According to this article (link below) from the Friends Of Suburban Bristol Railways website , Bristol City Council spending on public transport is just over half of what other core cities spend , and the Council currently plan to spend nothing at all on local rail.
http://www.fosbr.org.uk/Underspend.htm

Quote :

"Bristol City Council currently plan to spend nothing at all on local rail. Passenger Ilse Hambrook recently spoke at a Cabinet meeting where she reminded the executive members that Bristol has the infrastructure for a local rail network that could dramatically ease congestion. Lib Dem leader Barbara Janke replied that the Council is aware that the infrastructure exists - but she did not explain the lack of local investment in it."

We know that Bristol has the infrastructure for a local rail network that could dramatically ease congestion , because we've studied it
http://www.shinewithstyle.co.uk/literature/Draft%20Greater%20Bristol%20Metro%20Proposals.pdf

Here is a further link on the FOSBR "Half - Hour Train" campaign.
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/12/friends_of_suburban_bristol_ra_2.html#more