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 office.
The action team have received several offers of support from persons wishing to get involved in the fight.
Further offers would be welcome.
They should contact Paul Tidmarsh at: paul@caldicot.com or telephone: 07753 808489
Monmouth County Council are looking at ways that they may be able to help and will report back to the committee.
The meeting was chaired by Mike German OBE AM, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the Welsh Assembly. Other speakers included David Davies, MP for Monmouth; Robin Shaw, Director of Transport Wales in the Assembly; John Griffiths AM; Jonathan Clark speaking for Plaid Cymru; Gloucestershire County Councillor Brian Thornton (representing Paul Harper MP (Forest of Dean)); Cllr Robert Greenland, the Monmouthshire County Councillor responsible for transport, and Simon Pickering the spokesperson from Passenger Focus.
Newport East MP, Jessica Morden had given birth to a baby daughter earlier in the day. The meeting sent their best wishes to Jessica. At the meeting Jessica was represented by Jo Holmes from her Westminster Office.
Transport 2000 also sent a delegate.
Of the 185 at the meeting 91 were commuters, 21 identified themselves as 'other rail users'. Several County Councillors, Councillors, current and retired railway workers were among the audience.
At the meeting 53 questionnaires were returned.
ENDS 23-11-06
Thank you for your support if you attended the Public Meeting last night
Full details of the Public Meeting and what actions SSTAG are considering to continue the campaign to have the services to Severn Tunnel reinstated will be posted on the website soon
Wednesday 22nd November
In 20 Days you will lose your services!
Thank you for your correspondence to Sir Menzies Campbell MP regarding First Great Western Railway cuts. Sir Menzies has asked me to reply to you on his behalf.
Since Labour came to power in 1997 train delays have doubled, services have been cut and we have the highest fares in Europe. This unfortunate situation was created by the Conservatives when they privatised the railways, but Labour has had 9 years to sort it out and they have failed.
Liberal Democrats would streamline the railway system so there would be fewer train operating companies, each with longer contracts, in return for more investment and better services.
Unfortunately, there is very little Sir Menzies Campbell can do to assist you in this particular issue. This particular matter is a local issue; Liberal Democrats are firm supporters of local government and thus local accountability and responsibility.
There is also a parliamentary convention that Members of Parliament are unable to intervene in the cases of constituents who are not their own. I do recommend that you contact your own Member of Parliament and the relevant Transport Minister who may be able to assist you.
I am also passing your letter to Alistair Carmichael MP, who speaks for the Liberal Democrats on transport, for his information.
Thank you once again for writing to us.
Yours sincerely,
Anne-Marie Bunting
Correspondence Manager, Office of Sir Menzies Campbell MP 22-11-06
'Rail cuts will ruin our lives'
Exclusive By Andy Downie
TWO Caldicot commuters told the Free Press that their lives have been screwed up' by the proposed scrapping of train services from the Severn Tunnel Junction.Train operator First Great Western is proposing to cut essential peak-time trains from the Severn Tunnel Junction to Bristol, leaving many commuters facing a bleak future if the planned cut goes ahead on December 11.
Jenny Dale and Darryl Hill, who both work in Bristol, are concerned and admit that they have been forced into taking one of three options - drive to work, change jobs or move house.
continued...
"They've really screwed up my life," said Jenny, 22, a former Caldicot Comprehensive pupil who now works for a large IT recruitment company in Bristol."This is my first full-time job and the only reason I took it was because of the rail link, which I can walk to in ten minutes.
"I think it's absolutely disgusting that they are doing this to people's lives.
"I do drive, but instead of a £6.20 train fare I'll be faced with a £5.10 bridge toll, petrol money, extortionate parking fees, not to mention the fact that Bristol is impossible to drive around anyway. I don't know what to do now, I feel like I'm being forced to change my life."
Darryl Hill, also of Station Road, Caldicot, is in exactly the same position.
Mr Hill, 34, originally from Cardiff, said: "I'm basically being told to compromise my life.
"I moved to Caldicot ten years ago because of the rail link, and my wife also uses the train to go to work in Cardiff, so this is really going to affect my family life."
Mr Hill is a lecturer at Bristol University on the subject of microbiology. "It's my dream job. I studied for eight years at Bristol to get into this position and now it's going to be taken away."
Even though both Caldicot commuters are calling for the services to not be cut, these services' weren't exactly first-rate in the first place.
Jenny said: "The train is always full before it even arrives at the Junction. In a month, I'd say I got a seat three times and with the proposed cuts the one train I'll be able to catch will be even worse.
"I'll try it from December 11 but I think it's going to be impossible. My boyfriend is moving to London - maybe I'll have to move there to get a job."
Both Jenny, a graduate of Portsmouth University, and Darryl, will be attending tonight's (Wednesday) meeting to discuss the cuts at 7.30pm at the Male Voice Choir Hall, Mill Lane, Caldicot, where Mike German AM will chair what is sure to be a hotly-debated evening.
There are over 150 regular commuters between the Severn Tunnel Junction and Bristol.
As well as Jenny and Darryl's fears, other problems for commuters include increased worry over collecting children from school.
Also due to be present at the meeting tonight are Simon Pickering, passenger link manager from Passenger Focus, Bob Greenland, Cabinet member with responsibility for transport on Monmouthshire County Council, Andrew Griffiths, regional manager of First Great Western, Robin Shaw, director of Transport Wales, representatives of the three local MPs (Newport East, Monmouth and Forest of Dean), representatives of the four main political parties in the Welsh Assembly and representatives from Arriva Trains, Virgin Trains and the First Bus Group.
The aim of the meeting will be to inform the audience as to the current situation and to seek to resolve problems that the impending cuts are likely to cause.
For further details, you can also visit the website www.saveseverntunnel .co.uk The facts: * Commuters currently travel to Severn Tunnel Junction from the local towns and villages of Chepstow, Caldicot, Magor, Portskewett and Rogiet. Also from Usk, Monmouth, Raglan, the eastern suburbs of Newport, Lydney and the lower Wye Valley.
* The proposed cut will affect westbound commuters to Newport, Cardiff and beyond.
* The reduction means that the six trains to Bristol Temple Meads that currently run before 9am, will be cut to just two.
* The Virgin train at 7.27am will be the first train out each morning.
