Better Trains for Chepstow Campaign

The A48 at Chepstow and the Arriva XCountry train that refuses to stop.

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BT4C has identified four ways that train services at Chepstow could simply and quickly be improved for little or no cost.

These four common-sense initiatives require no alteration to the railway infrastructure and most could be implemented straight away if desired.

Once implemented these improvements willl extend the range of train services to the community, increase business for the train operators (TOC’s) and make fuller use of the existing railway facilities.

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BT4C’s Four Main Objectives

• To ensure that all the Arriva CrossCountry trains stop and serve Chepstow instead of slowly passing through the town.

 

 

 

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1. Stopping all the Arriva CrossCountry Ltd trains at Chepstow.

Will increase the number of trains stopping at Chepstow each day from 28 to 54.

Will bring regular hourly through services to and from Newport, Cardiff, Birmingham and Nottingham.

It takes just one minute to stop and start the train at Chepstow and less than a minute for people to get on and off. This is not much in a 200 minute journey.

We know it is possible for the trains to stop at Chepstow without altering the times at Newport or Gloucester by simply cutting recovery times in this 45 mile section from the present 6 minutes to 4 minutes.

Please click ‘Cross Country’ to see more detailed information to support our case.

 

2. Filling the six two hour gaps in the local Arriva TrainsWales train service will provide the town with a sensible regular hourly service throughout the day.

Chepstow lacks a basic hourly service. Instead it suffers a haphazard and irregular service with intervals between trains varying from one to two hours. The two hour gaps bear no relation to public need but exist to save cost and to suit the convenience of the train operator.

Please click ‘Local Services’ for more detail about improving our local services.

 

3. For the local Arriva TrainsWales services to extend their journey beyond Gloucester to Cheltenham Spa.

We are delighted to report that Arriva TW surprised us and extended their service from Gloucester to Cheltenham Spa on the 10th December 2007.

This has made a big improvement as it provides more travel options. We hope this change will remain in the future when the franchise contracts are renewed. Journeys to and from Birmingham still involve changing trains with the inevitable risk of losing a connection through late running or through turning back ATW services at Gloucester.

 

4. To lobby FGW and the DfT to reinstate stops at Severn Tunnel Junction by the Cardiff-Portsmouth services.

STAG have succeeded in getting FGW to restore many of the peak travel services but FGW are still reluctant to replace the off-peak ones.

The hourly Cardiff-Portsmouth service once provided connections in both directions along the Chepstow line. By removing these stops FGW has increased journey times by one hour to and from Portsmouth and increased journey times from Chepstow to Bristol from 51 to 85 minutes.

Please click ‘Bristol Services’ for more detail about improving services to Bristol and Portsmouth etc.
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The Background to BT4C. 

In 2004 when our members first drew attention to the possibilities for improving our train service we thought, naively, that our ideas would be taken up and be implemented quickly and as a matter of course.

However, at the end of 2006, when the DfT awarded FGW the contract to operate the Cardiff – Portsmouth services we were appalled to discover that the DfT had neglected to stipulate that these trains stop at Severn Tunnel Junction as they had previously whilst Wessex Trains operated the service.

The omission which cut out local commuter services between STJ and Bristol led to public protests and the formation of the Severn Tunnel Action Group (STAG) in December 2006. STAG has been successful in persuading FGW to restore most of the peak hour services but, like BT4C, it continues to fight to restore services through the day. STAG has now widened its scope with proposals for a much improved station and rail interchange at Severn Tunnel Junction.

In January 2007 The ‘Better Trains for Chepstow (BT4C)’campaign team was formed. The primary concern was to ensure that the DfT who were due to renew the Nottingham to Cardiff, Cross Country franchise in 2007 incorporated stops at Chepstow in the new contract. We recognised that this presented on opportunity for the town.

BT4C and STAG work together in seeking improvements to rail services in South East Monmouthshire. An important and common objective is to convince FGW that they should restore the services they cut at Severn Tunnel Junction. These cuts have a devastating impact upon rail journeys between Chepstow and Bristol and with the Portsmouth line.

 

We are pleased to acknowledge that our campaign enjoys widespread support across parties in all levels of government and from individuals. It includes many local organisations and companies especially those concerned with transport and tourism.

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Supporters of the campaign include:-

David T C DAVIES MP
Michael GERMAN AM
Nick RAMSAY AM
Monmouthshire County Council.
Chepstow Town Council,
Tourism Manager, Forest of Dean,
Severn Tunnel Action Team,
Chepstow Rotary Club
Chepstow Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Transition Chepstow

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