The Anonymous Widower

Cardiff And Caerphilly – 24th March 2026

I took this pictures, as I rode up the Rhymney Valley from Cardiff to Caerphilly.

Note.

  1. The trains I took up and down the valley were both Class 756 tri-mode trains.
  2. My train reversed to Penarth in Platform 1.
  3. I think they were running using the diesel power in the power pack.
  4. There is an overhead conductor rail in Platform 1 at Caerphilly station to charge trains.
  5. The electrification North of Caerphilly station can be seen through the bridge in one of the pictures.
  6. Platforms 2 and 3 are not electrified.

I think Caerphilly station is a very neat electrification layout for occasional charging of battery-electric or tri-mode trains.

I have some specific thoughts.

What Have Caerphilly And St. Pancras Thameslink Stations Got In Common?

These pictures show the rigid conductor rail through St. Pancras Thameslink station.

It looks remarkably similar to that in Platform 1 at Caerphilly station.

Judge in this picture.

The rails are probably out of the same Swiss electrification maker’s parts bin.

Both look equally professional with an I-section conductor, which could be aluminium, as it is lightweight and a good electrical conductor.

Google AI finds this.

The I-beam overhead conductor system used in St. Pancras Thameslink station is made of a hollow extruded aluminium profile. This system, known as a conductor beam, holds a conventional copper contact wire, providing a rigid, low-profile alternative to traditional overhead wires.

Key details:

Material: Extruded aluminium profile.
Structure: Hollow, designed to hold an un-tensioned, conventional copper contact wire.
Application: Developed by Balfour Beatty to reduce the required depth of overhead line equipment.

Installation: Often installed in a sinusoidal wave to ensure consistent wear on the pantograph.

This technology is used in areas with restricted overhead space, such as tunnels and some modern station approaches, to manage 25kV AC electrification.

It looks like it’s been used to provide a charging rail in Caerphilly station.

Is The Conductor Rail In Platform 1 Used To Create A Continuous Electrical Connection Around Caerphilly Station?

Look at this OpenRailwayMap, which shows the completed electrification through Caerphilly station.

Note.

  1. Red tracks are electrified.
  2. Black tracks are not electrified.
  3. Caerphilly station is indicated by the blue arrow.
  4. The electrification continues to the Western end of the station.
  5. The two main platforms 2 & 3 are not electrified.
  6. The bay platform 1 is electrified to charge trains for return to Cardiff.
  7. Class 756 tri-mode electric-diesel-battery trains are already in service.
  8. There appears to be a comprehensive bus interchange.

The power for Platform 1 could come from the electrification at the Western end of the station.

I wouldn’t be surprised that the Rhymney Line will be fed with electricity at the heads of the valleys and it is fully-connected down to Cardiff to give a secure electrical connection.

Will Welsh Wind Power From The Heads Of The Valleys Be Used To Power The Cardiff Valley Lines?

To start with, as I know it can be blowy there, I asked Google AI, this question.

“Is Onshore Wind Planned At The Heads Of The Valleys In South Wales?”

I received this answer.

Yes, there is significant onshore wind energy development planned and in progress along the Heads of the Valleys area in South Wales. This region, encompassing areas like Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent, and northern Rhondda Cynon Taf, is part of a broader push to increase onshore wind capacity in Wales, with many projects located on Natural Resources Wales forestry land.

Key Developments and Proposed Projects (2025-2026):

Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru: The Welsh government-owned developer has selected sites in South Wales for new, large-scale wind farms intended to be operational by 2040.

Carreg Wen Wind Farm: A planned 18-turbine project located between Aberdare and Maerdy (Rhondda Cynon Taf), near the Hirwaun/Heads of the Valleys area.

Hirfynydd Renewable Energy Park: A proposed project located on the Hirfynydd mountain range between Seven Sisters and Banwen, north of Neath, near the western end of the Heads of the Valleys.

Mynydd Llanhilleth and Trecelyn Wind Farms: Projects in the pre-application or planning stages by Pennant Walters in the Blaenau Gwent area.

