NEWS PAGE
Please
note that our monthly meeting will be taking place
at 8.00pm on Tuesday 2nd July
at the
Tippling Philosopher Inn, Chepstow Road, Caldicot.
Severn Tunnel Action Group
Campaigning for more trains, less overcrowding, improved parking and better Station facilitiesIntegrated Transport
Help us give you a choice. Several people said they would consider using the bus to the station if it connected with the train service. 85% of rail travellers use the station outside the times that the present Service 62 bus operates.Dedicated Rail Bus Links
Following discussion this is the Council's proposal. To develop further we need information on the present numbers, times and direction used to / from the station.SURVEY
The Severn Tunnel Action Group will be carrying out a survey on Wednesday 4th July 2007 to identify the information needed by the Council to develop the proposals.
Even if using a bus is not for you, please take a moment to fill in the short questionnaire and hand it in either to Michelle in the Booking Office or to a member of the Severn Tunnel Action Group on the station. Your co-operation will be appreciated.
The Action Group is actively working with Arriva Trains Wales, Network Rail, NCP and the County Council to progress the short term objective to tarmac and line the existing Car Park. This will include provision for the Bus to once again turn round at the station. This plan will proceed once agreement has been reached between the railway companies on improving the lighting. The longer term aim is for significant additional parking spaces to be provided at the Station.To down load a copy of the survey please click "here"
STAG Agenda for next weeks meeting
+ Outline Business Plan 2007-2008
Please note that our monthly meeting will be taking place
at 8.00pm on Tuesday 5th May
at the
Tippling Philosopher Inn, Chepstow Road, Caldicot.
Firstly - please find attached
a planning document that was recently put together: it should be self-explanatory
but if you have any queries please come back to me.
Regarding the outline Agenda. Against the reports you will see a name in brackets:
this is the person I expect to make the report (Alan will you kindly liaise
with Phil to make his reports for him: I expect Dave Babier (spelling?) to
make the report on the Bus issue - am I correct?).
If you have anything you wish to say on a report subject, please bring it
to that person's attention before the meeting: I'll leave it up to that reporter
as to whether they call on you, or report on it themselves.
If there is a report that you wish to make: please let me know before the
meeting in order that I may add it to the agenda otherwise it will have to
be raised in 'AOB'. For instance - if Jim wants to talk about 'Better Trains
4 Chepstow'. he'll let me know and I'll stick it on the agenda.
This current month's meeting looks as if it might be rather busy, a lot has
been happening and we've had some good succeses. Among the issues I would
like to have discussions on are:
1. Further improvements to the website - what do you think? (Please note Paul's
recent changes)
2. Under Treasurers Report Alan, can we raise the subject of an annual membership
fee. Our constitution says we aught to have one, I propose a nominal £1.00
for members and associates.
3. Under timetable issues I would like to report on our recent meeting with
Jessica Morden
4. Paul - please report on the Chepstow Show under your Media report, unless
you want to deal with it under AOB - Fundraising.
5. Under Mel's report I'd like to look at 'Getting to the station' (which
you have all had a copy of)
6. Under Alan's report on Station Development and Trackside issues I'd like
to look at some figures I've obtained from the Rail Passenger Council. Also,
the Jacobs Report - what are the key issues for us?
7. Under AOB I'd like to raise Arriva Trains 'Adopt a Station Scheme', and
'Forthcoming meetings' as a check to who we are seeing, when and why? We can
hopefully also agree on the next steps noting the strategy document.
You will also notice that fundraising is mentioned. There are a number of
things that are likely to cost money in th future, for instance the exhibition
panels should we go ahead with the Chepstow Show. I would also like to think
expenses can be reclaimed and I will raise this under the Treasurer's Report.
*Please download
Another victory for Severn Tunnel Action Group
Following continued pressure from the Severn Tunnel Action Group (STAG), First Great Western will restore the late-night service from Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Tunnel Junction from 20 May. The service was cancelled in the controversial timetable revision brought in last December by First Great Western.
These earlier cuts meant that the last train left Bristol Temple Meads for Severn Tunnel Junction at 21.24.
After months of campaigning, the later 22.54 service from Bristol has been reintroduced,. This means that rail passengers wishing to spend an evening of leisure, or work evening shifts around Bristol, will be able to go home by train arriving at Severn Tunnel Junction at 23.14.
STAG was set up late last year to campaign against the axing of trains serving Severn Tunnel Junction. Cuts which First Great Western brought in with its new timetable on 11 December.
As well as campaigning to restore full services to Severn Tunnel Junction, the group is also lobbying National Car Parks, the Welsh Assembly, Arriva Trains, Monmouthshire County Council and others to improve parking and accessibility to the station. The station is regularly used by people from as far away as the Forest of Dean, Monmouth, and even Cardiff.
Commenting on the change David Flint, Chairman of STAG, said that the extra train was a small step in the right direction. He added that the campaign group has expressed its thanks to Andrew Griffiths, Regional Manager of First Great Western, for listening to their needs. The group intend to continue to press for further service improvements, and in particular for further timetable improvements when a futher timetable change is introduced again this December.
Please note that our AGM will be taking place at 8.00pm on Thursday 3rd May
at the
Tippling Philosopher Inn, Chepstow Road, Caldicot.
As a special guest at the meeting we have invited John Pocket, General Manager of the First Great Western Group in Wales.We plan to show John our presentation on the Future of Severn Tunnel Junction as we see it.
For those of you who haven't
yet seen this presentation:
we would hope you will find this of interest.
It will be the first item
on the Agenda.
Among the other items on the AGM agenda will be:
Adoption of Accounts
Adoption of Constitution
Report on acitivities for 2006/2007
Election of Officers
Outline of activities for 2007/2008
Any other business
Does anyone know if the story in "Rail Business Intelligence" (an internal railway news update) dated 22/2/07 that 12 x 158 to leave FGW "in March" is correct?
It says two to TP and 10 in store because DFT won't allow money for them. If true, understand that they will go at end of month.
Passenger Focus
Please find attached the first edition of a new quarterly newsletter from Passenger Focus. In future editions, I plan to include an insert on Wales and Borders activities.
If you have any comments, please send them to Simon.Pickering@passengerfocus.org.uk
Simon Pickering
Passenger Link Manager, Passenger Focus
Severn Tunnel Action Group
Notes from Team
Meeting
on Monday 5th February 2007
*please click here to access notes for our meeting
Wednesday 7th February 2007
Rail firms plan 'to sneak in fare rise twice a year'
London Evening Standard: 06.02.40
Train operators are considering fare increases, according to reports
Rail company bosses are planning to sneak through inflation-busting fare rises, it was claimed today.
Train operators are considering a move to increase fares twice a year, hoping passengers will not notice the full impact.
Today, commuters accused the firms of "trying to bury bad news".
Rail firms, which make profits of tens of millions of pounds a year, faced a barrage of criticism last month when they announced fare rises of 11 per cent - more than three times the rate of inflation.
Passengers accused them of increasing prices while failing to provide a good service with overcrowded and delayed journeys.
Now, a number of rail companies, including transport giant FirstGroup, which includes First Great Western services into Paddington and First Capital Connect, are looking at plans to introduce the two separate increases, possibly in May and September.
But commuters reacted angrily, saying it was an attempt by the rail firms to avoid bad publicity.
"They are trying to sneak two-and-a-half increases through. Do they think we're stupid?" said accountant Terry Garrett, 60, from Merstham, Surrey.
Emily James, 23, a human resources executive from Kenley, Surrey, who pays £11 a day to commute into London Bridge, said: "It's a smokescreen. Trying to bury the bad news is pointless and just causes more unrest.
