MISERY FOR COMMUTERS
Date : 12.12.06
Long-suffering rail commuters faced another day of misery as the biggest timetable shake-up in a decade came into force yesterday.As First Great Western unveiled its new schedule, passengers were dogged by delays, cancellations and overcrowding.The Swindon-based train operator denied the problems were caused by the timetable changes but by a failure to get its trains out if its new depot. David Redgewell, of lobby group Transport 2000, said the number of carriages on trains from Gloucester and Chelten- ham coming into Bristol Temple Meads station had been sli- mmed down from four to two.
A First Great Western spok- esman said up to nine trains had been cancelled and apologised to passengers.
Regional manager, Andrew Griffiths, said there had been "teething problems".
Today you will lose your evening services!
Please join us at 5.00pm
BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS for a PUBLIC PROTEST
AGAINST THE CUTS IN SERVICES FROM BRISTOL TO
SEVERN TUNNEL JUNCTIONLet First Great Western and the Government see how many people are affected by these ill-informed cuts to the timetable.
We will then wait for the 17.20 train home to STJ.
The press and the TV News will be here to witness the protest, so please come along to swell the ranks!
AM & Action Group Members with the December 2006 Timetable Update
Photo: Mike German, AM for South East Wales with members of the Action Group holding a copy of the new December 2006 Timetable Update at Severn Tunnel Junction ticket office this morning.
Commuters protest over rail cuts
Rail commuters are to stage a protest against cuts to services between Bristol and South Wales.
Passengers successfully fought to keep morning services from Severn Tunnel Junction in Rogiet, Monmouthshire, to Bristol Temple Meads.But First Great Western still decided to reduce evening return services.
Campaigners, who will stage a protest at Bristol on Monday, say up to 50 commuters going home after work will end up crowding onto one train.
"It's not just the local area," said campaigner Lucy-Jane Cypher.
'Best resources'
"There are people from the Forest of Dean and those who drive from Cardiff because it's cheaper and easier, to catch a train from Severn Tunnel Junction to Bristol.
"The catchment area is massive, that's the problem."
A spokesman for the train company said: "The new timetable represents the best use of our resources to benefit the maximum number of people.
"Earlier this year we conducted a major consultation on the draft of the new timetable.
"As a result of the comments we received, 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 has not been possible to make every change and some people inevitably will be disappointed.
"We will look at the possibility of adding additional evening stops in future timetables."
Story from BBC NEWS: 11-12-06
Train company U-turn on time changes
A TRAIN company made a last-minute U-turn over plans to cut morning services used by Gwent commuters at the Severn Tunnel Junction station.
But politicians and campaigners from the Save The Severn Tunnel Station action group say they are angry evening services will be cut as planned from Monday, saying the 4.50pm and 5.50pm services must also be saved.
"Why only keep the morning services? People still need to get home and trains are already overcrowded," said commuter David Flint from Caldioct.
"We will carry on the fight."
First Great Western made the last-minute changes to their timetable , after months of campaigning against the cuts by commuters. The train company said the 6.54am and 7.54am Severn Tunnel Junction stops on the Portsmouth Harbour train services would be kept.
Andrew Griffiths, First Great Western regional stakeholder manager, said the cuts were only made after public consultation, with around 12 of the 9,500 responses objecting to them.
But he added: "In subsequent public meetings after the announcement of our finalised December timetable we received a far stronger response from customers who use Severn Tunnel Junction than expected."
He said although the late changes were very unusual "the importance of this stop warrants special treatment."
And he added that changes were only possible because they were extra stops on routes trains were already travelling, which meant no extra staff or trains were needed.
Politicians welcomed the move, but said it did not go far enough.
Newport East MP Jessica Morden the campaign would continue.
"Commuters will be crammed into the reduced number of trains returning home in the evenings," she said.
Mike German, AM for South East Wales, said he was disappointed there was no change to the evening service cuts.
"This is only half a victory," he said.
The assembly minister for enterprise, Andrew Davies, said he would continue to press for the other stops to be reinstated.
11:50pm Saturday 9th December 2006
In 3 Days you will lose your services!
THE GREAT TRAIN SEAT ROBBERY
BY BRIAN PRICE TRANSPORT CORRESPONDENT
Angry campaigners went on the march in protest over cuts to the region's rail services. They claim a reduced timetable will increase overcrowding and force passengers back on to already congested roads.ANGRY campaigners went on the march in protest over cuts to the region's rail services. They claim a reduced timetable will increase overcrowding and force passengers back on to already congested roads.
A group of about 50 vocal campaigners gathered at Bristol Temple Meads station yesterday before marching to regional government offices at nearby Temple Quay to hand over a letter of protest to transport chiefs. They are furious about plans by Swindon-based train operator First Great Western (FGW) to axe a number of trains, and a number of seats on other trains, when the winter timetable begins on Sunday.Campaigners claim FGW will be cutting train seats in the greater Bristol area by 1,839 a day from Sunday - a 20 per cent drop - with the number of trains also slashed from 69 to 60 - a 13 per cent decrease.
But FGW regional manager Andrew Griffiths insisted yesterday that the company had made a number of adjustments to services that would see "pretty much the same number of seats" remaining available.
Mr Griffiths said train timetables would change with most seats lost on local commuter trains transferred to High Speed Services.