* The busiest train, the 7.54am, if cut, will leave approximately 60 regular commuters to re-plan their lives.
Free Press 22-11-06
National Assembly for Wales Plenary Session
First Minister’s Questions
21st November 2006
John Griffiths: Public transport services are important to the future of Wales as we would like to see it develop, and I know you are aware of the great deal of concern among the public in my constituency about the cuts proposed by First Great Western to commuter services, morning and evening, from the Severn Tunnel Junction station to Bristol Temple Meads. If they go ahead this will have the effect of driving people off the trains and into their cars, which is contrary to our hopes for developing public transport, and, indeed, our hopes for environmental progress in Wales. There is a public meeting on this matter on Wednesday, and a dedicated website has been set up by local residents. Will you join me in urging First Great Western to listen to the public outcry, and not go ahead with the cuts that it proposes?
The First Minister: Yes. This point has been made very forcibly by Andrew Davies, the Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks, as part of his general portfolio responsibilities in that area, to the managing director of First Great Western, to Douglas Alexander, the Secretary of State for Transport, and, I believe, to the Office of the Rail Regulator. First Great Western seems to have forgotten that this is an England-and-Wales franchise. The loyalties of First Great Western and the sponsor bodies, including the Secretary of State for Transport, do not seem to remember that, in relation to what happens this side of the border and on that side of the border, if something is included in the franchise it is in the franchise, and it has accepted the responsibility for looking after those services. At the moment, with regard to the Severn Tunnel Junction services back to Cardiff and onwards to Bristol Temple Meads, and one or two other services, First Great Western seems to be trying to duck out of its franchise commitments.
Paul Evans Office of John Griffiths AM - 029 2089 8315 johngriffithsam.org.uk
Hot Press
BBC Wales Radio News, ITV Wales News
and Real Radio now broadcasting news about the Save Severn Tunnel Campaign
and the
Public Meeting this evening
photo: Sally being interview by ITV Wales News reporter Edward at STJ
Station parking to get tougher
Team member, David, has been talking to County Councillor for Rogiet, Mike Smith, and about the needs of commuters.
Mike recognises that a considerable number of commuters live in Rogiet, and is empathetic to our cause. Following the conversation we are now hopeful that Mike Smith will be getting more involved with our campaign.
The problem of station car parking has been raised by the team.
Unfortunately the residents of Rogiet are getting angry that their streets are being used as a cheap parking option. As a result parking restrictions could shortly be introduced. Mike did assure the team that there will be a full consultation on this.
Team member David has requested that Mike Smith, and the Community Council, familiarise themselves with commuter parking problems. He stressed that the NCP Car Park currently offers insufficient capacity.
Mike advised that additional car parking space is about to be created at the Sports Club in Rogiet, and that commuters parking needs were being considered in this regard. If the decision to allow commuters to use this parking area goes ahead, acharge will be levied.
Mike has provisionally offered his liaison services to commuters should a station user group be formed.
Support from Patchway
Louise Elman, MP (HoC Transport Committee)
Dear Ms ElmanRe THE RAIL FRANCHISING SHAMBLES
I applaud your remarks on rail franchising, as heard in some BBC radio interviews this morning!
A SIMPLE STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.
DfT's priorities are: a) Costs containment/reduction; and b) embarrassing statistics avoidance.
TOCs priorities are: making the most money with the least effort in the shortest possible time.
NB. No room between these two vested interests for sensible development of relevance to urban congestion.
This summary cannot be denied, and it makes clear why the public interest is so badly served?In Liverpool you have gained from having a PTE. Here in Bristol there is only neglect and decline. (See the attached copies of correspondence between myself and the leader of Bristol City Council.)
I have two cases that corroborate your criticisms. I hope you will (at least) find them informative, and perhaps even be prompted to attempt rectification of the stupidities described. [Please note that in neither case would doing this benefit me! lam retired, and lam not affected by the situations in question.']
It is clear to all, that unholy alliances, between an incompetent DfT and avaricious operators, are extremely detrimental to the public interest. What is needed is. more local authority involvement in timetabling. especially as regards the stopping patterns of 'small' (ie 'local') trains. Pre &/or post-franchise consultations here (and doubtless elsewhere), have proved to be a charade. My feeling is that county coundls share this view, and merely 'go through the motions', without any expectations of beneficial results.
A simple suggestion Give local authorities in non-PTE areas a say in timetables. Let it be 25% only for Inter-City type trains, but up to 75% as regards most of the erstwhile Regional Railways services. If we had that here, a zero investment improvement option of real local value could be developed. The DfT takes no interest in tackling local congestion problems, nor do TOCs. Only local councils can have any chance of relating resources to needs, but they are excluded from real involvement. After reading (overleafi my two illustrative cases, you will, perhaps, have fully grasped this point.
Also, how about raising the Bristol case with your (incredibly useless!) DfT? I have tried our local MP (Dr D Naysmith: one of your party!), but he gains no ground. Despite his writing many letters to the operators, they reply only with weasel words. He needs some heavyweight support!
Yours sincerelyJA Grose
CASE 2- TIMETABLING INSANITY (MILD WORD!) IN THE BRISTOL AREA
There is an 0730 Cardiff-Portsmouth Harbour train. It is a 3-car dmu (206 seats), run by First Great Western. At the moment, after leaving Newport, its calls are; Severn Tunnel Junction (0754), Bristol TM (0818/0822), Keynsham (0829), thence Bath, etc. 20-30 commuters (most of them Bristol-bound) are picked up at STJ, & 40-50 Bath-bound commuters join at Keynsham. Despite theses stops being (obviously!) well-used, with effect from the Dec 2006 timetable change, both are due to be deleted.* NB. This train will still continue to run. after Dec 2006. exactly as now. but minus these two stops. Affected parties have protested vigorously about this insanity, but as far as I am aware to no avail. Even if the protests succeed, and these crazy stop cuts are reversed, this episode would still reveal some truly amazing lunacy at the DfT, for proposing their deletion (what case could there be for this!?) in the first pLace. Current users of the 0754 STJ call are likely to be either: a) driven back into their cars; or b) forced into the trains before & after (0726/0826), both of which are near to or already at/over full capacity. These stop deletions are an arbitrary and wholly detrimental act. No other users gain any benefit from them.