"If they were open about it, we'd be more willing to accept it in the long term but this just makes us more disgruntled."
And Brian Cooke, chairman of TravelWatch, the London passenger watchdog, said: "We think it would be better if there was only one increase - at least passengers would know the situation for the year."
A senior rail industry source said: "It is difficult to gauge whether the idea to move the date of the January increase has come from government or train bosses - both regularly get it in the neck in January when news is often light and fare increases dominate the agenda."
This year's fare increase led to claims that train operators are trying to deal withovercrowding by pricing people off the busiest trains.
Anger increased on the day of the fares announcement when a survey from rail union TSSA revealed it costs three times more to travel by train in the UK than in the rest of Europe.
Gerry Doherty, TSSA leader, said: "It's outrageous that rail companies should seek to disguise rail fare increases simply because they cannot publicly defend the indefensible.
"Rather than mug passengers in broad daylight once a year, they now prefer to pick their pockets in this underhand manner over the rest of the year."
Monday 29th January 2007
Presentation of draft station plan for Severn Tunnel Junction Monday 5th February 2007
We could do with some more rail commuters/travellers on the Action Team. We now meet at 8.00pm on the first Monday each month in the Tippling Philosopher, Chepstow Road, Caldicot (unless some important business comes up in the meantime) where we use a private room at the back. If you don't regularly join us but would like to get more invoved the transport needs for this area, please come along.
Alternatively, do you know of someone who might be interested in getting involved? In which case either invite them to come along, or ask them to contact me on 01291 423551 for an informal discussion.
Congratulations to all those who participated in the campaign to stop the Lib Dem rot and restore local authority support for local rail services in Bristol!
Thanks to Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways for their tireless campaigning, Transport 2000 and David Redgewell, Councillor Helen Holland and the Labour Bristol Labour Group members who voted against the Lib Dem cuts in February 2006, Kerry McCarthy, Roger Berry, Doug Naysmith and other MPs who signed Early Day Motion 1702 CUTS IN LOCAL RAIL FUNDING FOR THE SEVERN BEACH LINE, Bristol Trades Union Council and the South West TUC and many many members of the RMT union who provided consistent and long-term support for the fight to rebuild a proper local rail service in Bristol and the surrounding areas.
This shows what can be achieved through coordinated political work between rail users' groups, public transport campaigners, political representatives and trade unions.
Friday 26th January 2007
Please "click" to access the House of Commons debate on First Great Western commuter services held at Westminster Hall
Wednesday 24th January 2007
Monday 22nd January 2007
PRESS RELEASE
VISION NEEDED FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN SOUTH EAST WALES
Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales
Date: Monday 22nd January 2007 - embargo 00.01 Tuesday 23/01/2007
Plaid's National Assembly Candidate for Monmouth, Jonathan Clark and Jocelyn Davies, Plaid Assembly Member for South East Wales called for the National Assembly to develop an affordable, sustainable public transport system for Wales and for a comprehensive programme of improvements, including enhanced powers to regulate bus services and upgrading infrastructure and rail services in South East Wales.
Plaid, in its nominated debate today (Tuesday 23rd January) are focussing on Public Transport. Plaid believes that our economy and social life depend on an environmentally acceptable transport system and is calling for a comprehensive programme of improvements, including enhanced powers to regulate bus services and upgrading infrastructure and rail services in rural and valley areas.
Jonathan Clark said:
"If our communities are going to survive and develop in the 21st Century they need an affordable, reliable, sustainable public transport system. Wales need to re-discover the not entirely alien concept of an integrated public transport system. An efficient public transport system is vital in the battle against climate change.Our railway stations have been neglected for too long - they are a vital part of the regional transport network. They should feed passengers into the national rail network with direct links to local communities via local bus services and secure park and ride facilities. Under New Labour train fares are the most expensive in the EU."
Jocelyn Davies said:
"Plans to re-open passenger services on the Ebbw Valley Rail Line are welcome but we need to go further and consider redeveloping our existing railways and, subject to feasibility studies, consider reopening other old railways and building new stations with bus links and secure park and ride facilities.
Recently First Great Western tried to downgrade services from Severn Tunnel Junction Station but, thanks to the efforts of the Severn Tunnel Action Group, the services were re-instated. This move to cut services should never have been allowed to take place in the first place."
Plaid would bring in re-regulation of bus services with a new national transport authority setting fares, routes and timetables, so that services run where people want them, not where the greatest profit is to be made.
Plaid has tabled the following motion:
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
Believes that our economy and social life depend on an environmentally acceptable transport system; and
a) Calls on the Assembly Government to commit itself to a comprehensive programme of improvement to our public transport system, which includes:
(i) seeking enhanced powers to deal with public transport, in particular to regulate bus services;
(ii) improving train and coach links between the North and South;
(III) upgrading infrastructure and rail services in rural areas and the valleys of the Southb) Regrets that the continued increase in the cost and complexity of train fares are a deterrent to the use of public transport.
Passengers in rush-hour protest
An estimated 2,000 rail passengers refused to pay fares on Monday in protest at the state of services, a campaign group claims.
Early morning commuters travelling between Bath and Bristol say they are fed-up with late and crowded trains.Protest group More Trains Less Strain urged passengers to hand in fake tickets rather than pay for real ones.
But First Great Western spokeswoman Elaine Wilde said many protesters took fake tickets but still paid their fare.
"We do not know of anyone who has refused to buy a ticket this morning," she said.
'Dangerously cramped'
"People are taking the leaflets and fake tickets but are not using them.
"Only one person has done so and that person was allowed to travel."
The campaign group says timetable changes have caused chaos, and a lack of carriages has left them standing in dangerously cramped conditions.
The protest took place during the rush-hour when commuters were urged to present a "fare strike" ticket designed and handed out by the group.
The turnout has exceeded our estimations. This has sent out a really strong message to First that commuters just can't be taken for granted any more. Tony Ambrose More Trains Less StrainThe strike tickets were intended for use by anyone travelling from two stations in Bath to Bristol, Keynsham or other destinations in the South West.
More Trains Less Strain spokesman Tony Ambrose estimated that more than 2,000 passengers took part in the protest.
He said: "The turnout has exceeded our estimations.
"This has sent out a really strong message to First that commuters just can't be taken for granted any more.
"Things have to change, they simply cannot go on as they are at present."
Bath Liberal Democrat MP Don Foster added: "I can't condone people breaking the law and not paying for their tickets, but the protesters are right, we're getting a dreadful service from First Great Western."
'Maintenance backlog'
Charity worker Mr Ambrose said problems had begun in December when the number of carriages and frequency of trains was reduced.
First Great Western (FGW) said the problems had been caused by a backlog of maintenance work which the company was working hard to clear.
Regional manager Andrew Griffiths said: "We do understand why people have been upset.
"We have had these maintenance difficulties, but our new £8m depot in Bristol has pretty much caught up with the backlog."
On Monday, passengers were reported to be showing the fake tickets to guards and being waved through gates.
Customers were warned that travelling without a valid ticket risked prosecution, the maximum sentence being a fine of £1,000 or three months imprisonment.
Friday 19th January 2007
PRESS RELEASE
AM, MP AND CLLR URGE TRAIN PROVIDERS TO ENHANCE THEIR SERVICES
Two of Wales' leading train providers are being urged to enhance the provision and quality of service.
Newport East AM John Griffith, MP Jessica Morden and Chepstow Cllr Armand Watts launched a joint attack expressing their concern over the lack of train services stopping at the Severn Tunnel Junction.
