12/09/2016 BBC Wales Today

The Severn Tunnel closes for electrification -

thousands of commuters face an autumn of disruption.

The charred remains of Didcot power station.

The remarkable story of the engineer from the Vale of Glamorgan

who cheated death and the Golden Boy from Bridgend

sets a new Paralympics record to win Gold at Rio.

It's the main rail link between South Wales and England.

Tens of thousands of passengers use it every day for

But for the next six weeks the Severn Tunnel is closed.

but it will all be worth it - says the Welsh Government,

to make journey times faster to London and Heathrow in particular.

For some, the rerouting around Gloucester was too much

It's a different way to start the working day.

Commuters boarding the new 8am flight from Cardiff

Part of the new so-called rescue flight service

being offered by FlyBe while the Severn Tunnel is closed.

We regularly pop up for lunch to see somebody.

3.5 hours is a seven-hour round journey and that's

So FlyBe's service is just from heaven.

The more than century-old link is being upgraded.

Engineers are installing the rest of this electrified rail that

will power faster trains planned for the route.

It's absolutely vital that Wales is properly connected,

both in terms of connectivity with part of the UK,

but also internallay and for that reason we have constantly called

on the UK Government to ensure that electrification through to Swansea,

the electrification of the valleys lines and the North Wales Main Line

It's absolutely essential that that work takes place.

Business leaders too think a new air service,

delivering you direct into London's financial heart

in less than an hour and a half, could be a long-term option.

I think what that shows you is the choice that's

And, as you mentioned, we've got technology,

but when you do need those meetings, to have that real choice,

to know that you are not tied to one timetable,

so whether it is the bus route, rail or flight, these

are all important options to give flexibility to business

The tunnel will be closed for six weeks, until October the 21st.

If you are travelling from South Wales

to London, you go via Gloucester, adding about 35 minutes to

If you are travelling to Bristol, you have to take the

railway replacement bus, adding around 45 minutes.

Passengers have been urged to plan in advance.

For the next six weeks, we can put up with it.

It could have been better over the summer holiday, but there

People will probably need to be more organised in the mornings,

Other firms are also looking to capitalise

National Express opted to erect this Bucking Bronco

to promote their Bristol and London services.

Business leaders, politicians and rail bosses are

aware this closure will cause disruption.

Some see it as short-term pain for long-term gain.

Others believe it may be an opportunity in itself.

It could hand politicians in Cardiff Bay new powers

to set speed limits, decide on energy projects

and increase the number of Assembly Members sitting

The Wales Bill has been being debated in the commons this

evening - here's out Parliamentary Correspondent,

The British people have spoken and we are out. Long enough for a vote

to leave the European Union, for a change of Prime Minister and a

Labour leadership challenge. With all that turmoil you could be

forgiven for missing a new law that will change how Wales is run. From

the speed limits on the road to the voting age in Welsh elections. And

what the assembly will call itself. This law also abandons the need to

have a Referendum before Wales gets the power to vary income tax, a move

ministers here say will make the Welsh government more accountable.

For too long we have been debating the Constitution, the minutiae of

government issues. This is empowering the Welsh government to

act on the things that matter to people in Wales. They will be truly

accountable, truly responsible, they will rightly get the credit when

things go right but also be held to account when things are not going

away in which they deemed in their policies. Wales Bill to be

considered... This was possibly the last time the MPs will debate the

constitution, for a while. Opposition parties are not happy.

Labour say with a number of MPs to be cut, Wales needs more assembly

members and the Welsh parties said it will not have the same powers of

Scotland and Northern Ireland. The talking is almost over but they will

still be arguments between the Welsh and UK government over details,

before the tax powers are fully transferred.

The Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, must intervene

to help bring home a woman from Swansea who claims to have been

That's the call from Amina al-Jeffery's MP, Geraint Davies,

after the deadline passed for her safe return to the UK.

The European arm of Tata steel, which includes Port Talbot,

made a ?90 million profit - according to its latest results.

But Tata reported a ?358 million global loss.

The Chief Executive of Tata steel's European operations says

they're making progress because of business improvement

initiatives, restructuring and a more favourable market.

A pet food manufacturer is hoping to create up to 20 new jobs as it

expands its business to the former Hotpoint factory site

The Real Petfood Company based in Flint has bought a unit

on the land in Bodelwyddan, as part of a ?6 million expansion.