Additional points. A train from the Gloucester line arrives at STJ at 0740. It provides a connection into the 0754, for people from Chepstow and Lydney. This useful connection will be broken. There is a bus from Magor to Bristol via Caldicot and Chepstow (Magor and Caldicot are two dormitory villages, from which most of STJ's passengers originate). An STJ rail user tells me that this bus already runs fully loaded, and if any more passengers join in Magor or Caldicot, Chepstow passengers will be unable to board. The bus in question is operated by First, the rail company which is deleting the essential train stops.
*1 am aware of this because, in association with the local parish council here, I have been seeking to have a Patchway call by this train re-instated. The name will probably mean nothing to you, but this station is near the new town of Bradley Stoke, and within reach of business parks, and other industry. There is already a 4-way commuter trade (ins + outs in both directions), which would increase, if more of the (currently running) trains called here. Passengers sometimes being unable to board overcrowded services is further evidence of the suppressed demand here. The advent of FGW as the operator of local services here (implementing your DfT's plan!). has meant; fewer trains, shorter trains, and stop culls. Not the wan to get motorists out of their cars!
OF COURSE RAILWAYS COULD BENEFIT FROM INCREASED INVESTMENT (WHAT PUBLIC SERVICE COULD NOT?) BUT SOME CREATIVE THINKING. PLUS INTELLIGENT FLEXIBILiTY. NOTABLY IN TIMETABLING. COULD DELIVER SOME WORTHWHILE GAINS AT ZERO COST. TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH TOCS ABOUT THIS IS LIKE TRYING TO TALK TO A BRICK WALL! IT IS UP TO YOU POLITICIANS, TO KNOCK SOME SENSE INTO THEM, VIA THE DfT!
WINTER TIMETABLE CHANGES
TimetableAnalysis -The Pathing Problem... Fact or Fiction ?
Copy of document is available for download in PDF format,
" please click here to down load"Many thanks to JA Grose
Tuesday 21st NovemberIn 21 Days you will lose your services!
CAMPAIGN NOW HOTTING UP
BBC RADIO WALES and ITV WALES NEWS
now reporting our campaign
photo: David Flint a member of the Action Group being interviewed at Severn Tunnel Junction by Hafena from BBC Wales Radio
photo: Simon Marshall a member of the Action Group being interviewed at Severn Tunnel Junction by Edward from ITV Wales News
Website news report to follow ASAP
Today the Action Group has started a 2 day email campaign targeting major MP's and DfT
The wide ranging rail timetable cuts in First Great Western's commuter service from Severn Tunnel Junction to Bristol Temple Meads are likely to:
- put jobs at risk
- seriously disrupt peoples lives
- lower the value of homes
- put more cars on the road
- take money out of peoples pockets
The proposal is worse than a shambles and will impact PATCHWAY commuters as well.
What are you doing about it?
Visit our website at http://www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk to find out more about these unjust cuts and join us at the Public Meeting tomorrow to hear more.
You can also use it to tell us what you are doing to resolve the situation.
Monday 20 November
In 22 Days you will lose your services!
HOT NEWS Western Mail
Welsh link to south-west under threat
Western Mail
TRAIN operator First Great Western has refused to call off cuts to services at Severn Tunnel Junction station, which provides an increasingly popular alternative to Severn Crossing tolls and expensive car parking in Bristol and Cardiff.
At the same time, FGW will provide more services for Filton Abbey Wood station, near Bristol, which is used by more people than Severn Tunnel Junction, but has witnessed a 4.5% decline in passengers in two years.
Severn Tunnel Junction may be one of FGW's fastest-growing stations, gaining 10.3% more passengers in two years.
Across South-West England, which makes up most of FGW's territory, passenger numbers increased by 7.3% in the same two years.
The FGW franchise, which began in April, was drawn up by the Government in London.
Last month, FGW said the Department for Transport had decided Severn Tunnel Junction's service should be reduced.
Even busy commuter trains will vanish in the new timetable on December 11.
Some of the lost services could be reinstated, but FGW said yesterday that might not happen until December 2007.
Yesterday a DfT spokesperson said, "Severn Tunnel Junction services specified in the franchise agreement were based on current and expected passenger demand."
However, the 10.3% growth in passengers at Severn Tunnel Junction occurred before the new FGW franchise was negotiated.
In 2002-03, 107,132 passenger journeys began or ended at the station, which was ranked number 1,267 out of nearly 2,500 stations.
In 2004-05 118,145 passenger journeys began or ended at Severn Tunnel Junction.
Politicians backing a campaign by users of the station reacted angrily to the statistics yesterday.
David Davies, Tory AM and MP for Monmouth, said the Government had handled the situation so badly he suspected the aim was to force more people to pay more motoring taxes, including the VAT payable on Seven Crossing tolls.
"We've been treated in an absolutely disgraceful fashion over this.
"It gives the impression that the Labour Government couldn't care less about the needs of passengers in Wales," he said.
"We're being landed with swingeing increases in taxes on motoring and being told we should use greener forms of transport, but at the same time they're taking those greener forms of transport away from us.
"How dare they say they want to save the environment when at the same time they're cutting back services for people who want to use public transport."
John Griffiths, AM for Newport East, said, "A service that's seeing growth in passengers should, if anything, see a growth in the trains provided, to lead to further increases in passenger use.
"It seems to me that they didn't think these cuts through properly at all. They're surprised by the outcry it's caused.
"If they're going to restore some of those services, they've got the money to provide them now."
He said a temporary loss of services would drive passengers away.
"People may find other jobs or be forced back into their cars, which we don't want from an integrated transport or environment point of view," he added.
A public meeting will be held in Caldicot on Wednesday to discuss the situation with representatives of First Great Western and other organisations.
An FGW spokesperson said yesterday, "We are looking at providing more Severn Tunnel Junction services next year to address concerns that have been recently raised.
"Demand for services east of Cardiff will be closely monitored once the new timetable is operational.
"We are considering the possibility of providing more services from the December 2007 timetable.
"However we are also looking into the possibility of providing more services earlier than that."
Last month FGW managing director Alison Forster said, "The Department for Transport have in the past supported a half-hourly service on this route."They advised us that they did not believe that this was warranted and would only support an hourly service in the new franchise."