The Central Trains service from Gloucester to Cardiff Central passes through the station up to 14 times daily, yet does not stop. Instead, commuters must await a 2 hourly Arriva Trains Wales service.
John Griffiths AM said: "The distinct lack of Central Trains provision to Severn Tunnel junction has the effect of alienating a large concentration of commuters. Consequently, there could be a dreadful knock on effect of forcing commuters into their cars and abandoning their preferred sustainable transport means. This is simply unacceptable.
Armand Watts, Cllr for Chepstow added: "I am deeply concerned that Central Trains are ignoring our pleas. It is ludicrous that trains do not stop there. Something needs to be done.
John Griffiths AM and Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East working with the community campaign team, had successes last December in reinstating First Great Western train services to the station, but are now calling for more carriages to be provided.
Jessica Morden MP said 'We need better services from all the train operators to encourage people to use trains from key commuter areas like Severn Tunnel Junction." Jessica Morden went on to say "I welcome further consultation from First Great Western on their cross country services and will be making the strongest representations to them about increasing the number of stopping services at Severn Tunnel Junction and ensuring that the trains that do stop have enough carriages for people to travel comfortably and safely.'
John Griffiths AM added: "It is essential that First Great Western make a strong commitment to improve their quality of service. There continues to be horrific overcrowding on this crucial route which poses a considerable health hazard and puts additional stress on commuters which travel this arduous journey daily.
ENDS
David Roberts: Research Assistant: Office of John Griffiths AM
davidjames.roberts@wales.gov.uk: 029 2089 8303
John Griffiths has also written a strong letter of complaint to First Great Western asking for more carriages on their services to Severn Tunnel Junction.
Thursday 18th January 2007
Petition via official Govt. site for appropriate level of train service
The e-petitions system
Petition the Prime Minister to provide a reliable train service with adequate capacity at times that travellers wish to make journeys from Swindon to Westbury, Bristol to Severn Beach, Portsmouth and Weymouth to Cardiff, Taunton to Cheltenham, Swindon to Cheltenham. This includes all intermediate stations and journeys in both directions.
*please click "here" for more details
Possible Future Timetable Improvements
The proposed enhancements to the timetable involve the provision throughout the day of the alternate services (Portsmouth) that at present pass through Severn Tunnel Junction station without stopping. This gives a half-hourly service pattern that enables connections into the half-hourly main line services at both Newport and Bristol.
In addition it creates connections to and from the Chepstow line rail services which the existing Bristol Newport service fails to make any connections into (apart from the peak times where there is already the half-hourly Bristol - Newport service).
The proposal provides two additional late evening services from Bristol giving a last service an hour and a half-later departing Bristol at 22.54. All of the enhancements are based on no additional trains operating but simply additional station stops on the existing services.
A further advantage of this proposal is that it maximises the Bus / Rail integration at Severn Tunnel Junction.
Monmouthshire County Council have supported and implemented a local Bus Service to supplement the commercial Busses that operate in East Monmouthshire. This is used to give access to the shopping area and also to specifically provide integration with the railway at Severn Tunnel Junction. It is the only bus service that actually calls at the station; all the commercial services operate along the main road some 8 -10 minutes walk away. This Bus operates to and from Sudbrook (through Portskewett and Caldicot) and then to Undy / Magor with some of the return journeys also going via Caerwent.
An analysis of the existing timetables shows that if all the Cardiff - Bristol services called at the station, only the 16.44 from Newport would not make an additional connection from either the Integrated Bus service or the Rail service off the Gloucester line. A total of 13 additional connections are made into the Bristol services effectively more than doubling the connectivity of the service.
In the reverse direction the Bristol - Cardiff service would provide an additional 20 connections into the Gloucester Line rail service or the Station bus service to Magor and Caldicot / Portskewett / Sudbrook. The 07.54, 10.55, 18.54 and 21.54 from Bristol would be the only services not actually providing additional connections.The tables below give the analysis of the timetables with the highlight in yellow showing services that would in future connect into or from the Bristol services. The highlight in red shows the additional stops at the Junction into which or from which the actual connections are made. The highlight in green identifies the additional stops that do not have an added public service connections and only provide a service to the locality, or would require car / taxi connection at the station.
*please click "here" to access document
Without the need for any additional train or bus services the proposal represents a major step forward in providing integrated public transport in the area.
Disregarding frustrations with First Great Western - every Cardiff - Newport - Bristol Temple Meads - Etc train should stop at Severn Tunnel Junction. This is because logic says time is critical in the peak hours - and as peak hour trains have been restored then there is no inconvenience to stop mid day or late evening trains there too. Trains are in danger of picking up passengers if they call at stations syndrome.Q.E.D.
I have travelled on a number of mid-morning trains that call (i.e.. stop) at Filton Abbey Wood that and the doors have not been used so no one off or on. This is surely no problem as the powers that be favour frequent train "calls" at this English station. What is wrong if one or two Severn Tunnel Junction trains also call (i.e. stop) and if no one gets off or on in Wales - it is the same difference.
My main preference for improvements is LONGER TRAINS - Three car Class 158 should be the normal train unit throughout the South West of the United Kingdom, coastal terminal branch lines in Cornwall are a separate case but they usually need more that 2 carriages on hot sunny summer days.
Tudor Thomas
STAG. Central Trains to Stop at Chepstow
The issue was also given an airing yesterday (17/1) in WAG’s Enterprise, Innovation and Networks (EIN) Committee meeting by Kirsty Williams AM – presumably following a briefing from Michael German – as well as in the support paper submitted by Passenger Focus. Part of the EIN committee’s agenda today was on rail issues, predominately FGW, but as DfT was present the subject was raised. Kirsty’s comments of support for extra Chepstow stops were directed towards the DfT representatives. The committee meetings are televised (S4C/S4C2).
The transcript of the meeting will be posted within the next five days or so to the following webpage (where other meeting details are already available)
*please click "here" to access a transcript of the meeting above
Road Pricing Petition
You may like to sign the petition below and send this e-mail on to anyone you know who may use a car.......or just send it to everyone you know. It will take only a minute.
The government's proposal to introduce road pricing will mean that you will have to purchase a tracking device for your car and pay a monthly bill for your road mileage.
The tracking device is estimated to cost about £200. In a recent one-month study trial by the BBC, organised with the authority who is advising the Government, the monthly bills were:
- £28 for a rural florist delivering flowers
- £86 for a non working Mum who used the car to take the kids to school.
- £194 for a delivery driver.
- more than £300 for a daily commuter.
But cost is not the only feature: you will also be tracked. Somebody will know exactly where you are every minute that you use your car or motorcycle. They will also know how fast you are driving. So even if you creep over a speed limit accidentally you could well receive a notice of intended prosecution with your monthly bill.
So you might like to sign the petition on No 10's new website.
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/traveltax/
And you might like to pass this on to your friends. It will affect everyone.
Note:
The e-petitions system was launched in November 2006. It is currently in a public "beta test". This means that users are welcome to sign and create petitions, but the PM will be making changes to the site, as they fix technical problems, improve usability and respond to feedback. A series of changes have already been made after a review of the first month.
The rationale is this: "e-petitions" is designed essentially as a modern equivalent of the traditional petitions presented at the door of No.10. It enables people to put their views to the Prime Minister. It is not intended to be a form of quasi-referendum or unrepresentative opinion poll (professional polls use special techniques to ensure balanced samples).
Wednesday 17th January 2007
RAIL USERS TO LAUNCH FARE STRIKE BY
JAMES COWLING10:40 - 17 January 2007
Rail commuters angry at cuts to train services around Bristol are planning a fare strike next week. More Trains Less Strain, a passenger pressure group launched after changes to First Great Western's rail services timetable in December, will urge people travelling by train on Monday to refuse to pay their fares.