He said passengers would simply have to "adjust" to the new patterns being introduced.
But furious transport union chiefs insisted the changes were detrimental to the West's long-suffering commuters.
Rail Maritime Union (RMT) spokesman Alex Gordon said: "It's true that some Inter City 125 services, which is what First Great Western calls High Speed Trains, will now be stopping at intermediate stations between Bristol and Weston-super-Mare to counter the local services being withdrawn.
"But these will be very limited and won't run at the times when most people want to travel.
"And what will happen when these so-called High Speed Trains are running late from London?
"We believe they will revert to being 'fast' services and then won't actually stop at the smaller stations, leaving passengers stranded on platforms."
Nigel Costley, South West secretary of the TUC, said: "It's hard to get your head around the fact they are taking out seats and trains at a time when we should be celebrating the extension of railways. It's a real shame.
"It's all about the ownership and control of our railways. We have got to have a publicly owned transport system."
Labour MP for Bristol East, Kerry McCarthy, who tabled an early day motion on the matter in the Commons, said the entire public transport system in the greater Bristol area required an overhaul.
She said: "It's not that people don't want to use trains and buses.
"They're finding the trains are full to the brim at peak times and they're left on the platforms.
"People will return to their cars if that happens and that will only cause more gridlock on the roads."
Yesterday's protest, which was organised by RMT's Bristol Rail branch, was also supported by Transport 2000, Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways, Save Severn Tunnel Junction Train Services, and campaigners who want to see the line to Portishead reopened.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "If the Government wants to meet the climate challenge set out so starkly by the Stern report it must tell First Great Western that these cuts are unacceptable.
"We need to see greater rail capacity, more trains and more seats, and any attempt to cut them should be met with howls of protest." Andrew Griffiths, First Great Western regional manager, said: "There have been some extra trains organised for the morning peak hours and evening peak hours which means we will have pretty much the same number of seats available when the new timetable starts on Sunday as there are now.
"More of those seats will become available on high speed services, rather than on the smaller commuter trains."
In 4 Days you will lose your services!
First Great Western Thank you for listening to one half of the need... but the evening service remains a concern which we will continue to fight for.
From Monday you will have less carriages on the trains.
"I welcome First Great Western's decision to reinstate the 06.50 and 07.30 services via Severn Tunnel Junction, something that was allegedly impossible a few weeks ago. I also call upon First great Western to equally speedily re-instate the 16.54 and 17.54 services from Bristol Temple Meads via Severn Tunnel Junction rather than wait until March/April 2007 and also to address the issue of train carriage overcrowding that is being caused by running short trains on busy lines".
Jonathan concluded:
"These proposed cuts should
never have happened, especially at a time when Governments in London
and Cardiff are openly committed to attempting to persuade road users
to use alternative transport. This whole process has been incompetently
handled by First Great Western and the Department of Transport; save
for the well organised and on-going campaign organised by the Severn
Tunnel Action Group, the expressed wishes of rail users and local communities
would have been ridden roughshod and ignored".
MP takes train cuts fight to Westminster
JESSICA MORDEN MP is fighting against the reduced rail services at the Severn Tunnel Junction in Westminster.The Newport East MP has drawn up an early day motion calling on the Government to urge Great Western and Network Rail to stop the cuts, which are set to take place on December 11.
The motion reads: "(This House) notes First Great Western has pledged to reintroduce the services from May onwards but that this will severely disrupt the lives and working patterns of many people."
She states there were "flaws and inaccuracy" in the consultation process carried out by the company, and also warns of the harmful environmental impact when commuters are forced to drive instead.
The motion was taken to the Houses of Parliament, where MPs were asked to sign it in support, and it will be seen by Government ministers.
Spokeswoman for Ms Morden Jo Holmes said: "The solution to this will come from First Great Western and Network Rail.
"We are trying to highlight it and apply enough pressure for them to get on with it."
Around nine MPs signed the motion last week and Ms Holmes said they have had a good response from MPs across the country.
Darryl Hill from Caldicot, who uses the trains to commute to work in Bristol, revealed he was pleased a degree of political lobbying is now taking place.
He said: "I am very pleased that the fight has gone to Westminster as I think this is the only chance we have to get our services back.
"From what we have seen from First Great Western so far, they are not going to listen to the commuters."
Fears of extreme overcrowding on the train services after the cuts are growing among rail users, with 20 people reportedly being turned away from the 9.50am Severn Tunnel to Bath service on Saturday, December 2.
Mr Hill added: "The overcrowding in the trains is going to be terrible. In effect there are going to be three trains going into one and that is going to cause all sorts of problems.
"We are starting the countdown to the 11 December now, and I am sure it is going to be chaos."
9:35am Thursday 7th December 2006
By Alex Cinus
Thursday 7th December 2006
In 5 Days you will lose your services!
HOT NEWS!
Press Release First Great Western
Final changes to First Great Western's
new timetable
First Great Western has announced some late changes to its new timetable, which goes live on December 11.
It will include two additional Severn Tunnel Junction stops, and a new service from Bristol Temple Meads to Bath.
Severn Tunnel Junction
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 Andrew Griffiths, First Great Western's Regional Stakeholder Manager: "I am delighted we are able to offer these services for the commuters of the Caldicot and Magor area.
