F O S B R

YOUR WEBSITE RETURNS

Sound the Crumhorn, Beat the Timbrel

Too many visitors meant that we exceeded our bandwidth for the second time in three years and were shut down for a week at the end of our accounting period.

TO KEEP ABREAST. CHECK THE DIARY NOW

FOSBR CALLS FOR INVESTMENT TO ALLOW HALF-HOURLY TRAINS 

On Monday 13 July, commuters at Redland Station will give Stephen Williams (MP for Bristol West) a message to take to Parliament. FOSBR is calling for a 30 minute frequency on the branch line between Bristol Temple Meads and Avonmouth, and other improvements in local rail services.

MPs on The House of Commons South West Regional Select Committee have launched an inquiry into transport in the south west region. They are asking whether transport provision in the region is adequate to meet the demands placed upon the region. FOSBR will be responding to the MPs' questions from a station packed with people boarding at 0748, 0814, and 08.21.

Bristol City Council’s investment in an additional train on this line has resulted in a 40% increase in passengers since May 2008.  

FOSBR argues that:

1. -          30 minute clock face service would cut congestion and carbon emissions

2. -          Passengers would get a better and more reliable service

3. -          Bristol City Council’s investment would go even further.

In order to allow a half-hourly service, it would be necessary to make the line between Clifton Down and Montpelier station double track. This project would mean restoring the derelict platforms at Redland and Montpelier and providing new passenger access. The next step is to commission Network Rail to undertake a study of the options and costs. We believe that there is community support for this. We are also asking our region's MPs to support such investment local rail network.

The extra train cannot enable a half-hourly service because the line is single track for most of its length. Trains must pass at either Avonmouth or Clifton Down where the line is double-track. The current daytime service of three trains per two hours that began in May 2008 is the maximum that is possible with the current track layout.

 

ONE YEAR OLD

The Improved Service

A bouncing bonny baby 30% bigger

Shirehampton Station on Sunday 17th May and the platform was flooded with people detraining from the 14.44 arrival. Amongst the crowd were Councillors, union officials and special guest, Cat Hobbs. All had come for one purpose: to celebrate the first anniversary of the introduction of the new enhanced service on the line to Temple Meads.
A year has passed since the new service levels subsidised by Bristol City Council (including a regular Sunday service for the first time in about 40 years!)were introduced and the 17th May marked the introduction of the new summer timetable too. So a celebration with a specially commissioned train cake after various speeches and the presentation of cards (designed by Ian) signed by the travelling public to thank Bristol City Council, First Great Western, the Unions and workers. Although it rained, the shelter on the station seemed to expand to cover the majority of the 50 or so people there.

Our photos show the cake and the chalked message on the platform (so well removed by a tropical storm some 10 minutes after the train whisked off the crowd,) and the cake being cut by councillors, Cat et al.

Thank you Bristol City Council, thank you First Great Western - now we would like a 30 minute service, redoubling the loop at Montpelier to Clifton Down, the Park & Ride platform at Portway, Portishead..............

So there had to be Cake

 

RAMBLERS RETURN

Tuesday 19th May sees the start of the Ramblers' guided walks series using stations around Bristol and along the line to Weymouth

Click here for details

FOSBR SUPPORTS ASLEF

What is Network Rail's priority?
Frothy coffee or a safe railway?

Click here to read the Union's message

Other rail unions, RMT and TSSA are also fighting cuts in services and maintenance