The group spoke to an audience of around 100 commuters at a meeting in Bath last night.Under the plans for the fare boycott, commuters travelling to Bristol from stations including Bath Spa, Oldfield Park and Keynsham will be given special tickets in orange and white, similar to those issues by First, with the words "cattle class" printed on them. Campaigners are urging them to present the fake tickets instead of buying genuine ones.
The protest follows the axing of several trains, a reduction in numbers of carriages and fare increases which came into force in the new year.
Tony Ambrose, spokesman for the group, catches the train daily from Bath Spa to Bristol Temple Meads as he commutes to work.
He said: "The cheek of it is that fares went up with the timetable change at the same time they reduced the frequency and length of the trains. We understand First Great Western has got rid of 20 carriages from the line in a bid to save £20,000 a year.
"In a lot of cases with the Bristol routes, they have cut the number of coaches from four to two, which means people simply cannot get on the trains.
"A system which was working at full capacity before the cuts is suffering really badly now."
The campaign has attracted the support of the RMT union.
Executive member Alex Gordon, who works for First as a train driver, said: "Our members are appalled by the 20 per cent cut in rail services we have seen in the past four weeks. We are telling everyone to make alliances with their local councillors and MPs to draw attention to these cuts."
Last Friday, Alison Forster, managing director of First, published an open letter as a full-page advert in the Evening Post, in which she said the firm had "carried out a review" of services and as a direct result had decided to increase the number of carriages on the 0647 Frome to Cardiff service, providing an extra 106 seats.
She angered commuters then thanking "customers for their continued support."
Tom Daniel of Bath, who commutes into Bristol said: "Why thank us? We're all miserable and want things changed."
The maximum penalty for not paying a train fare is a £1,000 fine or three months in prison.
Transport 2000 - Bristol on 19 January 2007 at 10:00 AM.
Transport 2000 is calling for an immediate reverse to the cuts and will be launching their Manifesto for rail growth in the Southwest region on 19th January 2007 in Bristol. The Manifesto has pulled together support for a thriving regional railway from politicians, local government, business leaders, unions and rail user groups. The launch is part of a nationwide campaign run by Transport 2000 called Growing the Railways, which calls on Government to plan for a growing railway in its 30 year rail plan due next year.
The manifesto for Growing the Railways in the Southwest will be launched at the Government Office for the Southwest, Temple Quay, in Bristol on 19 January 2007 at 10:00 AM.
For more details of the Southwest regional launch or to find out how you can get involved in our Growing the Railways campaign in the Southwest region, contact Julia Thomas or Matt Davies on 020 7613 7725. To book a place at the launch on 19 January in Bristol, email tara.melton@transport2000.org.uk
Lords slam 'poor rail services'
Rail services linking London to Bristol and the West have been slammed as "poor" in a House of Lords debate.
At question time in the Lords, transport spokesman Lord Davies said First Great Western's performance had been poor for a long time.
Lord Berkeley cited 60 trains being cancelled daily since December.
Congestion he said meant "people can't even get on the trains, some fares are up 11% and 9,000 complaints received".
Tory former Welsh Secretary Lord Crickhowell said trains were frequently very late or cancelled.
Crossbencher Baroness Warnock, aged 82, said she had had to stand for most of the journey on the last three occasions she had used the train from Paddington to her home near Marlborough, Wiltshire.
Passengers unhappy about the changes to services are holding a protest meeting in Bath on Tuesday evening.
Wednesday 10th January 2007
NEW STATION PLATFORM TO CUT WAITING
A fourth platform could be built at Bristol Parkway station to help cut congestion.
The news was revealed as criticism of operator First Great Western mounts in the wake of last month's introduction of a new timetable.
A third platform is due to open at the station in May but the company says another one could be built to cut the number of trains having to wait outside the busy station for a free platform.
The news was revealed to Northavon MP Steve Webb after he demanded a meeting with the train company about its takeover of the franchise covering the Bristol area.
Last year First Great Western won the right to run the new Greater Western franchise, which combined its own services with those previously run by Wessex Trains.
But Mr Webb said since First Great Western took over on December 11, there has been a decline in standards.
He said: "The first few weeks of the new franchise have seen shockingly poor levels of service."
Extra trains to ease overcrowding
Rail operator First Great Western is to put on extra early morning services in response to complaints of overcrowding and train cancellations.
The move follows the introduction of a widely-criticised new timetable.More trains will be run early on the Oxford to Paddington line and capacity will be increased for Twyford and Maidenhead customers.
There will be more than 100 extra seats for customers travelling between Frome, West Wiltshire, Bath and Bristol.
'Rural connections'
Alison Forster, managing director of First Great Western (FGW), said: "We recognise that some elements of the timetable have not met all our customers' needs.
"We apologise to those customers who have experienced crowding and train cancellations on some key services."
Travellers in rural areas will benefit from better-timed connections on some branch lines to ensure connections with main line services.
Ms Forster promised the company would continue to review the timetable introduced in December.
She said FGW would consider making further changes in particular for customers using Bedwyn or Newbury to Reading services, over the next few months.
A backlog of maintenance work, which had been causing capacity problems in the Bristol and Bath area would be addressed by "pulling out all the stops" and recruiting additional maintenance engineers.
"I'm confident that this will improve the reliability of our services and therefore seating capacity over the next couple of weeks," she said.
The additional services will start on 15 January.
Monday 8th January 2007
End overcrowding on First Great Western trains by ending the scandal of 'mothballed trains', RMT tells Rail Minister
Britain's largest rail union RMT today called on Railways Minister, Tom Harris to end the scandal of increasingly hazardous levels of overcrowding on train services run by First Great Western in Bristol, the west of England and south Wales by releasing into service 'mothballed' trains currently being in private railway sidings across the region.
RMT General Secretary, Bob Crow said: "It is nothing short of an act of deliberate sabotage of the region's rail services that long-suffering commuters are shoehorned daily into fewer and shorter trains and railway staff bear the brunt of the anger and frustration experienced by rail users, while we now see perfectly serviceable trains withdrawn from passenger service to be squirreled away in railway sidings.
"As commuters face the prospect of the mass return to work following the Christmas/New Year break they must be dreading the appalling mess that FGW have created with reports of passengers fainting from overcrowding and being left behind on platforms unable to squeeze onto packed trains while train service cancellations have been running at an average of over 60 per day since FGW introduced a new winter timetable on 11 December 2006," Bob Crow said.
He also warned rail bosses not to try to fix the shortage of trains in the Bristol commute-to-work area by replacing train services in Plymouth and Exeter with buses. "Any attempt to rob Peter to pay Paul by such blatant 'bustitution' will be opposed by this union", Bob Crow said.
"If the management responsible for the current monumental fiasco of wholesale train cancellations, unprecedented delays and staff shortages of their own making aren't up to the job, then the Minister should take the Greater Western franchise in-house and run it directly in the public sector where it belongs", Bob Crow said.
However, Bob Crow warned: "FGW's ineptitude must not be used as an excuse for continuing to allow serviceable trains to languish in rail sidings and yards when the public needs them to provide train services essential for the region's environment and economy. I am calling on Tom Harris to act now to release any trains currently mothballed under 'warm storage' arrangements and put them to work to deliver the service the public needs and has every right to expect. The RMT Parliamentary group of MPs has already met with the Minister to raise our concerns about FGW's rail service cuts and we will continue to make the Minister aware about the lamentable performance of FGW until he does something to address the shortage of trains."