"We conducted an extensive consultation exercise about the new timetable earlier in the year and received over 9,500 replies. Only a couple of dozen responses raised any objections to these service not being included.
"However, in subsequent public meetings which followed the announcement of our finalised December timetable, we received a far stronger response from customers who use Severn Tunnel Junction than expected.
"In recent weeks, our planning team has been working very hard behind the scenes. Their success in including these stops follow detailed liaison with train operating companies, Network Rail and the Department for Transport.
"It is extremely unusual for changes to be made in 'extra time' so late in the timetable planning process, but the importance of this stop warrants special treatment.
"It has only been possible because these are extra stops on routes our trains are already travelling, which means no extra staff, rolling stock or impact on performance. The co-operation of our industry colleagues has been a key factor.
"From the outside, railway timetabling may appear simple, but in reality it is a complex jigsaw."New Bristol to Bath service
Another late change to the new timetable is an additional morning train between Bristol Temple Meads station and Bath Spa. The new 0834 train will stop at Keynsham at 0841, Oldfield Park at 0848 and arrive at Bath Spa at 0850.
Says Andrew Griffiths: "This very late change is only possible because we found a way to make use of what was originally empty rolling stock being moved to the start point of another service. Additional train crew have now been identified, making it possible to carry passengers on board.
First Great Western is now planning for the December 2007 timetable and is always please to receive customer comments. Ring 08457 000125.
Wednesday 6th December 2006
In 6 Days you will lose your services!
HOT NEWS!
A spokesperson for Jessica Morden MP said that Jessica has received information from Transport Minister Tom Harris which confirms that an announcement is due imminently from First Great Western.
Jessica Morden said "we are hopeful that First Great Western have found a way to reinstate the stops at Severn Tunnel Junction which will be good news for commuters."
From: Save Severn Tunnel Action Group
To: peter.west@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Cc: andrew.nock@dft.gsi.gov.uk; mike.mitchell@dft.gsi.gov.uk;
Subject: Severn Tunnel Junction
Good Morning Gentlemen,
You are no doubt aware of the disgraceful situation that I and my fellow commuters will find ourselves from the commencement of the Winter Timetable.
Our peak services from Severn Tunnel Junction into Bristol will be cut from six to two, and a similar cutting excercise in the evening peak on the return. The reason for this is still not clear, indeed there can be no logical reason for doing this, all of the trains are well used as I am sure that the many passenger surveys and ticket sales will tell you.
If I can just bring one item of information to your attention, in a recent commuter questionnaire carried out by the Save Severn Tunnel Action Group it was apparent that 23% of commuters will be lost to rail, are you happy with losing nearly a quarter of your daily fare payers?
What a terrible situation to find yourselves in when Government are actively encouraging peple to use public transport and then you sanction this.
Between the three of you, you have the authority and the power to put a stop order on the trains I have listed below, in time for next Monday, indeed I can see no reason why you would not do this simple and straight forward request, gentlemen, I urge you to reconsider for the sake of the hundreds of people who will be effected if these draconian cuts go ahead.
0630 and 0730 from Cardiff
1654 and 1754 from Bristol Temple Meads
Alan Vickers SSTAG
SAVE SEVERN TUNNEL JUNCTION- CAMPAIGN.
David FLINT has asked me to notify other local groups that we are planning to hold a protest demonstration on the platform at Severn Tunnel Junction Station on the morning of Monday 11th December.
'The Press have already indicated that they will be present at our demonstration on Monday'.
The protest is timed for 07.54 the time the second (and most popular) train is due to pass through STJ without stopping.
We are inviting everyone interested in showing their support for our campaign to attend.
Also under consideration is a slow procession of cars from STJ into and around Bristol!
We hope that you might be able to help spread the word and get a few people along. If you can help could you please give me an indication of the numbers likely to attend.
Jim JENKINS. Action Group Member
Replies please to: paul@caldicot.com or jimjenkins@StArvans.net
In 7Days you will lose your services!
The 7.27 was heaving this morning thanks to two cancelled London services from Swansea meaning Cardiff to London commuters went to Bristol instead.
It was standing room only for many of us. I think we should use this to highlight to commuters on that service what that train will be like from next week, unless they get behind our campaign (without scaring them off the trains and straight onto the roads).
interesting to note that on the 7.55 this morning there was another lady collecting surveys from commuters who had travelled from Cardiff and Newport but wasn't handing them out the STJ commuters or people standing.
Action Team
PRESS RELEASE
Politicians back call to stop rail cuts
Tuesday 5th December,Jessica Morden, Labour MP for Newport East is seeking an urgent meeting with the Rt. Hon. Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Transport, to press for a resolve to the impending crisis to the rail services at Severn Tunnel Junction, following First Great Western's decision to halve services from this station from 10 December.
Members of Parliament have united to demand that key First Great Western cuts aren't implemented. Welsh Assembly leaders and members have added their voices to those of the MPs.
Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East, said "we have had very good discussions with the Department for Transport so far and we believe they will support any workable solution that First Great Western and Network Rail propose. We are continuing to press for a solution to this problem, support is being shown from across the political spectrum in parliament for the motion I tabled last week. I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of the Save Severn Tunnel Campaign for their efforts to keep pushing for a solution and in maintaining the pressure on all involved"
Leaders of the action team aiming to halt the cuts to key services are asking that from 11 December:
the 06.44 and 07.44 services from Newport
the 16.54 and 17.54 from Bristol Temple Meads
all stop at Severn Tunnel Junction as they currently do.At a public meeting on 22 November, First Great Western spokesman, Andrew Griffiths, Regional Manager for First Great Western, said the main reasons for the cuts were timetable management changes at Government level, and the company had no choice but to follow what the Department of Transport said. (Source: Monmouthshire Free Press: 29 November.)
But he previously admitted, in a letter to Brenda Lloyd, Clerk to Undy with Magor Community Council, on 27 October, that: 'It would seem that the needs of commuters were overlooked'.
Commenting on the current situation, campaign leader David Flint said 'We have been having tremendous support from all political parties, all it needs now is for First Great Western to show some goodwill'. David added 'After all, it was their failure to recognise the needs of Severn Tunnel commuters, and their failure to note the many objections to the new timetable, that led to this ridiculous situation.'
The plan to cut the rail service flies in the face of Government policy regarding Co2 emissions from cars, and the need to relieve congested roads.
Currently, approximately 170 commuters a day catch trains toward Bristol and Bath from Severn Tunnel Junction. These commuters live as far away as Cardiff and the Forest of Dean, as well as Newport, Monmouth, Raglan, Usk, Lydney, Chepstow and Caldicot. This number includes University students and school children. With no viable alternative except to drive to work, already busy roads will become even more congested, and the cost to commuters in parking and tolls on the Severn River Crossing will be around £12 a day.
Unless the timetable is amended it will be impossible for some workers (shift workers or those working in the construction industry) to travel by train. In addition, travellers wishing to use the train to get to London for early morning meetings will be forced to use a taxi or car to get them to Newport or Bristol Parkway Stations.
Notes to Editors:
- Use of Severn Tunnel Junction has grown by 10.3% in the past two years. This is considerably higher than the average.
- Of 53,650 journeys taken from the station, and going eastward through the Severn Tunnel, 38,388 (71.6%) were to Bristol Temple Meads. Other popular destinations in the same direction were Bath Spa (9.8%), Filton Abbey Wood (8.7%) and London*(1.1%).
- Use of Filton Abbey Wood station has declined in the past two years and yet in the new timetable the service has increased to allow peak times stops approximately once every 7 minutes. The number of ticket issues from Cardiff (3,473), Newport (1,593) combined to Filton Abbey Wood this year to date = 5,066. Issues from Severn Tunnel to BTM were 11,942. This is 135% more! Incidentally the number of issues from STJ to FAW is only 2.2% less than issues from Newport.) (To November).
- There is just one commuter Bus that arrives in Bristol before 9.00am. This is already 'standing room only' from Chepstow.
Commuter questionnaire resultsHere are the results of the questionnaires completed at the public meeting on 22 November regarding the cuts to rail service. For commuters to Bristol and Bath it will make uncomfortable reading, suggesting that the fewer trains running from 10 Dec will be busier than ever.
· Twice as many passengers on the 07h27 from Dec 11th
· Double the number using the 17h24 home
· Almost four-fold increase in commuters on the 18h24BUT don't despair!
The action team are working closely with the Welsh Assembly, local MPs and Monmouthshire County Council to ensure you get to work, and return in the evening in a satisfactory timescale.
Please continue to support the campaign to reinstate YOUR train services
Use the trains, or risk losing them for good...Visit www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk
for all the campaign news
Severn Tunnel Junction Commuter Feedback Form
The following information came from the responses to questionnaires completed at the public meeting about the cuts to rail services held on 22 November 2006.
Forms Returned 78
Male Travellers 52.56%
Female Travellers 47.44%
Travelling Now: OutwardTrain time % of passengers using service
05h12 0%
06h24 1.28%
06h54 12.82%
07h27 23.08%
07h54 30.77%
08h26 10.26%
09h26 1.28%
Various 17.95%
Other Dir. 2.56%Travel plans from 11 Dec, once cuts begin.
OutwardTrain Time % of Passengers using service
07h27 52.56%
08h25 14.10%
09h26 1.28%
Various 3.85%
Other Dir. 3.85%
Not Rail 23.08%
Travelling Now Return
Train time % of passengers using service
15h20 0%
15h50 1.28%
16h20 6.41%
16h50 16.67%
17h20 19.23%
17h50 20.51%
18h22 5.13%
18h50 5.13%
Various 21.79%
Other Dir. 3.85%Travel plans from 11 Dec, once cuts begin
Return15h24 1.28%
16h24 10.26%
17h24 41.03%
18h24 19.23%
Various 7.69%
Other Dir. 3.85%
Not Rail 16.67%Interested in replacement Bus Service
Yes 50%
No 50%Destination
Bristol T.M 73.08%
Bath Spa 8.97%
Cheltenham 1.28%
Filton A.W. 8.97%
Newport 1.28%
Cardiff C. 1.28%
Bath/B.T.M. 5.13%
Monday 4th December 2006
In 8 Days you will lose your services!
MPs and Assembly Members letters being handed to the Minister of Transport and the Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport in London.
These call for key services cuts to be re-instated.