Wednesday's meeting will be held at the Caldicot Male Voice Choir hall, Mill Lane, Caldicot, starting at 7.30pm
Sources: www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk and the Office of Rail Regulation
Rhodri Clark, Western Mail 20 Nov 2006
Bridge failure adds to commuter woes
photo: Old Severn Bridge M48
Reports to your Action Team suggest the the Old Severn Bridge is currently suffering serious corrosion of the main cable stays.
If you have crossed the old bridge recently you will probably have noticed the special examination platforms mounted on the cables. The have been used to assess the amount of damage.
A senior executive has advised a member of the Action Committee that the Old Severn Bridge is going to suffer lane closures during peak periods for some time to come. In addition, he said that the bridge may need to be closed completely at certain times.
Commenting on this added threat Action Team member Paul Tidmarsh commented ‘This is not good news and will add to the many difficulties being faced by commuters wishing to cross daily into England from Wales. Keeping our current rail services becomes even more important’.20 Nov 2006
Saturday 18 November
In 24 Days you will lose your services!
An article from this weeks Free Press
Do they want us all to walk?!
As train users react in anger to a decision to halve the number of peak-time trains stopping at Severn Tunnel Junction, drivers have been told tolls over the bridges are to rise by 20p a time for cars.
Stories by Alex Cinus Chepstow and Caldicot Free Press
photo: The 7.27am Virgin train stopping at Severn Tunnel could also be under threat with next years change in the Virgin franchise.
PROTESTS are growing against the decision to slash train services at the Severn Tunnel junction at peak times, with both commuters and local politicians slamming the plan.The peak time morning and evening services between the Severn Tunnel Junction and Bristol Temple Meads are being halved, despite large numbers of commuters using them.
The half-hourly services between 6am and 8am to Bristol and between 4pm to 6pm to Cardiff will become hourly, services outside peak times will also be affected, with plans to cut the 47 trains stopping at the Severn Tunnel Junction each day to 31.
Commuters were angered by the changes made to already overcrowded trains by First Great Western, which come into effect next month.
Plaid Cymru candidate, Jonathan Clark has severely criticised the changes. He said: "These proposals will affect regular commuters who travel via Severn Tunnel Junction from the eastern suburbs of Newport, Langstone, Magor, Caldicot, Chepstow, Lydney, Raglan, Usk and Monmouth and are totally unacceptable and should be immediately postponed.
"Commercial companies have proved themselves incapable of running an efficient and safe railway service for the benefit of the public, being only interested in putting profits before a decent service.
Transport minister for the Welsh Assembly, Andrew Davies, is set to meet train bosses in a bid to get the slashed train services reinstated.
He said: "It is simply not acceptable to halve the peak time morning and evening services between Severn Tunnel and Bristol Temple Meads. "The company operates a UK franchise - with responsibility to serve Welsh rail users."
Newport east AM John Griffiths said he was inundated with calls from angry commuters.
"I'm disappointed with First Great Western," he said. "They are not listening to their customers. Their actions are forcing people into their cars and off the trains."
The Liberal Democrat leader in the Assembly Mike German, was at Severn Tunnel on Friday morning to meet commuters about the impending reduction in services. He is set to chair a public meeting on 22 November at 7.3Opm at the Caldicot Male Voice Choir Hall, Mill Lane, regarding the issue.
Mr German said, "The cuts in services means that commuters into the Bristol/Bath area will be denied well-timed services to get them into work in the morning and home in the evening. "Just when everyone agrees that we must tackle climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions urgently, local train services are axed which will inevitably result in more cars on the roads."
Mr German and Liberal Democrat councillors handed out a survey to rail users to establish the effect of the cuts.
Monmouth AM/Mp David Davies has also criticised the cuts, and Caldicot Town Council held a meeting with a representative of First Great Western and around 150 commuters and residents to protest at the changes.Protesters have launched an action group. For news about their campaign visit the website www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk
A spokesman for First Great Western said timetables were made following extensive consultation but they were hoping to make changes to the June 2007 timetable.The company said two services from the Severn Tunnel Junction - 6.55am and 7.55am - will be reinstated in May.
Friday 17 November
In 25 Days you will lose your services!
photo: Plaid Cymru's Dave Ashwin and Jonathan Clark supporting the Save Severn Tunnel campaign.
Jonathan Clark, Plaid Cymru candidate for the Monmouth constituency for the National Assembly Elections to be held in May 07 with Dave Ashwin, Plaid Cymru Monmouthshire County Councillor representing Green Lane Ward, Caldicot at Severn Tunnel Junction Station distributing the Plaid Cymru Transport document PLAID RAIL FOCUS, Public Transport in Monmouth - It's The Vision Thing!
CAMPAIGN NEWS
Plenty going on with the press
· Yesterday we launched our national press campaign
· Activity started with the regional and local press has paid dividends with
one or more articles appearing in Western Mail (Cardiff), Western Daily Press (Bristol),
South Wales Argus and the Chepstow Free Press. In addition we've been featured on the BBC News (Wales) website
Plaid Cymru get behind campaign
· MPs representing seats outside of our constituencies are taking up the cause.
The prospective Welsh Assembly member, along with local Plaid Councillor, was at Severn Tunnel Junction this morning talking with commuters.Note: It might be more encouraging if the local Labour and Conservatives got to talk to the people that matter! Please contact your local Councillor or County Councillor, express your concerns to them and ask them what they are doing to help? (We hope they're as good as their word!)
To find out who your County Councillor is click "here"
To find our who your Welsh National Assembly member is please go to links page
Arriva have plans for Severn TunnelAction team member, David, yesterday spoke with Malcolm Howitt, Regional Manager of Arriva Trains. Malcolm gave him assurances over plans for improvements with the facilities at Severn Tunnel. At the time David didn't know that we've lost our seats on the platforms! Own up: whose taken them?
David is aware of yesterday's car parking issue. He'll be speaking to local County Councillor, Mike Smith today.... and suggesting he gets more involved in our cause and he'll be asked to see what he can do to relieve car parking problems!
Car ParkingNCP are sending a delegate, Stuart Marchant, to the open meeting next week.
It may be an opportunity to raise concerns on this front too!
Early morning travellersDavid has been down to the station this morning, arriving early enough to talk with those on the 5.12am to Temple Meads, and stopping until 7.00am to talk with other commuters on later trains.
Some surprises:
1. He'd never considered that Cardiff residents might drive to Severn Tunnel because they find it quicker to come here than drive to Cardiff or Newport stations from their suburban home.