It's six months since an explosion at Didcot Power Station killed

four men, including Christopher Huxtable from Swansea.

As the last of the bodies was recovered over the weekend,

we've been speaking to one worker who was on the site that day.

John Cosgrove, from Rhoose in the Vale of Glamorgan,

was on a coffee break, when the building he'd been working

He's been speaking to his niece - our reporter, Jenny Rees

about his narrow escape and the loss of his friends and colleagues.

It was the demolition of a power station that brought

he met his future wife, my auntie, Gaynor.

Today is their 19th wedding anniversary.

in demolition for 40 years, and had been at Didcot for 15 months

He was on a break 30 metres away from the boilerhouse

All of a sudden I heard a noise, like a rumbling noise.

At first, I thought it was like one of those

And then it got louder and the Portakabins

When it was finished, I opened the door and

I knew something serious had happened because I couldn't see

I stepped outside and I just said, I don't know, I don't

know to this day, he was on the floor,

was one of the three who were killed.

A few years ago, lovely lad, smashing lad.

Was it important to you to be involved?

When they took us away in May, and put another

contractor in, that is when we felt cheated.

I've got to be honest, we felt cheated,

because they were our pals under there.

A guard of honour for our pals in the last two weeks, we wanted to

The last of the bodies was recovered on the weekend,

John is now awaiting news of four funerals,

which he dreads, but hopes they'll offer some closure.

Tonight's sport and in Rio - Aled Sion Davies has smashed

the Paralympic record in the F42 shotput to win gold.

Our correspondent, Steffan Messenger sent this report.

Back at the Paralympics four years after he was sent into the limelight

by London 2012. Then a discus gold and shot put Bronze led to

sponsorship aplenty and a chance to have a career as a full-time

athlete. The bear from Bridgend as he is known has since become a world

champion at shot put and a world record holder. The gold in Rio was

to clinch the Paralympic title, as well. The weight of expectation was

huge. From the start, he delivered. Breaking the record with his first

through and improving on it with his third. His best today at 15 metres

and 97. When confirmation came he was ecstatic. I remember coming from

the podium in London and thinking, that is it, I can never lose again.

You will apply the pressure instantly. I have had dark times and

really good times. I have had my family and girlfriend by me the

whole time. I am so happy I can come here and deliver and they saw it as

well. A golden moment that those in charge of disability sport in Wales

hope will inspire others to take part. What he does is he inspires

people. If you want to take part in sport, whatever your ability,

regardless of your impairment, we have got great opportunities in

Wales. Aled Davies is the third athlete from Wales to contribute to

the growing British middle tally. Sabrina Fortune won an unexpected

bronze in the 20 shot put the first Arabic. That was followed by gold

for Rachel Morris in the running. A golden 48 hours for the Welsh

athletes at the Paralympics, with plenty more in prospect for the days

to come. Some hot and humid weather

heading our way through this week, especially across eastern counties,

further west more cloud and the risk of some showers but I think all of

us, more sunshine tomorrow compared Tonight we will see quite a bit

of cloud across part of Pembrokeshire, and we will see

the odd spot of rain. Further inland, skies clearing

and a very mild night. Lowest temperatures

of around 15 Celsius. Tomorrow we have this weather

front close by. That will bring quite

a bit of cloud and rain, First thing tomorrow,

a dry and bright start. Cloud increasing from the west,

bringing patchy rain through the morning but I am hopeful

by the afternoon it will be drier For the rest of the

British Isles we do have this weather front across western

parts and further east, the best of the dry and brighter weather,

feeling hot and humid In Wales tomorrow afternoon,

fewer showers and the temperature is responding to the sunshine,

getting up to 25, maybe 26 Celsius. 18 or 19 Celsius in the West

but we will see A fairly quiet night

to come tomorrow night with clear skies into the early hours

of Wednesday morning. Those temperatures quite muggy,

ranging Wednesday looks like

another lovely day, still feeling warm, I think drier

conditions compared to Tuesday. Getting up to 26,

maybe even 27 Celsius. Make the most of it,

because by Thursday we will some showers and also some

sunshine in between. Turning cooler as we head

towards the end of the week. That's Wales Today -

thank you for watching, from all of us on the programme,

goodnight.