Please click below to down load copies of the letter to the Minister of Transport from MP's
Jessica Morden, MP Newport East
David Davies, MP Monmouth
Mark Harper, MP Forest of DeanTo down load a copy of the letter please click below
*The documents are rather large so please allow time for download
Satuday 2nd December 2006
In 10 Days you will lose your services!
Pay-as-you-drive storm Dec 2 2006
Rhodri Clark, Western Mail
A BLUEPRINT for the future of road pricing was criticised yesterday for focusing on south-east England and ignoring Wales.
Former British Airways boss Sir Rod Eddington was asked by the Government to advise on a future transport strategy.
He said it would be hard to avoid nationwide road pricing, with motorists paying about £1.29 a mile to drive at the busiest times, and that air travellers should pay the full environmental costs of their journeys.
He also backed a £16bn rail scheme for London.
But his rejection of new high-speed railways was seen in Wales as a sign that he has ignored the option of spreading prosperity beyond London, to alleviate transport and other problems linked to economic overheating in south-east England.
Fears were also raised that road pricing would take money off Welsh commuters with no guarantee it will be spent on improving Welsh public transport.
The Eddington report comments on UK transport but says devolved governments in Scotland and Wales should decide policies there.
"Therefore the recommendations in this report do not apply to devolved areas of responsibility," says the report.
The Welsh Assembly Government is nominally responsible for roads and railways in Wales.
But critics of the Eddington report said it is impossible to divorce Wales from transport policies determined in England.
Elfyn Llwyd MP, Plaid Cymru's Parliamentary leader, said, "Decisions will have to be made on road pricing, car tax and so on. They are decided in London. Eddington should have been prepared to make recommendations that would help Wales.
"This report won't contribute much to the debate in Wales, and it won't do much good for Britain as a whole
"I wouldn't sign up for any road-pricing scheme in Wales unless the money stayed in Wales to improve public transport. Otherwise it's an insane policy, because we wouldn't be providing the alternatives for people."
He said London spends income from its congestion charge on improving its own transport, and buses are noticeably better.
Kirsty Williams AM, transport spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats in Wales, said, "We would have to have a system that made sure Wales retains the revenue from road pricing in Wales. There's a danger we wouldn't get to see the money if it went to the Treasury.
"The Department for Transport, as their actions with regard to the First Great Western franchise have shown, don't regard transport in and out of Wales as a priority."
FGW will axe commuter services from Cardiff to Swansea and between Severn Tunnel Junction and Bristol on December 11 under a new deal agreed with the DfT.
Trains battle to go to Westminster
ANGRY commuters have attended a public meeting regarding cuts to train services from the Severn Tunnel Junction.
In what turned out to be a lively meeting, commuters got the chance to voice their opinions to First Great Western spokesman, Andrew Griffiths.
Last week, the Free Press spoke to commuters Jenny Dale and Darryl Hill, who said the cuts will ruin their lives.
After last Wednesday's meeting, at the Male Voice Choir Hall in Caldicot, Darryl said: "The meeting was very well attended and I think, together with other commuters who attended, we hammered home our anger to the rail company.
"However, I was very disappointed with the responses we got from First Great Western as all they said they could do was review the situation sometime next May.
"This is not good enough, because I know when the services stop on December 11 it will be very difficult to get them back."
Jenny said: "It was quite an animated meeting and there must have been nearly 200 people in the hall.
"Although we did get a chance to voice our grievances, I was disgusted at the pathetic responses we got from First Great Western.
"Nothing was resolved at all, so we must now brace ourselves for when the madness begins on 11 December."
At the meeting Andrew Griffiths said the main reason for the cuts were timetable management changes at Government level, and the company had no choice but to follow what the Department of Transport said.
Many in attendance were angry the Department for Transport failed to send a representative to the meeting, calling it an act of cowardice.
Severn Tunnel Trains Action Team leader, Paul Tidmarsh said: "We will now take the fight to Westminster. The meeting tonight clearly identifies the Government of the United Kingdom as being behind these cuts. We will continue to fight them."
The meeting was chaired by Mike German OBE AM. He said: "The meeting was very successful in so far as everybody got a chance to have their say on the matter.
"What came out of it is that we need to fight on two fronts. First, we must pressure the government to use their emergency powers to force trains to stop at Caldicot.
"Secondly, we must keep pressuring First Great Western to not also reduce the amount of carriages they are running.
"I think everyone at the meeting was amazed at how complicated our train service is run, but the fight will certainly go on."
10:41am Thursday 30th November 2006
By Alex Cinus
A statement of opinion that was tabled this week at the National Assembly by AM's John Griffiths and Mike German
The National Assembly regrets First Great Western's decision to reduce services stopping at Severn Tunnel Junction during peak times and notes that these services are a vital link for hundreds of commuters travelling to Cardiff and Bristol for work.
The National Assembly believes that rail services in Wales should be further developed to take forward an integrated transport system and urges First Great Western and Railtrack to provide a timetable that continues these vital services for peak time commuters.
Friday 1st December 2006
In 11 Days you will lose your services!
ACTION PROGRAMME FOR THE NEXT TEN DAYS
Monday
4th December
MPs and Assembly Members letters being handed to the Minister of Transport and the Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport in London. These call for key services cuts to be re-instated.