2. Only two boarded the 5.13am to Temple Meads. Only one of these will be affected by the cuts and will catch the 7.27am
3. Four persons boarded the 6.24am to Temple Meads. They were all angry at how the changes will affect their lives. All said they'd be on the 7.27am from 11 December
4. Sixteen were on the 6.54am to Temple Meads. David didn't manage to talk with them all. Of those he did talk to: - two travel to Bath and one of these will be forced to take his car in future.
For both these persons there will be a major disruption to their lives.
· One construction worker needs to be in Bristol, on site, by 7.30am.
Another person being forced onto the roads!
· A couple of commuters said that in future they would probably drive over the bridge and use the Park & Ride
· Most will be on the 7.27am from 11 December..... where will we find room to stand?Please note: David found that a lot of commuters to Newport, Cardiff, Bridgend and beyond are unaware that there is going to be a cut in the number of trains, or of the meeting on 22 November. David has put up some notices about the Public Meeting and we hope to get more leaflets and posters out today.
There are spare Liberal Democrat questionnaires in the booking hall. Do ask Michelle
(the booking clerk) for one if you haven't filled it in. You can send it freepost - so there's no cost to you!Public awareness and action is important.
This Friday Members of Plaid Cymru, will be at Severn Tunnel with the intention of talking to commuters about the impending reduction in services from Severn Tunnel Junction.
The group intends to visit between about 7.00 and 8.15am.
Government is riding roughshod over the interests of the people of South Monmouthshire
Photo: Ron Stewart, Chairman, South Monmouthshire Branch of Plaid Cymru
It comes as no surprise that the Government is riding roughshod over the interests of the people of South Monmouthshire who regularly use the trains from Severn Tunnel Junction to access neighbouring towns and cities particularly Bristol, Newport and Cardiff, and particularly for those from whom one of the above is an everyday place of work.
The Government makes a great play of wanting to get cars off the roads because of over crowded highways, pollution of the atmosphere, i.e. global warming but while talking thus, at the same time they curtail a well-used alternative means of transport.
One result of these proposed rail cuts is that the issue has raised the hackles of not only commuters but also those who do not use the service for commuting but can straightaway see the idiocy of the decision.
The cause of the problem lies directly with Westminster and all concerned citizens are directing their anger and frustration in that direction.
It goes without saying that Plaid Cymru is solidly behind the commuters and are in close touch with their MPs in Westminster to carry the battle to the heart of the Government.
Ron Stewart
Chairman
South Monmouthshire Branch of Plaid Cymru. 16-11-06
Assembly concern at attitude of Westminster to train cuts
Western Mail
One of the most serious disagreements between Cardiff Bay and Westminster since the National Assembly was set up has arisen over rail services in South Wales.
The Assembly Government and backbench AMs are increasingly concerned that the Department for Transport in London is taking a soft line with First Great Western over proposed service cuts.
The rail franchise holder for routes between London and Swansea and Cardiff and Portsmouth intends to cut the 5.18pm weekday train from Cardiff Central to Swansea, currently used by many commuters. Originating in Paddington, it would in future terminate at Cardiff Central. FGW also wants to cut the number of trains stopping at Severn Tunnel Junction, causing considerable inconvenience for many Gwent residents who work in Bristol.
Newport East Labour AM John Griffiths, the Deputy Health Minister, told the Western Mail, 'Unfortunately, although these services come into Wales, the Assembly has no control over the operation of the FGW franchise. The concern is that it is being treated as if it were a franchise for England, when in fact it covers Wales as well. It is completely unacceptable that FGW is seeking to impose these cuts - they have a responsibility to provide decent services for passengers in Wales under the terms of their franchise. We hope the Department for Transport will be firm with FGW. The fear is that the company may try to exert pressure on the Assembly Government to give it funding not to make the cuts. That would be completely unacceptable.'
An FGW spokesperson said, 'We absolutely reject these accusations completely. Earlier in the year, we conducted a major consultation on the new timetable and received more than 9,000 responses. As a result of the comments we received, we were able to make 200 amendments to the timetable. Regrettably we were not able to make every change.
'We would have liked to restore the early service to Severn Tunnel Junction, but this has not been possible for the new December timetable. We are still trying to bring this service into the spring timetable and although we can't promise anything, we are working towards this goal.'
An Assembly Government spokesman said, 'Minister Andrew Davies has made it absolutely and repeatedly clear to FGW that the proposed cuts in services are simply not acceptable. The services are part of a timetable operated under a UK franchise, but the Minister has made the point very strongly to FGW that, under their UK-wide franchise, they have responsibilities to deliver an adequate service to Welsh travellers. The Minister has met the managing directors of both FGW and the First Group to press home his concerns personally.'
In a Cabinet statement to AMs, Mr Davies said, 'I have made it repeatedly clear to FGW that it is not acceptable that several hundred passengers on a peak service to Swansea should have their journeys disrupted in the way the company proposes.'
UK Rail Minister Tom Harris said, 'There are no changes to current funding responsibilities for services operating in Wales. There are also no changes to the FGW specification.
'We believe there is sufficient capacity on existing FGW and Arriva services to cater for peak time demand west of Cardiff. However, we are in discussions with the Assembly Government on this matter and will carefully monitor demand for services west of Cardiff once the new timetable is operational.'
Paul Evans: Office of John Griffiths AM: 029 2089 8315: johngriffithsam.org.uk 15-11-06
The Action team met last night. Key points:
1. Action plan produced for the coming week - keep an eye on your e-mails and this site.
2. 'Team aims' agreed.
2.1. Seek to over-turn the cuts in commuter rail services.
2.2. Provide a forum for:
a) the gathering and provision of information.
b) lobbying to ensure the commuters from Severn Tunnel Junction have their concerns voiced, and where possible to seek answers to these.2.3. To seek solutions to rail transport problems
2.4. Work toward the provision of better station facilities and amenities.
3. All commuters who haven't yet registered yet urged to do so. If you haven't already registered with us please click onto this link (to get involved please click here)Talk of the train last night was the number of stops now going to call at Filton Abbey Wood. Is it really one every 7 minutes during peak commuting times? I wish my employer had the same clout as the MOD!
