Transport for Wales!

Teething Problems?

The take over of the Arriva contract does not seem to have solved much for rail in Wales, and neither has the weather? Flooding and landslides with the recent and more expected heavy rains will cause more problems, on top of lack of new stocks and bad management?

Wales has always had the backend of British Rail and now into privatization little has changed!

Cheaper fares in competition with the bus services will make for a cleaner faster journeys between the big cities of the capital Cardiff and Swansea. 

But the valleys and further afield will continue to suffer from lack of stock allocation and overcrowding, much is promised by the Welsh government and one has just to wait and see and hope that not all will be disappointed again?

Management and the past removal of track to the major ports of Pembroke and Fishguard for freight was unwise, putting more of a strain on the roads? The lack of vision is another issue to do with the bottlenecks of the M4 between Cardiff and the Servern crossing?

Hawker Beech King Air B300.

Small is beautiful?

Why at this point in time has the British armed forces opted for the Beech King Air 300 Avenger T.1, when there are so many more capable aircraft on the military market? 

One reason is cost and yet recently it was reported that smaller aircraft fitted with new digital technology will no longer need larger aircraft frames except for fuel and long range!

Many of the existing platforms will probably disappear in the next ten to twenty years if not sooner, perhaps the long awaited Nimrod replacement may meet the same fate?

Longevity of the Diesel?

With us for sometime Yet!

With the many modern designs and inventions with trains, the Diesel has not yet seen its end? Most of the world uses these types of engines which are still viable as recovery and for shunting, despite battery and electric power!

The Diesel is one of the most active forms of engines and they remain reliable is many more duties than meets the eye. Some countries are still building them as a back-up to their railway infrastructure despite the reports that the emissions are dangerous?

The problem with electric and battery is we do not know yet how they will effect future generations? Another issue that has come to the fore is that battery engines burn the same amount of fuel as say Diesel or petrol, but they do have the advantage today of no emissions?

Auxiliary Ships! Two.

Re-fitting and Updating.

The problem today with all types of weapon systems is the need to update and to refit what can be?

One was amazed at the size of these vessels, pictures in books do not do justice to seeing the real thing! What is being done today, will probably be out of date by the time these vessels return to operational duty, but waiting in the worlds politics is not a wise move?

Replenishment vessels at sea will be around for some time, but space will also need ships to do the same role as humanity moves on from the confines of this world!

The role of recovery of damaged equipment is essential outside of conflict, as much as it is in conflict, while their are others roles in humanitarian work and hospital facilitating! This means that warships and submarines, carriers can remain in the conflict zone while the auxiliary fleet returns home!

Auxiliary Ships. Part-One

Replenishment at Sea!

Every navy needs and auxiliary fleet to keep it at sea and the British Royal navy, since being the first real power at sea perhaps since the Roman empire has some of the best expertise at this role?

Food is the essential need to survive at sea, post and communications is the other, but today it is fuel, fresh water and weapons supply that are the essentials.

There are many different types of vessels for these roles, from Ships like HMS Argus seen at Falmouth yard in Cornwall for re-fitting and others that are solely tankers either for chemicals or crude oil refuelling at sea.

Other roles are also undertaken by the auxiliary fleets and both Russia and the U.S. have now, with China built up their own to meet their own needs?