Car banners to be issued to all commuters.
Tuesday 5th December
Results of the questionnaire to be published to the Press and GovernmentFriday
8th December
Join the protest march from Brunel Shed Car Park, Bristol Temple Meads (next to Travel Centre). Severn Tunnel Commuters to meet at 4.15pm to join the march. Watch out for further details.
Monday
11th December
Meet at Severn Tunnel Junction at 7.50am (in time to wave the 7.56am through the station). Then join a slow convoy into and around the heart of Bristol.
Thank you for your help contacting the BBC Wales X-Ray Programme
Message from Nick Andrews BBC X-RAY Programme
"Plenty of people emailing. Thanks for your help."
Thursday 30th November
In 12 Days you will lose your services!
No Beeching By Stealth!
JOIN THE PUBLIC PROTEST AGAINST 20% CUTS TO TRAIN SERVICES IN BRISTOL AND THE WEST
(organised by RMT Bristol Rail)Friday, 8 December 2006
Meet: 3.30-4.00 pm
Brunel Shed Car Park,
Bristol Temple Meads (next to Travel Centre)Join:
Kerry McCarthy MP (Bristol East)
Pat Sikorski, Assistant General Secretary(RMT)
Nigel Costley, Secretary, South West TUCWalk: 4.15-4.30pm
Walk with us to the Government Office for the South West,
to deliver our protest, or meet us there at 4.30pm (2, Rivergate, Temple Quay)From 11 December 2006 First Great Western will cut train seats in Greater Bristol by 1,839 per day - 20%. Trains will be cut from 69 to 57 - over 18%.
Local trains are already at full capacity. Passengers complain of uncomfortable and alarming overcrowding, and rail staff have raised safety issues. Further cuts will force passengers onto congested roads, increasing pollution and road traffic accidents.
These drastic cuts will increase carbon emissions, flying in the face of the Stern Report. Government has already set challenging targets to cut carbon emissions - 20% by 2010 and 60% by 2050. Transport accounts for 25% of all UK carbon emissions - the vast majority produced by road transport. These cuts threaten environmentally friendly transport.
Train service cuts affecting Bristol and surrounding areas include:
• loss of early morning Cardiff-Bristol service;
• two-hour gaps at Oldfield Park, Keynsham and Patchway;
• reduced peak period services at Keynsham, Bedminster, Parson Street and Weston Milton;
• loss of early services between Bristol, Yate and Gloucester and late evening services at Yate, Cam and Dursley, Gloucester and Patchway;
• irregular intervals between trains from Bristol, Weston-super-Mare and Taunton, plus loss of connectivity on trains to/from LondonPublished by Bristol Rail Branch RMT - www.bristolrail.org.uk
Download document version here Download file
Here's another opportunity for you to highlight the plight of Severn Tunnel Junction commuters.
Are you a commuter?Have you had a bad experience of delays?
If 'YES', then BBC Wales X-Ray Programme wants to speak with you.... TODAY*
Phone Nick at Tel: 02920 323201, or e-mail him about your case to: nick.andrews@bbc.co.uk
Please act NOW!
The TV cameras met us off the 7.27 from STJ this morning. Over forty commuters stood outside the main entrance to Temple Meads Station demonstrating against the impending rail cuts.
To find out more, watch HTV West news tonight at 6.00pm.
REDUCTION OF RAIL SERVICES STOPPING AT
SEVERN TUNNEL JUNCTION 29:11:06Jessica Morden MP
Paul Flynn MP
Nia Griffith MPThat this House expresses regret that First Great Western has reduced the number of services stopping at Severn Tunnel Junction during peak times; notes that these services are a vital link for hundreds of commuters travelling to Cardiff and Bristol for work; further notes with concern that the average person travelling by rail generates around half the carbon dioxide emissions of the average person travelling by car and that this reduction in service will force people into their cars for these journeys and undermine efforts to reduce carbon emissions; further notes that First Great Western has pledged to reintroduce the services from May onwards but that this will severely disrupt the lives and working patterns of many people; believes that the flaws and inaccuracy in the consultation process prevented this matter being rectified sooner; and calls on the Government to urge First Great Western and Network Rai l to provide a timetable that includes these vital services for commuters by reintroducing the peak time stops at Severn Tunnel Junction from 11th December
Wednesday 29th November
In 13 Days you will lose your services!
Breaking News
Jessica Morden MP has requested a meeting with Minister for the action group we are waiting for a response.
This is excellent News!!
HTV West want to interview and film commuters travelling on the 7.27am Virgin Train from Severn Tunnel arriving at Bristol Temple Meads 7.51am on Thursday 30th November, this will take place outside the station.
The Campaign needs your support!
Tuesday 28th November
In 14 Days you will lose your services!