FirstGroup was awarded the new Greater Western franchise by the Department for Transport just over a year ago in return paying the government around a £1 billion premium. On Friday 5 January 2007 FirstGroup chief executive, Moir Lockhead and FGW Managing Director, Alison Foster received a 'yellow card' warning from Department for Transport officials that unless services improve FirstGroup will lose the Greater Western franchise.
BBC News Points West reported on Friday 5 December that 4 class 153 train units (single cars) are currently in "warm storage" at Eastleigh depot in Southampton although industry sources also confirm 3 class 158 train units (two or three cars) are stored at the depot, while a further class 158 (798) three car unit is stored at Reading. All units were in passenger service on the Greater Western franchise before 11 December 2006 and it is feared that further units will be withdrawn from passenger service to go into "warm storage" as FirstGroup struggle to meet the repayment terms of the franchise agreement.
Friday 22nd December 2006
Letter of support and congratulations
from
JESSICA MORDEN MP
Labour Member of Parliament for Newport East
*please click to above image to access a copy of Jessica's letter to the Save Severn Tunnel Action Group
Wednesday 20th December 2006
Train crush criticised
Rhodri Clark, Western Mail
THE former boss of British Rail in Wales said last night he was dismayed by the way passengers are being treated since First Great Western axed the 5.18pm Cardiff to Swansea train on December 11.
John Davies, transport consultant, counted roughly 230 people boarding last night's 5.21pm Cardiff to Maesteg train, with seats for about 138. It was the first train home for most Bridgend commuters, and left 19 minutes late. The next train, also late, to Swansea, was so overcrowded Arriva added an extra two coaches.
"As an ex-professional railwayman, I'm concerned to see such wanton disregard of passengers' needs," he said.
Cheap rail tickets launch price war
Rhodri Clark, Western Mail
A PRICE war is about to break out on the trains in South Wales, with ticket prices cut by up to 50%.
On January 2, First Great Western will launch bargain fares between principal stations along the main line from Newport to Swansea.
But the catch is that passengers must use FGW trains - and will be charged for another ticket if caught travelling on Arriva trains.
Consumer watchdogs welcomed FGW's initiative yesterday, but said it was vital that passengers were fully informed of the restrictions.
FGW is expected to erode Arriva's revenue on the M4 corridor, and Arriva warned yesterday it might have to make "cost savings" on the route.
Ordinary tickets for the South Wales main line have traditionally been valid on all trains, with revenue shared between train operators.
FGW's new tickets will help to fill empty seats on Swansea-London trains at the quieter end of the route. The cheaper tickets will not apply to people travelling outside South Wales.
Arriva Trains Wales will not receive a share of the ticket revenue.
This is the first time in nearly a century that passengers travelling within South Wales have been offered a choice of ordinary tickets by competing train operators.
Companies like the Taff Vale Railway and Barry Railway used to compete, although mainly for coal rather than passengers, before they merged into the Great Western Railway in 1923.
Competition was foreseen by the Conservatives when they broke up British Rail's monopoly but has been difficult to achieve in practice.
FGW's new weekly season ticket between Bridgend and Neath will cost £12, compared with £24.20 for the equivalent ticket valid on any train.
Tom Stables, FGW's commercial director, said, "We're determined to offer good value for money and a wide range of fares to give our customers choice and flexibility.
"These price cuts are an excellent deal for our customers in South Wales, and this underlines our commitment to the region."
But ATW warned that travellers would "severely restrict" their choices when buying the cheaper tickets.
Mike Bagshaw, ATW's commercial director, said, "Passengers opting for these cut price fares will be restricted to travelling with FGW only.
"It will particularly hit evening commuters travelling between Cardiff, Bridgend, Neath, Port Talbot and Swansea who will only have the option of one FGW train between 5pm and 6pm, now that the 5.18pm service has been withdrawn. Should FGW services be delayed or cancelled, passengers would need to purchase a full fare ticket to travel on alternative, regular services provided by ATW and other operators.
"It's disappointing that in being offered reduced fares, rail travellers are missing out on choice.
"In the longer term, costs savings may be necessary on this route if these changes result in fewer passengers travelling on Arriva Trains Wales' services."
Rhys Evans, deputy director of the Welsh Consumer Council, said, "It's good to see FGW being quite innovative in offering a product that consumers will want, at a good price.
"It's important that the caveats on it are made clear, otherwise it becomes confusing for consumers. Train ticketing is complicated enough anyway."
Simon Pickering, of rail watchdog Passenger Focus, said, "It's good news for passengers in that it will reduce costs and encourage people to use rail."
It was vital that passengers were fully informed.
"They will need to understand which company the train belongs to that they're getting on to, otherwise they run the danger of being charged twice."
He said the new tickets were expected to extract revenue from Arriva, whose franchise is subsidised by the Welsh Assembly Government.
"The Assembly Government and Arriva will need to sit down and look what they can do about that.
"We would hope they can come up with innovative marketing that will entice more people onto the railways, to protect or increase their revenue."
FGW's bargain tickets will not be available for travel between Severn Tunnel Junction and other Welsh stations.
An FGW spokesman said this would be "kept under review".
Tuesday 19th December 2006
Firstly I would like to congratulate and say a big thank you to S.o.S. and in particular David for the recent victory with the trains, without the action group I think we all would have had no choice but to pack in our jobs or relocate.
Before we all go off to enjoy the Christmas break I just wanted to share with you my recent misery of travelling with First Great Western.
On Friday 8 December I arrived at the station to catch the 17:20 train to find that the two carriage train was already full. The conductor wouldn’t let me on the train at his end saying there was no more room and so I attempted to squeeze on in the middle and a couple of people squeezed on behind me. I then felt as if I couldn’t breath, it was so hot and packed with no space to move to take off coats etc and I took a panic attack, all I could think was that I had to get off the train otherwise I felt that I would pass out and/or be sick. I then struggled to get off the train. Once on the platform I moved further down the train and finally managed to get on at the drivers end where there was a little more space. I have two children that need collected from the childminder so I had no choice but to travel on that train. I have to say that I have never experienced anything like that before but since then I have experienced the same panic on three other occasions. The journey is now worse than it ever has been.
Friday 15 December one carriage arrived at 08:24 to collect the commuters travelling to Bristol. People were left behind on the platform.
Yesterday one carriage arrived at 08:24 and was standing room only when it arrived, needless to say there was approximately 15 people left behind (including myself) at severn tunnel to wait for the 09:24. Then going home the 17:24 train was only one carriage, again a large number of passengers were left behind (including myself). I was so grateful that the 17:54 had been reinstated, however that was running 30 mins late by the time we left Bristol.
As you have already heard from many other people this is not acceptable and I am still to be convinced that this is not a health and safety issue. I have been using the trains for over 5 years and I purchase an annual ticket, the service has never been so bad as it has been since First Great Western took over the franchise.
I have tried going on the FGW website to email my complaint but have not found an email address to send it to. If you have an email address I would be extremely grateful if you could pass it to me.
Thankfully I only have one more day commuting before my Christmas break, here's hoping the rolling stock situation improves for 2007!!
Regards
One very angry and stressed FGW Customer!
Kate Anderson
The Action Team understand that peak time commuter trains are turning up with just one carriage. Reports suggest that the 8.25 departure from Severn Tunnel last Friday consisted of just one carriage, and that some commuters had to wait an hour for the next train despite Michelle (in the ticket hut) attempting to get a coach laid on. Last night the 17.24 off Temple Meads was also one carriage!
We need to have your personal stories / experiences if we are next going to gfight the cuts in rolling-stock.