Abergorki Wind Farm: A consented three-turbine project on Mynydd Maerdy (Rhondda Cynon Taf) with construction scheduled for 2026.

Operational Context:

Pen y Cymoedd: Already operational and currently the largest onshore wind farm in England and Wales, situated in the hills above the upper Neath, Afan, Rhondda, and Cynon Valleys.

Grid Infrastructure: Proposed new substations, such as one near Hirwaun (Rhondda Cynon Taf), are intended to connect these new projects to the national grid.

These developments are part of a target to generate 70% of Wales’ electricity from renewable sources by 2030, with a focus on areas previously identified as suitable for large-scale wind development.

Note.

  1. Pen y Cymoedd is the largest onshore wind farm in Wales and England, with an installed capacity of 228 MW.
  2. With the right size of battery, I’m fairly sure, that this wind farm could go a long way to powering the Cardiff Valley Lines.
  3. Carreg Wen Wind Farm is planned to be 108 MW wind farm.
  4. Hirfynydd Renewable Energy Park is planned to be a 100 MW hybrid development of wind turbines and solar with a battery.
  5. Mynydd Llanhilleth is planned to be a 48 MW wind farm.
  6. Trecelyn is planned to be a 20 MW wind farm.
  7. Abergorki is planned to be a 13 MW wind farm.

The total of new developments is 389 MW, which is about the same size as a Rolls-Royce SMR.

March 25, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

EasyJet’s New Slimline Seats Will Offer 2 Inches More Legroom

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.

This is the sub-heading.

The Kestrel seat’s thinner design promises improved knee and shin clearance. Could the ‘fixed recline’ feature also lead to fewer spats over space?

These three paragraphs add more detail to the story.

As budget airlines try to squeeze more and more passengers onto flights, it can feel as though the seat in front gets slightly closer every time you step on a plane.

But a “next generation” economy seat is coming, which its makers say will give travellers extra legroom with no loss of space for airlines.

The Kestrel seat from Mirus Aircraft Seating, a British manufacturer, will be installed from 2028 on hundreds of easyJet’s new aircraft, providing an extra two inches of “improved knee and shin clearance” for passengers.

Hopefully easyJet’s passengers will be sitting more comfortably.

 

March 24, 2026 Posted by | Design, Manufacturing, Transport/Travel | , , | Leave a comment

Funds Committed To Explore More Rail Expansion

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.

This is the sub-heading.

Money has been allocated to develop plans to extend a popular rail route reinstated 15 months ago

These three paragraphs add more details.

Last week, the North East Combined Authority (NECA) committed an initial £2.5m to a dedicated Rail Development Fund, which included plans to expand the Northumberland Line.

Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson said he hoped planning applications for the line’s extension to Newbiggin-on-Sea could be submitted by 2028 and suggested a station could be added to serve Wansbeck General Hospital.

The funding would be used to “accelerate rail‑related scheme development across the region” including a plan to reopen Ferryhill Station in County Durham as part of the Leamside Line.

This would appear to be most of what campaigners want.

 

March 24, 2026 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , | Leave a comment

Clarksons To Support RWE’s Vanguard West, Vanguard East From ABP’s New Lowestoft Facility

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.

This is the sub-heading.

Clarksons Port Services has signed an agreement with RWE and Associated British Ports (ABP) for RWE’s Vanguard West and Vanguard East offshore wind projects in the UK.

These three paragraphs add more detail to the story.

Under the agreement, the company will support the construction of the two offshore wind farms from the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF), where Clarksons will lease and operate a facility on behalf of RWE.

ABP officially opened the new port facility in January 2025, after investing GBP 35 million (around EUR 40 million) in the port infrastructure. The facility features deep-water berths, modern utilities and future-proofed infrastructure to support shore power and alternative fuels, according to the port operator.

RWE secured Contracts for Difference (CfDs) for the two offshore wind farms in January this year, when the UK government awarded 8.4 GW of offshore wind capacity in the seventh CfD round (AR7).

Vanguard West and Vanguard East offshore wind projects are almost identical 1545 MW projects, that should be commissioned in 2028/29.

