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Topic: Council reinstates train subsidy (Read 9076 times)
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Mojo
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/6302003.stmBristol City Council has decided to reinstate the subsidy for the Severn Beach Line after axing it one year ago. The money will be spent providing a more regular train service between Bristol Temple Meads and Avonmouth. The council voted to scrap the subsidy in 2006 after First Great Western (FGW) won the contract and agreed to continue to run an hourly service. Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) petitioned the council for a service running every 30 or 40 minutes. FOSBR members sent 561 postcards to the council in response to a budget consultation. Cut congestion The Liberal Democrat-run council will allocate the money for an extra train for a trial period from December 2007 until March 2010. They will spend £140,000 "for the first quarter" between winter 2007 and spring 2008 and an additional £450,000 has been allocated until the end of the three-year trial. FOSBR campaigner Julie Boston said: "We're delighted by the decision. It shows the Lib Dems are listening to local people and that they want to use the local rail network to cut congestion. "Running the more frequent service for a two to three-year trial period is a great idea - it will provide enough time to increase passenger numbers and show the potential of the line." Council leader Barbara Janke said the money to pay for the extra train has come from a successful crackdown on fraudulent claims for 'lone household' discounts on council tax bills.
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Lee
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That is the best news I have heard for a long time. Well done!!
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Graz
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Finally, some good news!  Thanks for posting!, |
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Lee
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« Last Edit: January 27, 2007, 12:04:28 PM by Lee »
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Lee
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Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) petitioned the council for a service running every 30 or 40 minutes.
"Running the more frequent service for a two to three-year trial period is a great idea - it will provide enough time to increase passenger numbers and show the potential of the line." Source information just received indicates that a decision has been taken that running the more frequent service is NOT possible. Moves are now underway to try and reverse this. |
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Lee
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More on this :
- At the Severn Beach Line Working Group meeting on Tuesday 3 July 2007 , Andrew Griffiths said that First was not able to provide the 40 minute train service between Temple Meads and Avonmouth from December 2007.
- Alison Forster says that it should not be said that the 40 min service was not possible.
- Meeting today (04/07/2007) to see if this decision can be reversed.
- FGW blaming lack of drivers.
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Lee
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Western Daily Press Article : http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=146238&command=displayContent&sourceNode=146064&contentPK=17744331&folderPk=100268&pNodeId=145795Quotes : The Severn Beach Working Group convened at Bristol County Council offices , chaired by Keith Walton of the Severnside Community Rail Partnership , and discussed the progression of plans. But following the meeting fears were raised about whether FGW would be able to find a crew for the extra train to be introduced in December. An FGW spokesman said: "At this stage there is no definitive timetable." "The plans are still at the consultative discussion stage, with all of the issues relating to timetable scheduling being discussed." Keith Walton responded: "There was a statement from First Great Western that it may be difficult to introduce this service by December, but I think the statement was a little bit premature." "Having discussed this with FGW I am confident and optimistic that it will be achieved." |
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Lee
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FOSBR Press Release : RAIL CAMPAIGNERS CALL ON BRISTOL COUNCILLORS NOT TO BE RAILROADED BY FIRST GREAT WESTERN Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) have written to Councillor Mark Bradshaw to lead an all party delegation of Bristol councillors to meet Alison Forster, Managing Director of First Great Western. An improved service for this well used line was promised and committed to by the council and First Great Western. FOSBR is determined that there is no backtracking on the commitments made to commuters and voters. FOSBR say that it is the responsibility of our elected councillors to ensure that the 40 minute weekday service between Temple Meads and Avonmouth is provided from Monday 10 December. More rail users means fewer road users in our gridlocked town. After the unequivocal commitment on 27 February 2007 by Bristol City Council’s to invest in an improved service from the 2007/8 budget, the First Great Western seem to wavering. Investment was committed at the Council Budget meeting and supported by all political parties in response to a campaign by Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways. FOSBR urge Councillors Dennis Brown (Lib Dem), Barbara Lewis (Conservative) and Charlie Bolton (Green) to join Councillor Mark Bradshaw at the meeting with Alison Forster. First Great Western should not be allowed to countermand the decisions of the council and dictate its policy. Paul Tinkler, CEO of Mirifice Ltd in Bath said “Everyday the service is packed and everyday commuters have to jostle to get even standing space. The trains are often too full to take any more commuters. Buses are stuck in the congestion and why should we be forced into our cars? The line is fantastic and keeps hundreds of people off the road each day. To under-value the service is terrible but to commit to improve the service then quietly go back on the promises is scandalous. Let’s face it; the road based transport policy in Bristol is not exactly a success. The council should not be bullied and dictated to by First Great Western.” First insisted that the additional frequency should be for a trial period of three years and this money (approximately £450,000) has been committed by Bristol City Council. Spending on transport in Bristol is low compared to other cities. Bristol plans to spend a miserly £26 on public transport per head of population in 2007/8 compared with an average of £47 among comparable core cities. While the city is gridlocked, we feel we have a strong case for ensuring that the budget decision is honoured. Paul Tinkler 07815302403 Julie Boston 07791 867 512 / 0117 942 8637 www.fosbr.org.uk 30 July 2007 |
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Lee
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Severn Beach Line (and some Melksham) questions answered in the link below. http://indefenceoffirstgreatwestern.blogspot.com/2007/08/well-my-post-about-ticketless-travel.htmlQuotes : Severn Beach "The latest Severn Beach usage figures have not yet been obtained, nor has the Severn Beach Line Development Plan been updated. This is work in progress." "There is no immediate prospect of a Clifton Down turnback service due to lack of funding from Bristol City Council as they are focusing on Avonmouth. The problem from our end lies in the fact that the services they have elected to focus on will be at a lesser frequency than if we could run some services only as far as Clifton. Therefore, at present, the proposal for a Clifton Down turnback signal has been dropped and can only proceed if Bristol City Council wish to fund it." "Finally, the new fare structure was discussed with the Severn Beach Line Working Group at two seperate LWG mettings several months apart and both times received universal support." "I personally think that the Avonmouth service is do-able, although not the best use of resources. Pathing may be an issue later but for now, sufficient afre available to make it worthwhile." "I would think that the 40 minute frequency service will indeed be the case from December. I also think that it may well call for the line enhancement you mention. Personally, I would like to see every section of mainline with 4 tracks. True branch lines maybe not so much but I don't see a case for not enhancing the line, especially if more services all along Severn Beach are implemented as well as the enhanced Avonmouth service." Melksham / Trans Wilts "The Sunday service does require investment but it is now somehting that First are in a position to deal with internally, rather than last year, when they weren't. It hs also been projected that in the current environment, returns will outweigh the initial expenditure. This was not the case last year." "I believe that FGW were looking to free up the stock from the three stoppers as South West Trains have projected a 10 service per hour (probably meant to read 10 service per day , each way - Lee) stopping pattern at most stations according to their last figures. I am not aware of the status of this but, based on the lack of a promised enhancement for Melksham, I would also assume that this hs fallen through." "With the December train paths, you are quite correct. We have to get in there early to get any guarentees." |
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« Last Edit: August 09, 2007, 05:09:27 PM by Lee »
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Lee
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Initial reports out of an FGW board meeting held on 06/09/2007 , suggest that the promised improved Severn Beach line service will NOT be in the December 2007 timetable.
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Lee
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Monday - Friday December 2007 Timetable :
Trains leave Bristol Temple Meads for Avonmouth at 0531 (SB) , 0609 , 0645 (SB) , 0809 (SB) , 0849 (SB) , 0949 , 1049 , 1149 , 1249 , 1349 , 1449 , 1549 , 1649 , 1749 (SB) , 1918 (SB) & 2145 (SB). Services from 1049 - 1649 have bus connection to Severn Beach.
Trains leave Avonmouth for Bristol Temple Meads at 0619 (SB) , 0646 , 0733 (SB) , 0818 , 0917 (SB) , 0946 (SB) , 1018 , 1118 , 1218 , 1318 , 1418 , 1518 , 1618 , 1718 , 1846 (SB) , 2145 (SB). The 0818 and services from 1118 - 1718 have bus connection from Severn Beach.
SB = Trains starts from / continues to Severn Beach.
No 40 minute frequency service.
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« Last Edit: September 10, 2007, 03:51:03 PM by Lee »
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Lee
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The off - peak service to Bedminster & Parson Street is to be reduced to 2 - hourly from December 2007 , which in turn means a lowering (to a lesser degree) of frequency to other stations on that route.
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Pages: [1] 2
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