If First Great Western and the Government think that they have silenced us by providing the stops on the trains we requested, they are wrong!But we do need your help.
Please send your stories to paul@Caldicot.com.
Monday 18th December 2006
PLAID WELCOMES SEVERN TUNNEL RAIL CAMPAIGN SUCCESS
Plaid Cymru's National Assembly Candidate for Monmouth, Jonathan Clark has welcomed the restoration of rail services at Severn Tunnel Junction, praised the Save Severn Tunnel Junction Campaign and called for development of better facilities and proper secure parking at Severn Tunnel Junction.
Jonathan Clark said:
"I welcome First Great Western and Network Rails decision to reverse its decision to cancel the 1715 and 1814 stops at Severn Tunnel Junction on the Portsmouth to Cardiff services (via Bristol Temple Meads) from Monday 18th December, having previously restored the morning stopping services; a measure of normality has now been restored. The serious issue of train carriage overcrowding that is being caused by running short trains on busy lines should, however, be addressed as a matter of urgency."Jonathan continued:
"The Save Severn Tunnel Junction Campaign have led an incredibly well organised and well supported campaign to prevent the reduction of rail services at Severn Tunnel, they should get the all the credit for this magnificent achievement in convincing First Great Western, Network Rail, the Department of Transport and the representatives of the Cardiff and Westminster Governments of the error of their ways in planning to try to reduce rail services at Severn Tunnel".
Jonathan concluded:
"Our railway stations have been neglected for far too long, instead of being prized assets at the heart of our transport network; they are often ignored and neglected. Severn Tunnel Junction, Chepstow and Abergavenny railway stations are a vital part of the local regional transport network, they should feed passengers into the national rail network, with direct links to local communities via local bus services and secure park and ride facilities - to accomplish this there has to be investment in infrastructure rather than mere lip service".
Saturday 16th December 2006
Rhodri Clark, Western Mail 16-12-06
WELSH commuters were celebrating a victory over the Government last night, after learning their train service to Severn Tunnel Junction station is to be restored.
On Monday First Great Western changed its timetables and left commuters with only one train home from Bristol per hour in the evening rush hour.
The reduced service had been specified by the UK Government in FGW's new franchise. But after a week of serious overcrowding - when buses were laid on to help bear the burden - FGW said last night it would restore the full evening service from Bristol to Severn Tunnel Junction.
David Flint, a Monmouthshire commuter who campaigned against the cuts, said, "We're absolutely delighted. It's not all First Great Western. I'm afraid the Department for Transport, the Labour Government and other persons have got a lot to answer for.
"The Welsh Assembly have been hiding a bit behind FGW as well. In many ways, FGW has just been the whipping boy."
Andrew Griffiths of FGW said, "I am pleased to offer these services for the commuters of the Caldicot and Magor area. It has been made possible by working closely with Network Rail, which owns the track and infrastructure. These are extra stops on routes our trains are already travelling."
From Monday, the 2.22pm and 3.22pm Portsmouth to Cardiff services will serve Severn Tunnel Junction, stopping there at 5.15pm and 6.14pm.
Before December 10 those services had provided convenient trains home for commuters from Bristol.
Protests lead to rail u-turn
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save train services at the Severn Tunnel junction are claiming a victory for people power after rail bosses revered their decision.
Angry commuters fought First Great Western's plans to cut services from the station near Caldicot.
The company recently made a U-turn and reinstated morning stops at the station.
On Monday 70 campaigners from Save The Severn Tunnel Station met at the station to protest the cuts, and last night the company said it will now restore the evening service.
The 4.54pm and 5.54pm services from Bristol had faced the ace.
Angry commuters said they faced crowded trains and less options as a result.
Last night campaigner David Flint was celebrating victory.
The 59-year-old marketing man from Caldicot, who uses the service to communte daily to Bristol, said: "There is jubilation and almost disbelief. I have never done anything like this in my life before - fought a big corporation and won. It shows people power and democracy do work."
First Great Western said it had reviewed its plans for the timetable after a "strong response" from passengers to the changes.
Regional manager Andrew Griffiths said: "I am very pleased to report that we have now had the green light to provide stops at Severn Tunnel Junction in the 1422 and 1522 Portsmouth to Cardiff services, as from Monday 18 December. "Thanks are due to Network Rail for making this possible."
The stops are at 5.15pm and 6.14pm, on the 4.55pm and 5.44pm departures from Bristol Temple Meads respectively.
Mr Griffiths added: "This restores the choice of four peak-time services in each directions for commuters using Severn Tunnel Junction station."
A Christmas Message for Commuters at
Severn Tunnel Junction
from Andrew Griffiths of
First Great WesternAll
Whoever said lighting never strikes twice clearly got it wrong. Rather to my surprise, I am nonetheless very pleased to report that we have now had the green light to provide stops at Severn Tunnel Junction in the 1422 and 1522 Portsmouth to Cardiff services, as from Monday 18 December. Thanks are due to Network Rail for making this possible.
The stops are at 1715 and 1814, on the 1655 and 1744 departures from Bristol Temple Meads respectively. This restores the choice of four peak-time services in each directions for commuters using Severn Tunnel Junction station.
Best wishes,
Andrew Griffiths
Regional Manager, Central (Severn & Solent)
First Great WesternMessage from the Action Team
Just a quick word before we go off to celebrate with the team:
Thanks!
Without the efforts of countless numbers we couldn't have achieved this... for us, we are just pleased to have experienced democracy and common sense at work.Have a good Christmas.
Kind regards
Save Severn Tunnel Junction Action Group
Today we have received the attached response to a letter sent yesterday to Network Rail and the DfT.
Yesterday I have spoken with David Redgeway of Transport 2000. He and I are in no doubt that the Welsh Assembly (WAG), the Department for Transport (DfT) and Network Rail are hiding behind First Great Western. At the end of the day the reduction in services comes down to the government's obligation to the voting public to respond to their needs.
Two days ago Andrew Griffiths, Regional Manager for First Great Western, informed us that they (FGW) had applied to Network Rail for two additional stops on the evening trains as requested by us.
Having written to the chief executive of Network Rail asking for urgent action: this response from the DfT looks as if it is all we are going to get. It's a load of hot air with no substance.
The Welsh Assembly had a clause in the Franchise Agreement with FGW which allows them to buy additional capacity. Why won't they exercise it?
By copy to those politicians who have been helping us... we'd like to know what you intend to do to help us get these additional evening stops on the 16.54 and 17.54 off Bristol Temple Meads?
Regards
David: Action Team*please see helpful response from Mike German AM
I agree David. I have had a response from Andrew Davies which indicates that he did not raise the whole issue with DfT until the campaign took off afew weeks ago. Will send to you in the post. I will pursue as you say.
Mike German
Letter from Department for Transpor
Judith Shepherd
Rail Ministerial Liaison Team
Room 5/22
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
LONDON
SW1P 4DRDirect line: 0207 944 3719
Fax: 0207 944 2158Web site: www.dft.gov.uk
14 DECEMBER 2006
Thank you for your e-mail of 21 November to the Secretary of State and the Minister for Rail about the rail service from Severn Tunnel Junction to Bristol Temple Meads. I have been asked to reply. Unfortunately, your e-mail did not include mention of your name.
