Monmouth MS Peter Fox calls for better rail resilience
Monmouth MS Peter Fox has written to the Welsh Government to raise concerns about recent disruption on the Welsh Marches Line, which runs through Monmouthshire and connects Manchester and North Wales with Cardiff.
Recent incidents have caused widespread delays and cancellations, including a collapsed culvert north of Hereford and structural problems with a bridge outside Cardiff Central.
Mr Fox said: "Our railways are crucial to commuters and tourists across Wales.
"I have two major stations in my constituency, in Abergavenny and Chepstow, which for a lot of people are their only way of commuting.
"We have seen a lot of bad news around recent incidents on the Welsh Marches Line, and whilst these examples were not necessarily preventable, the knock-on effect is something that needs to be addressed.
"Passengers were held up for hours, if not days by these problems, impacting on the whole network and affecting others across Wales.
"I have written to the Welsh Government to ask for action to improve our resilience, to ensure that when incidents happen, passengers impact is minimalised."
In his letter to the cabinet secretary for transport and north Wales, Mr Fox argued that while such incidents may not always be avoidable, the line currently lacks the resilience needed to cope with disruptions.
He warned that any issues along the route have a 'dramatic effect' on the wider Welsh rail network, and called for steps to ensure essential services remain running when incidents occur.
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Wales Online
18 hours ago
- Wales Online
Man visits 120 chip shops across the UK and this Welsh chippy made his top 5
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Crowning Green Lane Chippy in Leigh, Lancashire, as his personal best so far, with The Old Forge Cafe in Bugle, Cornwall, trailing close behind, Stephen, hailing from Penketh, Warrington, shared: "I've tried quite a lot of chippies so far on this journey but it has never gotten old - I still look forward to eating them every single time. I just love a good old traditional fish and chips - there is nothing that beats it for me." Rounding out Stephen's top five was Hennighan's Top Shop in Machynlleth, which has previously been named as one of the best in the UK. The family run shop has been going for forty years and they won best in in Wales, too, back in 2017. For more top Welsh fish & chip shops, click here. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here Stephen's tour, which he documents on his YouTube channel, here, said that Hennighan's 'delicious' pea fritters were 'the best' he'd tasted to date. The reviewer also liked the shop's potato doughnuts, tucked into some battered haddock and praised Hennighan's as a 'cracking little shop.' Kickstarting his 'Chippy Tour' to honour the cherished staple he believes the nation risks losing due to many establishments facing closure from escalating costs, Stephen assessed each chippy on several criteria. He judged them on a scale of five, taking into account customer service, cleanliness, presentation as well as the quality of the fare. He spends £30 at every chippy purchasing a battered sausage, steak and kidney pie, curry sauce, and a pea fritter alongside the chips - and has spent £3,600 in total. He further commented: "There's a lot that goes into getting a five star review - I also put a lot of pride into giving them. All aspects of the experience affect the score - for instance how friendly the staff are as for me manners are important. "How the shop is presented is also something I look out for too as I want to feel comfortable and welcome when I'm inside. Also those who sell other meals, like kebabs and pizzas. If the love for fish and chips doesn't come first then it may affect the score.", reports the Mirror. "I'm sharing the joy and the history of these iconic places - I want to do it right." Stephen gave a resoundingly postive 'oh' after tasting a pea fritter (Image: YouTube/The Chippy Tour ) Stephen remarks that to earn a top score of five, the place must be so impressive that visitors won't feel let down if they make a trip specifically to see it. He observed that fish and chip shop prices fluctuate across the UK: "On average nationwide it costs around £10 for a meal - up north it is a little bit cheaper as you normally pay £8 in my experience. But further down south you are looking to pay double the northern price." 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I have no preference on the colour of the batter but as long as it isn't soggy underneath you are all good. "It has to look fresh and clean - when you break open the batter there should be a sweet earthy smell. For the chips you are looking for the light golden colour. "They need to be a bit plump while crispy on the outside but not too firm in the middle but also not overly soft - you are looking for the sweet spot. "Lastly, I prefer it cooked in beef dripping rather than vegetable oil - the flavours are much better this way." You can find Stephen's full list here. Article continues below Stephen's top five UK chippies: 1st: Green Lane Chippy - Leigh, Lancashire 2nd: The Old Forge Cafe - Bugle, Cornwall 3rd: Charlie's of Mobberley - Mobberley, Cheshire 4th: George A. Green Fisheries - Wakefield, Yorkshire 5th: Hennighan's, Machynlleth, Wales
The National
18 hours ago
- The National
Orkney ready to shine as Island Games return to Scotland
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ITV News
a day ago
- ITV News
Welsh explorer becomes world's first to scale Andes through seven countries
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