The two projects are 47 km. off the coast of Norfolk.

They will bring their power ashore at Happisburgh and connect underground to the grid at a new substation at Necton.

If I was a Norfolk Nimby, I would feel, that RWE are building these wind farms so as not to annoy the neighbours.

  • They are a fair way out to sea.
  • There appear to be no overhead cables.
  • The support will be handled in a purpose-built facility.

Judding by their actions, I do wonder if RWE are getting a shift on, as they would like to get these wind farms built before the 2029 General Election

 

 

March 23, 2026 Posted by | Energy | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How Green Are The Valley Lines?

This news item from Transport for Wales is entitled 100% Electrification Of The Core Valley Lines Complete.

This is the sub-heading.

Transport for Wales has completed the full electrification of the Core Valley lines, at the heart of the South Wales Metro, delivering one of Wales’ most ambitious rail infrastructure transport projects.

These two paragraphs describe the current status.

Dubbed the ‘Welsh Tube’, the £1bn project brought electric tri-mode trains to the South Wales Valleys for the very first time in 2024. This spring, TfW will introduce the first of its 36 fully electric Class 398 tram-trains. The new fleet will initially operate between Pontypridd and Cardiff Bay, providing greener, more frequent services as part of the South Wales Metro.

Passengers are already benefitting from these improvements with the Core Valley lines being one of the most punctual and reliable networks in Great Britain over the past 6 months.

This OpenRailwayMap shows the electrification in the Cardiff area.

Note.

  1. Red tracks are electrified.
  2. Black tracks are not electrified.
  3. Cardiff station is indicated by the blue arrow.
  4. The black track going West from Cardiff is the South Wales Main Line to Llantrisant, Bridgend, Port Talbot and Swansea.
  5. The red track going East from Cardiff is the South Wales Main Line to Newport, the Severn Tunnel, Bristol Parkway, Reading and London.
  6. The lines going North up the valleys are from the West to Maesteg, Treorchy, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhymney and Ebbw Vale.
  7. The most Easterly line is the Newport and Hereford Line.

I will now look at some of the electrification.

Caerphilly Station

Caerphilly statition is on the Rhymney Line.

In June 2018, I wrote Caerphilly Station and took these pictures of the station.

At the time, I considered it a difficult station to electrify.

This OpenRailwayMap shows the completed electrification through Caerphilly station.

Note.

  1. Red tracks are electrified.
  2. Black tracks are not electrified.
  3. Caerphilly station is indicated by the blue arrow.
  4. Tracks to the North of Caerphilly are electrified.
  5. Tracks to the South of Caerphilly are not electrified.
  6. The electrification layout allows station with its two bridges and the 1784 metre Caerphilly Tunnel to the South of the station, to be unwired.
  7. There appears to be another section of plain track to the North of Caerphilly.

This second OpenRailwayMap shows the completed electrification through Caerphilly station.

Note.

  1. Red tracks are electrified.
  2. Black tracks are not electrified.
  3. Caerphilly station is indicated by the blue arrow.
  4. The electrification continues to the Western end of the station.
  5. The two main platforms 2 & 3 are not electrified.
  6. The bay platform 1 is electrified to charge trains for return to Cardiff.
  7. Class 756 tri-mode electric-diesel-battery trains are already in service.
  8. There appears to be a comprehensive bus interchange.

March 23, 2026 Posted by | Design, Environment, Transport/Travel | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Euston Station – 22nd March 2026

I went for breakfast to Euston and took these pictures on a quiet Sunday morning.

March 22, 2026 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , | Leave a comment

Will Northumberland Line Success Help More Open?

The title of this post, is the same as this article on the BBC.

This is the sub-heading.

On 29 March the final station, Bedlington, opens on the Northumberland Line marking the completion of the project to reopen the route from Newcastle to Ashington.

These three paragraphs add detail to the story.

With passenger numbers exceeding predictions, could its success give new impetus to other projects to reopen former railways across northern England?