"Early Day Motion"... presented to the House of Commons yesterday
FIRST GREAT WESTERN TRAIN SERVICE CUTS IN BRISTOL AND WEST OF ENGLAND
Kerry McCarthy
Mr Jeremy Browne
John Penrose
Sarah McCarthy-Fry
Dr Doug Naysmith
Roger BerryThat this House notes with concern that from 11th December 2006 users of First Great Western train services in the Bristol and West of England area will suffer the loss of their early morning train service from Cardiff to Bristol, early morning services and late evening services between Bristol and Gloucester, irregular intervals between trains from Bristol to Weston-super-Mare and Taunton, reduced capacity on short platform stations to Weston, such as Worle, loss of connectivity on trains to and from London and extensive reductions in train services to local stations in the Bristol area; further notes that First Great Western plans to reduce the amount of rolling stock used on train services in the Bristol area, including cutting Cardiff-Portsmouth trains from three to two coaches, an overall reduction of 1,839 seats, equating to a 20 per cent. cut in train seat availability, and a reduction in the number of trains from 69 to 57, equating to an 18 per cent. cut in trains; calls on the Government to urge First Great Western urgently to reconsider the reductions in levels of rolling stock on these key services, the consequences for overcrowding and forcing passengers onto the already heavily congested road network, with all the outcomes for increased carbon emissions, pollution and road traffic accidents that these train service cuts will lead to; and further calls on the Government to ensure that capacity and train service frequency in the Bristol and West of England area are maintained and improved.
Also,
here is the schedule for debate tomorrow - hopefully something will be raised then
Wednesday 29 November
The House will sit in Westminster Hall between 9.30am-11.30am and 2.30-5.00pm
Westminster Hall Private Members' Debates –
09.30-11.00 Punjabi community in Britain - John McDonnell
11.00-11.30 Government relations with Russia - Chris Bryant
14.30-16.00 Rail franchises - Dr Vincent Cable
16.00-16.30 Ford Prison - Nick Herbert
16.30-17.00 Funding Derbyshire's police - Mr Mark ToddThe House will sit at 11.30am
Oral Questions – Wales; Prime Minister
Legislation – Fraud (Trials without a Jury) Bill – Second reading
Adjournment – Pathways to work in Wirral - Angela Eagle
From January FGW Season tickets (regulated fares) will rise by 4.3% ond other tickets by 4.8% - so we will be paying more for less. Kind of rubs more salt into the wounds doesn't it!
RAIL FARE RISES FOR 2007
Arriva Trains Wales Central Trains c2c Chiltern Railways First Capital Connect First Great Western First ScotRail (Strathclyde) First TransPennine Express Gatwick Express Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) Heathrow Express Hull Trains Island Line Merseyrail Midland Mainline Northern Rail (WYPTE area) 'one' Silverlink Southeastern Southern South West Trains Virgin
Cross CountryVirgin
West CoastSource: Atoc
Monday 27th November
In 15 Days you will lose your services!
SUNDAY's BBC TV Politics Show
Trust you saw Sundays BBC TV Politics Show and your TV was tuned to WEST as the local politics slot at the end of the National show was on the train cut backs and showed folk asking questions in the 22 November meeting at Caldicot. Shame it was not on the WALES transmission or indeed the National section of the show.
For what it is worth the FGW website at 1400 hrs Sunday 26 November still states that the peak hour trains from STJ are remaining - Andrew Griffiths said in the meeting he was going to correct it - that was 5 days ago. I think you could offer your services to First Group as they are slow in updating there website OR have they decided to allow the peak hour trains to "call" at STJ and havent anounced their climb down? Good luck.Tudor
Friday 24th November
In 18 Days you will lose your services!
photo: Save Severn Tunnel Campaign Public Meeting 22 Nov
Trains can be made to stop!
Yesterday David Redgewell from Transport 2000 met with the Shadow Minister for Rail, Stephen Harrison MP, a Mr Eccles from Railtrack and Passenger Focus.
The situation at Severn Tunnel was discussed and David received confirmation that an emergency procedure can be put in place to stop trains at Severn Tunnel Junction... but the Department for Transport have to agree with this.
It appears that we need to approach Tom Harris and Douglas Alexander about this. Perhaps our MPs could ask the question for us? Well, actually they have, and we await their response!
David also confirmed that there are First Great Western units currently sitting idle in the sidings!
In addition, it has been suggested that we contact Severnside Rail Partnership who have recently had success with regard to reversing timetable cuts at Melksham. This contact is being persued.
Important information needed from you.Of the 185 present at Wednesday nights' meeting 91 were commuters and there were a further 21 regular rail travellers.
To date we have had just 51 questionnaires returned. If you need a copy,
please ask Michelle for one in the booking hut. And please return them to her by next Tuesday.The remainder was made up by Guests, Speakers, current and retired railway workers, the Press, councillors, other political activists and the public. About £145 was collected - thank you for your generosity.
Going ForwardWe need help if we are to succeed.
Several persons volunteered to help at last Wednesday's meeting. We were also extremely grateful for all who lent a hand last at the meeting.
If you feel like getting involved in saving your commuter services, do join us at The Tippling, Chepstow Road, at 8.00pm next Tuesday.
Virgin Trains are on our CaseFrom Barry.Dixon, PATCHWAY To: chris.gibb@virgintrains.co.uk Subject: Recent VT 'Walkabout' etc
Dear Mr Gibb,
I think we may have met recently when you were on 'walkabout' on the 07:27 SevernTunnel, Patchway, Bristol service. Hopefully that leg of the journey left you with very favourable comments, highlighting how pleased passengers were that VirginTrains were providing that service and that it was the best service of the day (and has been for several years).
I would like to warn you that you are about to get stitched up by First Great Western, once the new timetable is introduced in December.