The planning of the new Greater Western franchise was started by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) in 2004, before responsibility for the franchising of rail passenger services was transferred to the Department for Transport. Given that the franchise was to be created from three existing franchises, and that the SRA's prime objectives were the improvement of the operational performance of the railway, and to provide an efficient service within public expenditure constraints, its approach was to build up proposed service patterns from first principles. In the case of Bristol-area suburban and inter-urban services, this produced the basic proposals for hourly cross-Bristol services:
· Cardiff - Portsmouth
· Cardiff - Westbury - (Weymouth/Southampton)
· Gloucester - TauntonSpecific analysis explored the need for enhancing service provision in the peak hours, and concluded that enhancement of train frequency between Cardiff and Bristol would not be needed to handle present and forecast demand. The proposed peak and off-peak service pattern was clearly set out in the SRA's stakeholder consultation document published in June 2005; as far as I can trace, no response was received regarding service levels at Severn Tunnel Junction.
Following franchise award, First Great Western (FGW) published a proposed December 2006 timetable early this year, and, as you probably know, made many changes to its proposals in response to public comment. I understand it received some representations regarding Severn Tunnel Junction, but not sufficient to cause it to conclude that it needed to change its plans.
Its franchise agreement specifies the minimum level of service that FGW has to provide. It is free to make additional station calls, and operate additional services, provided that maximum journey times are not exceeded, and that network capacity is available.
In the case of Severn Tunnel Junction, commuter travel to Bristol has grown recently because of housing development in the Rogiet and Caldicot areas, which has attracted people working in Bristol. Such developments will of course happen during the life of a rail franchise, and the franchise agreement contains provisions to allow for service to be varied in response to demand changes. I would expect proposals to be initiated by FGW, who are best placed to identify changes in the market changes, and to design the most appropriate solution (in terms of service and cost) to meet these changes.
With regard to the possibility of FGW reinstating peak hour calls at Severn Tunnel Junction, we have strongly encouraged FGW to seek solutions to identified passenger/stakeholder concerns and have done so in relation to Severn Tunnel Junction specifically.
Yours sincerely,
Judith Shepherd
Rail Customer and Stakeholder Relations 1
Letter to Caldicot Male Voice Choir
Mr Roy Shuck
Secretary
Caldicot Male Voice Choir
Choir Hall,
CALDICOT
MonmouthshireDear Roy
Regarding use of the Choir Hall by the Save Severn Tunnel campaignIt seems an age since we held a Public Meeting in protest against the reduction of train services from Severn Tunnel. The purpose of this letter is to thank Caldicot Male Voice Choir for the generous use of their hall for this event, and to bring you up-to-date as to where it got us.
That meeting, on Wednesday 22 November, proved to be the pivotal point in our campaign. This set about to reverse First Great Western's decision to more than halve essential commuter rail services to Bristol and Bath from Severn Tunnel Junction.
As you will now possibly now know, we have thus far succeeded in having two morning services restored. At this time we fight on for a restoration of the evening commuter services.
We are pleased to report that First Great Western have agreed to our repeated requests, and have recently applied to Network Rail for permission to stop the 16.56 and 17.56 from Bristol Temple Meads at Severn Tunnel. Our battle is now with Network Rail, the Department for Transport and the Welsh Assembly Government.
As you might imagine, most of us in the Action Team are in full time employment, and this Save Severn Tunnel Campaign has taken over our lives! So, I apologise for the length of time it has taken us to get around to thanking you for giving us the use of your hall on 22 November, but I'm sure you'll understand!
As a token of our gratitude for the use of the hall, please find enclosed a cheque for £25.00. We hope this will go toward helping one of your members go on tour when they might not otherwise have been able to afford it.
Kind regards
Yours sincerely
David Flint
www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk Action Team
Thursday 14th December 2006
Axing of trains 'horrific' for commuters Dec 14 2006
Rhodri Clark, Western Mail
COMMUTERS say they are suffering "horrific" journeys home after cuts to train services on Monday.
First Great Western axed the 5.18pm from Cardiff to Swansea and two key trains, at 4.54pm and 5.54pm, from Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Tunnel Junction.
The result has been serious overcrowding on remaining services, say regular travellers, who are also concerned about safety.
The official rail watchdog, Passenger Focus, says the number of commuters taking trains west from Cardiff after 5pm appears to have fallen. Surveys are being undertaken to establish whether this is because of workers using up annual leave before the end of the year, or because commuters have switched from rail to road transport.
Frances Crow, who commutes from Bridgend to her workplace in Cardiff, said getting home had become a nightmare.
"People finish work at 5pm. The first train is at 5.05, which you're not going to get unless you work near the station.
"The next one used to go to Swansea, but they've taken that one off so everybody seems to climb on the 5.21 to Maesteg."
Miss Crow, a senior claims adviser with Admiral Insurance, previously aimed for the 5.18 FGW train, which had five coaches and seats for everyone. If it was late, she used the 5.21. Now she is resigned to catching the 5.38 train, kicking her heels for half an hour after her day's work and getting home later.
"I'm dreading what the trains are going to be like over Christmas, especially when the schools break up," she said.
FGW made a last-minute change to its timetable to ensure Severn Tunnel Junction did not lose morning commuter services to Bristol - but the service home for commuters has been reduced to one per hour.
David Flint, of the Save Severn Tunnel campaign, said people had adjusted their working hours to catch the 5.24pm train home to Severn Tunnel Junction, a railhead for Newport and Monmouthshire.
He used that train himself on Tuesday, and said the journey was a horrific experience.
"I gather that on Monday there were about 350 people on a train designed to take about 175," he said. "I think it's dangerous. There's a real risk to someone's life. An elderly person or a young child could easily be crushed."
A First Great Western spokesman said the company adhered to all statutory safety requirements.
"Standing passengers do not represent a safety risk within the capability of the certified carriage design," he said. "From a passenger comfort standpoint we are aware of the issue and are closely monitoring it. In relation to South Wales services, under the new timetable, we have strengthened some peak time services on the Cardiff/Porstmouth and return services from three carriages to four."
Timetable means trains 'too full'
Rail passengers travelling to and from Somerset have complained a new timetable has them packed like sardines into fewer carriages in peak hours.
On Sunday First Great Western began its new times for services between Bristol, Weston-super-Mare and Taunton.
On Monday a man fainted on a packed train near Bath, and on Tuesday people were not being allowed onto the train at Bradford-on-Avon.
A spokesman for FGW admitted some services have been "extremely full".
"I spent the journey standing on one leg as there wasn't anywhere to put the other one" - Commuter, Titus Jennings
Theresa Hopkins, a regular commuter from Frome said: "It was worse than crowded and just outside Bath a man just flopped down.
"He was in the middle of a load of people and just fell - it was scary."
Ms Hopkins, an annual ticket holder said she was thinking seriously about buying a car in order to get to work on time.
"It's appalling to reduce the number of seats - just because we're a captive audience they just treat us like cattle," said Ms Hopkins.
Another regular passenger on trains from Oldfield Park to Temple Meads, Titus Jennings, said the trains were always busy during peak hours but since the new timetable had been introduced it was "like the black hole of Calcutta".
Services reviewed
"I spent the journey standing on one leg as there wasn't anywhere to put the other one," he said.
Andrew Griffiths, the regional manager of First Great Western trains apologised and said he would be reviewing the number of carriages on the services affected.
"We can't put on extra (trains) we can only shuffle round what we've got and we have to be careful not to rob Peter to pay Paul," he said.
He added the number of trains should increase soon when those undergoing maintenance were back in action.
BBC News: Wednesday, 13 December 2006, 09:38 GMT
Commuters in blockade at rail station car park
ANGRY commuters campaigning against the loss of a fast train service blocked up spaces at a station car park.
Rail commuters have gone to extreme lengths to stop First Capital Connect from axing the 7.03am service from Ashwell and Morden to London King's Cross from December 11.