14-11-06
Action Team members visit Welsh Assembly:
Yesterday saw Paul and David visiting John Griffiths AM, Mike German AM and the office of William Graham AM. Plans are advancing toward having a
successful Public Meeting on the 22 November (see 'Public Meeting' page). All political parties are being really helpful in assisting us to find a resolve.14-11-06
Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Wales:
Apparently Peter Hain is now involving himself in the battle. Could it be
something to do with them withdrawing the 5.15pm service from Cardiff to his constituency in Neath (which originates at Paddington)!14-11-06
Yesterday's Bristol paper followed up on Saturday's story with an exclusive
story concerning Severn Tunnel to Bristol Commuters. Who is that guy with a beard who keeps cropping up in all the pictures... Why, none other than Action Team Member Simon Marshall!14-11-06
Joanne Daniels, Mayor of Caldicot, today announced that she will be meeting a representative from the Department for Transport. Jo's aim is to set out our case for our rail services to be restored sooner rather than later.
14-11-06
Dear Mr Marshall,
Thank you for your e-mail of 6 November 2006 to Dr Mike Mitchell and Peter McCarthy covering your e-mail of 26 October 2006 to Alison Forster of First Great Western and others, in which you express your concerns about the future peak hour train service from Severn Tunnel Junction and about the punctuality and the quality of service currently offered. Mike Mitchell and Peter McCarthy have asked me to respond.
I should like to thank for taking the trouble to share your concerns with the Department for Transport. The detail of the timetable is a matter for FGW and the Department expects FGW to listen to the views of its passengers and stakeholders and to consider whether changes can be made to meet their needs. I understand that FGW is currently investigating the feasibility of stopping more of its Cardiff - Bristol trains at Severn Tunnel Junction with effect from May 2007.
Improving train service performance and quality is a key objective for the Department. Rail industry performance has improved recently, but FGW performance as a whole has been below this level, for a wide range of reasons. The Department is determined to ensure that FGW performance also improves and the new FGW franchise agreement commits FGW to substantial investment to improve performance and quality in all parts of the franchise. These investments include reliability modifications and improvements to passenger accommodation for the former Wessex Trains rolling stock and a new depot for this rolling stock at Bristol. Through a different process, Network Rail is also committed to actions to improve its contribution to performance.
Yours sincerely,
Peter West
Franchise Manager13-11-06
Meeting over trains shake-up
TRANSPORT minister Andrew Davies will meet train bosses in a bid to get slashed train services to and from Bristol reinstated.
The peak time morning and evening services between the Severn Tunnel Junction and Bristol Temple Meads are being halved, despite large numbers of commuters using them.
The half-hourly service between 6am and 8am to Bristol and between 4pm to 6pm to Cardiff will become hourly.
And services outside peak times will also be affected, with plans to cut the 47 trains stopping at the Severn Tunnel Junction each day to 31.
Commuters were angered by the changes made by First Great Western which come into effect next month.
They say the trains are already overcrowded and this will make the situation worst.
Mr Davies, transport minister for the National Assembly, said he discussed the changes with the managing director of the train company and the secretary of state for transport Douglas Alexander.
And over the next few weeks he will meet with train bosses again in a bid to get the services reinstated.
Mr Davies said: "It is simply not acceptable to halve the peak time morning and evening services between SevernTunnel andBristol Temple Meads.
"The company operates a UK franchise - with responsibility to serve Welsh rail users."
Newport east AM John Griffiths said he was inundated with calls from angry commuters.
"I'm disappointed with First Great Western," he said. "They are not listening to their customers. Their actions are forcing people into their cars and off the trains."
Commuters say it will take twice as long to travel to Bristol on the bus.
And many cannot afford to drive because of the Severn Bridge toll and city parking charges.
Protesters have launched action group. For news about their campaign visit the website www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk A spokesman for First Great Western said timetables were made following extensive consultation but they were hoping to make changes to the June 2007 timetable.
The company said two services from the Severn Tunnel Junction- 6.55am and 7.55am- would be reinstated in May.
Published: 7:26am Friday 10th November 2006
© South Wales Argus
Commuters voice train concerns
Commuters have hit out at a reduction in some mainline rail services, planned for next month.
Changes to First Great Western's (FGW) services include reducing the number of trains between Newport and Bristol that stop at the Severn Tunnel Junction.From 11 December, FGW's 1515 service from London Paddington will terminate in Cardiff rather than Swansea.
However the train operator said the changes had come after "extensive consultations" earlier this year.
One commuter, Simon Marshall, is part of a campaign group, which has opposed the changes to the services between Newport, Bristol and Bath.
"There will be a 34% reduction in service at Severn Tunnel Junction," he said.
Discontinued
According to the campaign Save Severn Tunnel the 0755 train from Severn Tunnel Junction to Bristol Temple Meads and also the 1650 and 1750 trains from Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Tunnel Junction will be discontinued from December.
Mr Marshall, who lives in Magor, Monmouthshire, travels daily to Bristol and he says he will be directly affected by the changes which he says will take place during commuting hours.
We all must do our little things for the environment - you want to encourage people to use the trains.
Sylvia HawkinsHe claims FGW are "forcing people on the roads".
Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Mike German will be at Severn Tunnel Junction on Friday morning to discuss the changes with commuters.
Other changes by FGW include plans to terminate its 1515 London to Swansea train, which arrives in Cardiff at 1716.
People commuting further to Bridgend or Swansea will have to change at Cardiff for an Arriva Trains service.
Sylvia Hawkins, who lives in Margam near Port Talbot and works in Cardiff, is concerned about the impact the timetable changes will have on her working day.
She said: "My plan is to go on 11 December and try various things - and if none of them work it will have to be the car.
Responses
"The Arriva train at 1721 from Cardiff to Maesteg stops at Pencoed and Pontyclun before arriving at Bridgend where I park my car.
"We all must do our little things for the environment - you want to encourage people to use the trains."
Earlier this year, FGW consulted on a draft version of the December 2006 timetable for rail routes in southern England and south Wales.
A spokesperson said they had around 9,000 responses.