FGW will no longer be stopping the services immediately before and after the 07:27 This will 'displace' a significant number of passengers onto your train (I trust that VT get a proportional increase in revenue - you will deserve it). The 07:27 is going to become a very busy train indeed.
Maybe you can regularly provide 5 units on that run… and won't object too much if passengers occupy 1st-Class on that leg of the journey ?
By the way… FGW tell me that the 'guard' can arrange alternative transport in the event that the train is too full to get on and if the next train isn't likely to turn up for an hour….… might be worth warning your staff in advance.
More information is available at http://www.saveseverntunnel.couk
Thanks for taking the time to read this,
Barry Dixon, Patchway. 24-11-06Dear Mr Dixon,
Thank you for taking the trouble to email me.
We have been aware of FGW's timetable plans for a while, and one of my aims that day was to see the train and get a feel for the customers in anticipation of the changes.
As you say we will get a increase in our revenue allocation on this flow, and our train will be full and standing for a short period of its journey.
Unfortunately all our five car Voyagers are fully employed at this time of day - most of them full and standing. Whilst I would like more carriages this is a matter for the new franchise currently being competed for currently
We are well aware of the increased role of our train after 11th December, and I have been monitoring local press reports with interest. We will do everything we possibly can to provide a reliable service, as we have done in the past. We will also consider appropriate contingency plans in case there are problems. I recognise that road transport on this corridor is a slow and poor alternative.
Lastly we will monitor carefully what happens in the first few weeks of the new timetable, and see where all the commuters opt to go. We will monitor first class customer numbers and consider carefully how to use this effectively. However simply "degrading" this will not be an answer that would be popular with those prepared to pay extra for a first class ticket.
Chris Gibb
Managing Director
Virgin CrossCountry
Thursday 23rd November
In 19 Days you will lose your services!
Train cuts will go ahead
PLANS to cut the number of peak-time trains from a Gwent railway station are to go ahead despite fierce opposition from commuters and local politicians.Around 150 people attended a public meeting last night to protest against plans to cut services from Severn Tunnel Junction.
But train operator First Great Western said it was too late to stop the changes going ahead on December 11.
FGW regional manager Andrew Griffiths told the meeting three peak-time services were likely to be reinstated in May and another in December next year.
However commuters said that was not good enough.
Mum-of-two Sally Heffernan, from Undy, works for a law firm in Bristol. She said the remaining 8.25am service will not be able to accommodate the number of commuters.
"If everyone is trying to get on the train some people are going to be left on the platform," she said.
"If I can't get on it I'm going to be late for work."
Mrs Heffernan, whose husband was recently sent to serve in Iraq, said she could not afford to drive.
"I've no choice but to get the train," she said.
Another commuter Debbie Jones said: "There will be more people trying to get on less carriages. Is that a safe way to run a railway?"
Councillor Bob Greenland, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "We have got to ensure these cuts in services are not brought in in the first place."
Local politicians including Monmouth AM and MP David Davies and AM for Newport East John Griffiths spoke out against the plans at the meeting in the Choir Hall, Caldicot.
Mr Davies said: "The decision to cut our rail service defies logic."
Next month the half-hourly peak-time services between Severn Tunnel Junction and Bristol Temple Meads will become hourly.
Commuters say they will be forced to drive to work, but fear they cannot afford the Severn Crossing tolls and parking charges in Bristol.
The FGW franchise began in April. Mr Griffiths said the Department of Transport decided services from Severn Tunnel Junction should be reduced and those in Bristol increased.
He said it will take until December 2007 to reinstate four of the peak-time services.
The meeting was organised by the Save Severn Tunnel Junction steering group. It was chaired by South Wales East AM Mike German.
FGW said it carried out a wide consultation before proposing the time table changes.
9:59am 23-11-06
Subject box 'Commuters take fight to Westminster'www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk: Action Team
Press Release
· From 11 December morning commuter trains to Bristol are cut by 80%· Up to 180 commuters currently use this service
· 185 attend Public Meeting
· First Great Western won't help desperate commuters anxious about
their future· Political parties unite behind the campaign
'The campaign must march on Westminister'
(Mike German OBE AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the Welsh Assembly)Last night First Great Western spokesman, Andrew Griffiths, defended his firms decision to slash commuter rail services from Severn Tunnel Junction to Bristol and Bath.
From 11th December the number of morning trains operated by First will slash from the current five to just one - the 8.25am.
Commuters and politicians united in their condemnation of the cuts. They were highly critical that the Department for Transport failed to send a representative to the meeting, calling it an act of cowardice.
Andrew Davies, Transport Minister in the Assembly is leading the attack on Westminster. Rhodri Morgan, the Assembly's First Minister, is also fully behind the campaign to restore services.
Action Team leader, Paul Tidmarsh said 'The response from all politicians has been terrific. We will now take the fight to Westminster. The meeting tonight clearly identifies the Government of the United Kingdom as being behind these cuts. We will continue to fight them'.
At the meeting the Action Committee made questionnaires available. These are designed to help identify potential commuter problems and opportunities. Commuters are being urged to complete these and hand them in to Michelle, in the ticket office at the station. They must be completed and returned to Michelle by Tuesday 28 November. Spare copies of the questionnaire are available in the ticket of