Adults have already stripped off and posed for the cameras with just customised newspapers to cover their modesty.
Even their children have been campaigning to save the service.
But, on Monday - the first day of the new timetable, the Ashwell and Morden Rail User Group's protest reached a new level, with campaigners blocking Letchworth station's car park with their vehicles.
Protesters placed huge signs in their car windscreens saying: "We don't want to be here. Help save our fast trains."
Risking the wrath of Letchworth train users by leaving them with nowhere to park, the protesters apologised but said that First Capital Connect had left them with no alternative.
Tim Giles, one of the Ashwell commuters who took part in the protest, said: "We sincerely apologise to Letchworth commuters, but First Capital Connect have left us no choice. Many of us need to catch a fast train to London and the only way to do that now is to drive to Letchworth every day.
"At a time when 'green issues' are right at the top of the country's concerns, it's ludicrous that we have to drive away from our local stations and come to Letchworth, causing unnecessary pollution and congestion.
"We often hear talk of a joined-up transport policy but here's a real example of a very disjointed one."
First Capital Connect has introduced an eight-carriage train for 500 passengers, which will take 15 minutes longer, and stops at Ashwell and Morden at 6.49am.Cambridge Evening News
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/city/2006/12/13/8eb133b3-e5e4-4acc-bc5d-9f17ba6265a4.lpf13 December 2006
Wednesday 13th December 2006
Horrific Experience
Last night's 17.24 off Temple Meads was a horrific experience and there is no way First Great Western can let that continue. It might seem over dramatic, but an aged or sick person could have their lives at risk in such conditions.
Please sent the website any comments of your travel experience for the Action Group to monitor"We will carry on the fight."
Complaint - Options of Services from Severn Tunnel Junction not shown on First Great Western Web Site Travel EnquiriesI used your web site today to find service times for trains from Severn Tunnel Junction to Swindon. I was looking for a service to get me to Swindon for 16.00 hours tomorrow Monday 11th December. The only options I was shown were the 14.25 change Filton and again at Bristol Parkway arriving at Swindon 15.27 and the 16.25 change Filton and again at Bristol Parkway arriving at Swindon 16.27
In view of all the recent publicity regarding First Great Western cutting services from Severn Tunnel Junction, I followed the advice from another regular traveller. His view is that UK Train Operators deliberately suppress options from stations they do not want to encourage people to use and recommends using the German DB site to enquire about the service possibilities. This is what I did and it showed exactly what I was looking for the 14.48 change at Newport arriving at Swindon 15.58. This involved a 9 minute connection at Newport so I checked to make sure this is not less than the "minimum connection time" for Newport that could provide an excuse for not showing the service. According to National Rail Enquiries the connection time is 5 minutes so there appears no reason why this service is not shown on your travel options.
Would you please explain why you do not show this service, as had it not been for the advice of another Severn Tunnel Junction traveller who has encountered similar problems in the past to check the German Travel Enquiry site I would not have known the service existed?
I am copying to my local MP and the Assembly Minister for Transport. I believe there are underlying matters of principle involved here where public transport options are suppressed from the UK public information systems forcing the need to use the German Railways site to find travel options in this country. This is particularly pertinent where you want and are reducing services frequencies and length of trains using the stations concerned.Yours Faithfully,
P. Inskip
Tuesday 12th December 2006
Press Release
Photo: Members of the Action Group protesting outside Temple Meads Station Bristol last night
· Last night over 50 commuters from Severn Tunnel Junction, in South Wales, demonstrated outside Bristol Temple Meads
· Commuters are angry that cuts to vital evening services went ahead
· Concerns about getting home within a reasonable time scale are causing stress
On Thursday last week First Great Western announced last minute additional stops on the morning trains from Severn Tunnel Junction to Bristol Temple Meads. These went live yesterday. Requests for stops on vital evening services continue to be ignored.
First Great Western will now include 0654 and 0754 Severn Tunnel Junction stops on its 0630 and 0730 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour train services, which had not been specified in the December timetable.Says David Flint, Campaign leader behind the efforts to restore the vital cuts: "We are disappointed First Great Western haven't listened to our requests, and have ignored our recent market reaserch."
"Commuters travel from as far away as Cardiff, Monmouth and the Forest of Dean to pick up commuter services into Bristol. Usage of the station has grown 10.3% in the last two years: this against a national average growth of just over seven per cent. Peak trains are already overcrowded yet First Great Western are cutting the number of stops and rolling stock."
"Those cuts inflicted on both Severn Tunnel Junction and Patchway commuters will badly affect those wishing to return home each night"
"From a recent survey conducted by the Save Severn Tunnel campaign, they concluded that, as a result of the cuts, usage of the 17.20 from Temple Meads would increase from 23% to 41%.... which is a potential increase from 40 to 69 commuters. Add to this the extra Patchway station commuters and we could have over fifty extra people trying to board this train, which is already overcrowded!"
"Commuters need to know they can get home. With children to collect from either the Nursery or Child Minder, these are typical reasons why there is commuter uncertainty about the future of rail travel. Our survey concluded that over 23% of commuters from Severn Tunnel Junction will start to use cars. What a poor reflection on Government transport policy, and what a disaster for Bristol's already grid-locked roads."
"We call on First Great Western, Network Rail, the Department for Transport and the Welsh Assembly to think again. We want the 16.54 and 17.54 from Temple Meads to stop at Severn Tunnel Junction, and will not give up our fight until these are restored."
"We can see no reason why these stops on routes on which trains are already travelling, which means no extra staff, rolling stock or impact on performance, cannot be made. They have been achieved for the morning service, so why not at night?"
ENDS: Severn Tunnel Action Group 12-12-06
Protest over trains shake-up
MORE than 70 people staged a protest at a Gwent train station over service reduction Campaigners from Save The Severn Tunnel Station action group are fighting to get services reinstated at the station.
The Argus reported how First Great Western made a U-turn and reinstated morning stops at the station.
Both the 6.54am and 7.54am Severn Tunnel stops on the Portsmouth Harbour train which serves Bristol Temple Meads were kept.
But the 4.54pm and 5.54pm from Bristol will still not stop at the station.
Angry commuters say they face crowded trains and less options as a result.
Campaigner David Flint from Caldicot said: "We call on First Great Western, Network Rail, the Department for Transport and the Assembly to think again.
"We want the 16.54 and 17.54 from Temple Meads to stop here and will not give up until they're restored."
A First Great Western spokesman said the new timetable represented the "best use of our resources".
He added: "Earlier this year we conducted a major consultation on the draft of the new timetable and received more than 9,500 responses from customers, rail user groups, and local politicians. As a result we were able to make numerous amendments to the timetable.
"This included the last-minute change we made adding two stops at Severn Tunnel Junction station during the morning peak.
"However, regrettably it's not been possible to make every change and some people will be disappointed. We will look at the possibility of adding additional evening stops in future timetables."
9:00am today
Rail commuter groups are fighting the changes
Train timetables underway in West
A major shake-up of a train company's timetable has left some commuters in the West frustrated on the first working day of its implementation.
First Great Western has cut some services in the west of England, and also reduced the number of carriages on some trains.One commuter said: "It's horrendous and it is getting worse."
The company said implementation of the new timetable had gone according to plan and would settle down in time.
Andrew Griffiths, from First Great Western, said: "We have had some full trains this morning.
"The capacity is there and we do need to persuade people to use high speed trains."
The revamp comes after the company won the Greater Western Franchise and had to combine its services with those previously run by Wessex Trains.
Rail watchdog groups say they will fight to get the government to re-instate all services that have been cut in the region.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/6169077.stm
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