junction 25, Caerleon, for all drivers travelling towards Cardiff. Drivers were urged to allow extra time for their journeys.

The AA’s traffic monitoring system stated: “Severe delays of 48 minutes on M4 Westbound between J24 A449 (Coldra) and J25 B4596 Caerleon Road (Caerleon). Average speed five mph.”

The road block has been lifted and traffic has returned to normal.

Police have urged witnesses to come forward

A man has died following a collision on a major route along the Welsh coast. The crash, which involved a motorbike, happened on the A548 in Flintshire shortly before 4.40pm on Tuesday, July 21.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the collision on the dual carriageway near Bagillt in Flintshire. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter

An air ambulance was called to the scene and the road was closed. Police have since confirmed that a 56-year-old man died at the scene.

Investigations into the collision remain ongoing and officers have appealed for witnesses to come forward, reports North Wales Live.

A North Wales Police spokesperson said: “Emergency services attended the westbound side of the carriageway at around 4.40pm following reports of a collision involving a motorbike.

“Despite their best efforts, a 56-year-old man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Investigations into the collision are ongoing and the coroner has been informed.”

Natalie Edwards, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, added: “I share my deepest condolences with the man’s family at this incredibly difficult time.

“I would urge anybody who witnessed the incident, or who may have relevant dash-cam footage prior to the collision, to come forward as soon as possible.”

Anyone who holds information that may assist police with their enquiries is asked to contact the force on 101, or via their website, quoting reference number O177790.

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Jacqueline Davies, 75, had “a strength that inspired those around her,” her family said.

A mother who died after being run over by her own car has been described as “strong, independent and spirited” by her family.

Jacqueline Davies, 75, of Bryn Milwr, Hollybush, Cwmbran, died the day after being run over by her car outside her home. Gwent Coroners’ Court heard on Monday Ms Davies told the 999 call handler she had been run over by her own car on July 6 and described not being able to breathe.

It was heard Ms Davies had left her vehicle to move a cat that was in front of her red Ford Fiesta. The car’s handbrake did not hold on a slope and the vehicle subsequently rolled forward and hit Ms Davies leaving her seriously injured. Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter

Paramedics and police attended the scene and transferred Ms Davies to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff where she died from her injuries the following day, on July 7.

Her family has now appealed for information, saying they are desperate for answers.

In a statement, her family said: We are heartbroken beyond words at the sudden loss of our beloved mum, Jacqueline Davies, aged 75.

“She was a strong, independent, spirited mum who was never scared to speak her mind, and that was one of the many things we loved about her.

“She was honest, determined and full of character, with a strength that inspired those around her.

“Our family is devastated and life will never be the same without her. We are trying to come to terms with what has happened but we are also desperate for answers.”

A spokesperson for Gwent Police said: “Officers investigating a road traffic collision in Cwmbran are appealing for witnesses.

“We received a report of a road traffic collision on Bryn Millwr, Hollybush, Cwmbran at around 3.10pm on Monday 6 July. Officers attended the scene alongside paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service.

“The collision involved one car, a red Ford Fiesta and a 75-year-old woman from Cwmbran was taken to hospital with serious injuries and passed away the following day.

“The woman can now be named as Jacqueline Davies.

“Officers investigating the collision would like to speak to any motorists who were travelling in the area of Bryn Millwr, Hollybush who may have witnessed the vehicle or the collision between 10am and 10.30am on Monday 6 July.

“If you have any information that may help, including CCTV or dashcam footage, please call 101, quoting log reference 2600214500, or send us a direct message on social media.”

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A temporary lane closure has been introduced on the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road westbound to protect public safety

A “structural defect” has been discovered on the Heads of the Valleys Road causing a temporary lane closure.

The issue on the Clydach Gorge Viaduct, on the A465 westbound between Clydach and Brynmawr, was identified during a routine inspection.

The Welsh Government has now introduced a lane closure and deputy minister for transport Mark Hooper said repair work was progressing on the viaduct.

He confirmed the restrictions would be lifted once the work has been completed.

Member of the Senedd for Sir Fynwy Torfaen Peter Fox has now asked for further information on the defect and asked for a timetable for the repair work.

Mr Fox has also called for the government to undertake a full assessment of the road between Gilwern and Brynmawr in order to check for further defects. Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter.

Mr Fox said: “The A465 is constantly talked up by Welsh Government as a success for Wales and our valley communities but I am afraid the Blackrock section has once again put doubt on this.

“This section was over three years delayed, £100m overbudget, and has had countless snagging issues.