Dennis Fancett, chair of the rail users group Senrug, which campaigned for the Northumberland line for 20 years, hopes so.

He believes the obvious next step is to extend it along the existing freight tracks to a new station at Woodhorn and from there to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

I believe that the Northumberland Line is following a pattern, that I call London Overground Syndrome.

March 21, 2026 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , | 5 Comments

The Liquid Air Alternative To Fossil Fuels

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC Future Web Site.

It is also one of the best articles, I’ve read on the economics of liquid-air energy storage.

This is the sub-heading.

An overlooked technology for nearly 50 years, the world’s largest liquid air energy storage facility is finally set to power up in 2026. It’s hoping to compete with grid-scale lithium batteries and hydro to store clean power, and reduce the need to fall back on fossil fuels.

These three introductory paragraphs add detail to the project.

As the world’s use of renewable electricity soars, surpassing coal for the first time, the need to store that energy when the Sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing is growing in step. While some turn to grid-scale lithium batteries and others to pumped hydro, a small but growing industry is convinced there’s a better solution still: batteries that rely on air.

Near the village of Carrington in north-west England, the foundations are being laid for the world’s largest commercial-scale liquid air energy storage facility, one of the first of its kind. The site will eventually become an array of industrial machinery and a number of large storage tanks, filled with air that has been compressed and cooled so much it has become a liquid, using renewable energy surplus to demand. The stored energy can be discharged later when demand exceeds supply.

If the project succeeds, more will follow. The site’s developers Highview Power are confident that liquid air energy storage will make it easier for countries to replace fossil fuels with clean renewable energy – though at present, the technology is expensive. But as the need for clean energy storage surges, they’re betting the balance will tip in favour of liquid air.

The BBC article, seems to have been written with input from Shaylin Cetegen, a chemical engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who studies energy storage systems.

Topics discussed include.

  • The intermittency problem of renewables and how this gives problems for the stability of electricity grids.
  • The switchable nature of fossil-fuel power generation.
  • A big part of the solution is to store the surplus energy so that it can be released when it’s needed. Think of it like an electricity deposit account!
  • For decades, the main form of energy storage has been pumped hydro. In 2021, the world had 160 GW of pumped hydro capacity. The UK has a total of just 3 GW in Scotland and Wales! But more is on the way!
  • Recently, large-scale battery storage systems have risen to the challenge and installed capacity has risen from 55.7 GW in 2023 to 150 GW / 348 GWh in 2025.
  • The liquid air solution is then explained.
  • A grid-scale stop-gap, that is the 30 MW/300 MWh Manchester hybrid liquid-air battery, is then described.
  • In August 2026, the battery is set to begin operating.
  • An alternative way of stabilising the grid will be provided.
  • It will come online in two stages, says Highview Power CEO Richard Butland.
  • Then in 2027 the liquid air storage is expected to begin fully operating.

Highview Power will make money by trading electricity, as pumped storage operators do.

The penultimate section of the article looks at the bottom line and comes to these conclusions.

Instead, she says governments could support the technology. In her study, subsidising the initial capital costs to set up the systems “could be a viable approach to achieve economic viability in the short term”, she says.

Furthermore, faster uptake of renewables would increase energy price volatility, making energy storage more economically viable.

Cetegen makes a final point in favour of liquid air energy storage: it’s cheap. Energy storage technologies are often assessed using a metric called the “levelised cost of storage”, which estimates how much each unit of stored energy costs over the lifespan of the project. For liquid air, this can be as low as $45 (£34) per megawatt-hour – compared to $120 (£89) for pumped hydro and $175 (£130) for lithium-ion batteries.

“While none of these storage methods are likely economically viable right now without policy support, liquid air energy storage stands out as a particularly cost-effective option for large-scale storage,” Cotegen says.

Ultimately, Butland expects electricity grids to rely on a mix of storage technologies. Pumped hydro is extremely effective and works for decades, but it’s location-dependent because it needs a water supply. Meanwhile, batteries are highly efficient and can be placed anywhere, but need to be replaced after about 10 years. Liquid air has the advantage that it can store energy for longer than batteries, with minimal losses.

