Campaigners have given awards to politicians who have championed Bristol's suburban rail network.
The Friends of Suburban Railways awards, presented at Temple Meads yesterday, included a certificate designed by Easton artist Mike Baker,
FOSBR▸ 's spring newsletter and a year's membership to FOSBR.
The council's executive member for transport, Tim Kent, was honoured for involving Bristolians in the Greater Bristol Metro Rail campaign and setting up a working group.
Bristol West
MP▸ Stephen Williams was thanked for his opposition to Parliamentary proposals to reduce or remove staff at ticket offices. City councillor Mark Bradshaw, Labour's deputy leader, was recognised for securing agreement with First Great Western on an improved passenger service, subsidised by the council, between Temple Meads and Avonmouth stations from May 2008.
The Greater Bristol Metro campaign has the support of Bristol city, North Somerset, Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils, MPs, the Evening Post, businesses and campaign groups.
With main-line electrification in the area promised by Government consultations on the next rail franchise due to close at the end of this month, campaigners say now is the time to push for improvements including the reopening of the Portishead line, defunct stations, having a 30 minute regional service and increasing capacity.
"It's very nice to be recognised by FOSBR in this way," said Mr Kent. "The important thing now is delivery. The message needs to get to Government that we want the extra lines, we want the extra trains and we need these improvements.
"Everybody recognises that Bristol is a very congested city. Bus has been the focus for a long time but the aim now is to develop a Metro-style service for the people of the city and the surrounding areas. It's both environmentally important and economically important, especially as we develop the enterprise zones. This area alone could see 17,000 extra jobs created in the next few years."
Lib Dem MP Mr Williams said: "A city like Bristol should have an efficient, Metro-style network like other cities in the
UK▸ and abroad. Reopening the Portishead line is a no-brainer. I'm optimistic that's going to happen in the next five to ten years."
Mr Bradshaw said usage of the Severn Beach line had gone up by 90 per cent since 2008.
"We're on the verge of some pretty momentous decisions that will impact on Bristol for years to come," he said. "All of these issues need cross-party and cross-council working together. To those people in and around the city who use rail, or would like to use rail, I would say 'make your voices heard'."
For details on how to get involved in the consultation visit
www.greaterbristolrail.com 
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