The company said it has been drawn up to meet the Department for Transport's requirements for the Great Western franchise.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/6133822.stmPublished: 2006/11/10 07:02:51 GMT
© BBC MMVI
Please find below an extract from this weeks Assembly Plenary session in which John Griffiths AM raised a question regarding the FGW cuts:
Photo: John Griffiths AM
National Assembly for Wales Plenary Session
Wednesday November 8th 2006
Questions to Andrew Davies, Minister for Enterprise Innovation and Networks
John Griffiths: Would you agree that if we are to make this key shift from road to rail to further sustainable transport, we will rely in part on our key partners to help in those endeavours? One key partner that certainly is not helping at the moment is First Great Western. Its proposed cuts to commuter services from Severn tunnel junction to Bristol Temple Meads will probably have the effect of forcing commuters into their cars when they want to remain travelling by rail. Do you agree that these cuts are against our sustainable transport policies, and that First Great Western is not listening to its customers, who have formed an action group to campaign against those cuts?
photo: Andrew Davies AM
Andrew Davies: What First Great Western is proposing is, frankly, unacceptable. It has unacceptable implications for commuters from south-east Wales to Bristol, with the cut from a half hourly to an hourly service at peak periods. It is unacceptable that the 3.15 p.m. service from London Paddington will terminate at Cardiff and will not go on to Swansea and west Wales. It is also unacceptable that restaurant cars will be taken off some of the services between London Paddington and south Wales, purely to reduce the weight of the trains so that they are lighter and can accelerate quicker, which is to avoid First Great Western being penalised on its performance.
I have said as much to First Great Western when it was consulting on the timetable earlier this year. I made the strongest possible representations to the company in my meeting: to Moir Lockhead, the managing director of FirstGroup plc, Alison Forster, the managing director of First Great Western, and to the chair of the company, Chay Blyth. Unfortunately, my representations and protests were not taken on board by First Great Western. I have also made strong representations to the Secretary of State for Transport at the Department for Transport. I remind you that First Great Western operates a UK franchise, not an English franchise.
Mike German at Severn Tunnel Junction supporting the campaign to stop the cuts in services
photo: Kim, Mike German and Simon Marshall
The Liberal Democrat leader in the Assembly, Mike German, above talking to commuters at Severn Tunnel about the impending reduction in services from Severn Tunnel Junction.
At the station Mike German produced a letter from the person at the Department of Transport London, Tom Harris responsible from the cuts in services.
To down load a copy of the letter please click below
*The documents are rather large so please allow time for download
Mike German above with some of the 40+ commuters on the platform waiting for the arrival of the 7.50 train to Bristol Temple Meads, not uncommon, the train was late yet again!.
Andrew Griffiths, Regional Manager, First Great Western clarified his previous e-mail to
Brenda Lloyd
Magor with Undy Community Council.'The timetable structure for December 2006 that we were given at the start of our franchise to operate trains says that the Cardiff to Portsmouth mainline services should not call at Severn Tunnel Junction on weekdays, with the exception of a couple of evening Cardiff-bound services. Only the Cardiff to Westbury and beyond local services should call. These are the hourly pattern departures from Cardiff on the hour. this means that there are now only two peak-time departures from Severn Tunnel Junction to Bristol, at 0726 and 0826, as opposed to the four now. The same pattern applies for the return from Bristol in the evening.
We recognise that the needs of commuters to Bristol were overlooked in this, and so we are working with the Department of Transport and Network Rail to put this right. As such, we are seeking to make changes to the timetable at the next opportunity, which is 20 May 2007. The proposal is that there would be extra stops at Severn Tunnel Junction at approximately 0656 and 0756 in the services to Bristol, and at 1711 and 1811 on the services from Bristol. This will supplement the hourly pattern for the rest of the day. Making changes to the timetable is not as simple as it may at first appear, as an alternation to the pathing of one service may affect those of others, and this can ripple outwards for hours afterwards. This is especially true of the line between Bristol and Newport, where the Severn Tunnel can only take one train in each direction at any one time, which puts a severe limitation on the number and timing of services using it.
We should know by the end of the year if these proposed changes for May have been possible.'
First Great Western Timetable - Simon Marshall
I write in response to your reply to Alison Forster's email of 03 November
and your email to Moir Lockhead. Alison Forster is on leave this week and
Moir Lockhead has asked me to respond on behalf of the company.I have also been sent a copy of the email you sent to Mr Lockhead with a
copy of an email sent to Ms Palmer by James Spargo from our Customer
Relations team. This email was sent in early October, before your
correspondence with Alison Forster, and before the recent meeting with
Andrew Griffiths.I have spoken to Mr Spargo about the content of his correspondence and he
assures me that the information was based on advice from our timetable
office, which was believed to be correct at the time. I am sorry for the
confusion this may have caused.I have also considered the comments you have made on Alison's reply. I am
aware that you do not feel our explanation of how the timetable was arrived
at is acceptable and I appreciate that you feel matters are directly in our
control. The timetable specification issued by the Department for
Transport, which was part of the Great Western franchise bid was quite
specific in relation to the Severn Tunnel junction route, stating that the
Cardiff to Portsmouth mainline services should not call at Severn Tunnel
Junction on weekdays, with the exception of a couple of evening
Cardiff-bound services. Only the Cardiff to Westbury and beyond local
services should call. These are the hourly pattern departures from Cardiff
on the hour.Within any major timetable change, we recognise that some people will be
disappointed by the changes and we do take onboard customer feedback, and
where viable, and within the resources we have, will endeavour to make the
changes. We also realise the impact the changes have on people's daily
lives.
We believe there is a case for an extra service during morning and evening
peaks and we are in discussion with both Network Rail and the Department
for Transport (DfT) to consider this.Our proposal is that there would be extra stops at Severn Tunnel Junction
at approximately 0656 and 0756 on the services to Bristol, and at 1711 and
1811 on the services from Bristol. This will supplement the hourly pattern
for the rest of the day. Making changes to the timetable is not as simple
as it may at first appear, as an alteration to the pathing of one service
will affect those of others, and this can ripple outwards for hours
afterwards. This is especially true of the line between Bristol and
Newport, where the Severn Tunnel can only take one train in each direction
at any one time, placing a considerable limitation on the number and timing
of services using it. We should know by the end of the year if the proposed
changes for May have been possible, but we will not be able to make changes
before this and I am sorry if you have been given any impression that the
trains could be restored in December.The last minute alterations you refer to are things that were agreed after
the consultation, and the main timetable conference. These are now being
added to the previous draft timetable to produce a final document. We are
unable to make further changes to the timetable at this time.We are fully aware of the feelings of the local MP, commuters and users of
the service; the changes are based on the usage the service received. This
was limited during the majority of the day and is the reason why the
Department for Transport felt it could not support an hourly service, nor
could we afford to subsidise such a service from our own resources.There will be areas in the timetable where services will improve. We
cannot offer to run services at the same time in the same place without
change, when it is clear that demand is greater elsewhere. This means
difficult decisions must be made. Those services that receive support, and
are part of the franchise specification, must be provided first. We then
review the roiling stock we have available and provide further services if
they are commercially viable.This brings me to our corporate statement. You are right that there will be
less choice in terms of train times, but we are re-arranging services on
this route albeit on an hourly basis, and hoping to provide a service that
is above the specification set down in the franchise.We are also investing heavily in improving rolling stock to make your
journey more comfortable; this includes upgrading the depot at St Philips
Marsh in order that we can improve our train maintenance arrangements.