As any country enters the green transition, its electricity grid needs to be remodelled to cope. “We’re rebuilding all grids globally, based on new generation,” says Butland. And that could well mean a lot of liquid air energy storage.

 

March 21, 2026 Posted by | Energy Storage, Energy | , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Does Anybody Type Using Five Fingers Of One Hand, Scanning Them Where Necesary For Shift, Control And Alt.

 

Note.

  1. My left awas broken by the school bully and doesn’t work well.
  2. My stroke didn’t help.
  3. I have a yellow keyboard and I’m probably typing as fast as I ever had.
  4. My father owned and worked in a letterpress printers.
  5. He taught me to set type from an early age.

Letterpress typesetting is done by holding the composing stick in your left hand and placing the letters in order in the stick, with your right hand.

I now type this way and it may be the cause of the problems in my right hand, which is red and tingling at times.

I asked Google AI, the title of this post and received this answer.

Yes, many people type using all five fingers of one hand, particularly individuals with limb differences, injuries, or those who prefer a single-handed method. This technique often involves “scanning” or spanning across the keyboard and can achieve impressive speeds.

Techniques and Methods

FGHJ Home Row Method: The most common approach involves resting the index finger on F (or J for right handers), middle on G/H, ring on H/G, and pinky on J/F. This allows the hand to cover all keys on a standard QWERTY keyboard.

“Scanning” / Stretching: The hand moves dynamically around the keyboard, rather than staying in a fixed home-row position, relying on strong muscle memory to reach all keys.

Modifier Key Handling (Shift/Alt/Ctrl): The thumb is frequently used to reach modifiers, or the pinky is stretched to reach the shift keys. For simultaneous keys (e.g., Ctrl+C), people often use “Sticky Keys” in Windows/MacOS to lock the modifier key, or press them sequentially.

Five Finger Typist: There is specialized, structured software designed specifically to teach this five-finger, one-handed technique.

Speed and Proficiency
One-handed typists using all five fingers can reach high speeds, often ranging between 40 to 80 words per minute (wpm), with some experienced users achieving over 100 wpm, depending on the individual.

Assistive Tools

Compact Keyboards: Smaller keyboards (like laptop keyboards) are often used because they reduce the distance the hand has to span, decreasing fatigue.
Half-QWERTY / Mirrored Layouts: Specialized software or hardware that allows one hand to “mirror” the other side of the keyboard (e.g., tapping ‘F’ with the ‘J’ finger while holding a modifier).

Conclusion

I could believe that answer and will use it as long as I can!

March 21, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Computing, Health | , , | Leave a comment

Black Country Towns’ Trains Return After 60 Years

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.

This is the sub-heading.

Two Black Country towns have welcomed trains for the first time in 60 years following the opening of new stations.

These two paragraphs give details of the route.

The Willenhall and Darlaston stations are part of a £185m project to reinstate rail links across the West Midlands not used in decades.

The two stations have been added to the Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street service via Wolverhampton.

Note.

  1. The services are run by four-car Class 196 dieselmultiple units.
  2. The frequency is two trains per hour.
  3. One hourly service calls at Smethwick Galton Bridge, Wolverhampton, Shifnal, Telford Central and Wellington.
  4. The other hourly service calls at Tame Bridge Parkway, Darlaston, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Bilbrook, Codsall, Albrighton, Cosford, Shifnal, Telford Central, Oakengates and Wellington.

This map shows shows the route of the Birmingham New Street and Shrewsbury service via Wolverhampton.

Note.

  1. Willenhall station is in the North-Western corner of the map.
  2. Darlaston station is marked with a blue arrow on the yellow track to the East of Willenhall.
  3. Birmingham New Street station is in the South-East corner of the map.

I have one further thought.

Electrification

Only the almost thirty miles between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury is without electrification, but electrification is all the way between Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street station is already wired.

I could see the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury route being electrified using battery-electric trains.

Obviously, if the route is eventually electrified will depend on the traction needed for other services.

 

March 21, 2026 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , | Leave a comment

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