This will mean serves are more reliable as well as more comfortable.Whilst your focus is naturally on Severn Tunnel Junction and specifically
on the services you currently use, ours is on our network as a whole, and
overall the timetable changes will improve connections, reduce delays
caused by rail traffic congestion and also provide extra services where
there is extra demand. It will not suit everyone I know, but in terms of
moving First forward as a transport provider the new timetable is a very
significant and important step.Both Alison and myself use our services on both a professional and private
basis and travel on the vast majority of routes at regular intervals. We
are both aware of the areas where there is customer demand for additional
and enhanced services. As a commercial organisation, this is an area where
we have to maintain a good understanding.I note that you attended the recent meeting at Caldicot, and wonder if it
would be useful to you to meet with Andrew Griffiths, our Regional
Stakeholder Manager, directly. This would give us the opportunity to
address your comments in person and maybe easier than a series of emails,
which I am conscious are already being addressed out of order.If you would like me to set this up please let me know and I will arrange
for Andrew to contact you.Thank you again for your email and I hope that we can give you some good
news regarding the changes in May.Yours sincerely
Glenda Lamont
Customer Services Director 9-11-06
Assembly member wants to talk with commuters
This Friday Liberal Democrat leader in the Assembly, Mike German, will be at Severn Tunnel with the intention of talking to commuters about the impending reduction in services from Severn Tunnel Junction. He intends to visit between about 7.00 and 8.15am.
Mike has kindly offered to Chair the public meeting on 22 November, so it is important he is fully aware of your feelings.
Currently working with other politicians and your action team, Mike is actively working to help our cause. Please take the opportunity to talk with him.
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A response from Alison Forster - again its not their fault that services are being cut and that the peak hour services are not guaranteed.
Photo: Commuters at Severn Tunnel Junction Station boarding the train to Bristol.
Thank you for your email. I appreciate the concerns of passengers on this route but the timetable for this December is now finalised and cannot be further amended. It has been removed from the website for the addition of some minor information. But no further changes can now be made.
The timetable is not something that is wholly within our control, we do not say this to "pass the buck" but to explain why the changes are being made and it might help if I clarify this. The Department for Transport (DfT) have in the past supported a half hourly service on this route. They advised us that they did not believe that this was warranted and would only support an hourly service in the new franchise.
We did arrange a full consultation with passengers, and key stakeholders such as MPs at the beginning of the year to discuss these changes and had a significant response. We did therefore look at whether we could reinstate the trains no longer supported by the DfT on a wholly commercial basis. This was not possible.
However, as you know we do agree that at peak time extra services would be very beneficial. This is why we are preparing a bid to both Network Rail and the DfT to be able to reinstate two trains (one in the morning and one in the evening). The earliest this could happen is May (as no further changes will be allowed before then) but we are seeking the relevant permission and I hope that we will be successful.
The £8 million we are investing in the depot at Bristol Temple Meads will allow us to bring maintenance in house. This will improve reliability and will reduce cancellations and short forming of services, it should therefore be of benefit to commuters and not something to cause concern.
Thank you again for your email. I hope I have clarified why the changes have been made and what we are doing to try and help.
Regards
Alison Forster
Managing Director 3-11-06
Monmouth MP David Davies has hit out at the plans.
"This is completely unacceptable for many of my constituents who work in Bristol." When commuters were being urged to use public transport, he found the decision "astonishing". I have therefore written to Andrew Davies AM, the Welsh Assembly's Transport Minister, urging him to take positive and immediate action to prevent this appalling situation.
Quote in the South Wales Argus:Tuesday 31-10-06
website link: David Davies AM, PM.
Letter from Jessica Morden MP to Alison Forster of
First Great Western regarding the proposed cuts to services at Severn Tunnel Junction
Dear Ms Forster
You may recall my correspondence from the 15th and 29th of March on behalf of my constituents concerned about the reduction in services stopping at the Severn Tunnel Junction railway station. You replied on the 31st of March that you would ask your Customer Relations team to pass on any feedback as the process moved forward.I am very disappointed that I have not been contacted since this time by your Customer Relations team, your office or anyone from First Great Western in connection with the progress on this issue. I have also been informed by a number of my constituents who have contacted you over the last six months that they to have similarly not received any form of detailed response relating to proposed changes to services from Severn Tunnel Junction.
I understand that a representative will give a community presentation about the new timetable at the Caldicot Town Council meeting next Wednesday 25th October 2006. Unfortunately I am unable to attend this meeting but would be grateful if you could take on board my comments, which are outlined below.
- These proposed changes to the timetable affect the most important services for people from this area who work in Bristol.
- It is estimated that at least 50 people catch the 7.55am train from Severn Tunnel Junction to Bristol and return on the evening services.
- At a time when we need to encourage people to use the rail network removing such important commuter services is counter-productive.
- I and my constituents are concerned at the lack of consultation and failure of First Great Western to inform passengers about the changes.
Can I urge you to look again at this matter and make more appropriate arrangements for commuter services from Severn Tunnel Junction.
I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
Yours sincerelyJESSICA MORDEN MP
website link: www.Jessica Morden MP
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Caldicot Town Council Meeting 25th October 2006
Caldicot Town Council must be praised for asking a representative from First Western Railways to attend it's meeting to address concerns about the new December timetable that will affect the commuters at Severn Tunnel Junction Station.
The Regional Manager of first Great Western Mr Andrew Griffiths gave a presentation to the Town Council with an estimated 125 member of the public present to hear him.
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