Passengers to experience new Metro routeFirst Great Western has run a special one-off service through the Henbury Loop, providing a practical demonstration of what might be possible in a future Metro service.
Working with Charlotte Leslie
MP▸ for Bristol North West,
FGW▸ secured special permission from Network Rail to run a service along the freight route.
FGW Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: "Our local Community Rail services are not only among the fastest growing, but also among the most reliable in the country and we look forward to working with partners to deliver further improvements. A system like this is a cost effective and relatively quick way of encouraging people out of their cars and taking some of the pressure off the road system in and around the city. In local transport terms this is a very elegant solution, we just need to make the case clear to make sure we secure suitable funding.
"Community Rail is something very close to our hearts, and has been central to the improvements we've delivered to local branchline services on our line of route. The Severn Beach Line, for example, has seen a 90 per cent increase in passengers over the past five years as we've worked with the Community Rail Partnership and Bristol City Council to improve services and capacity on the line."
FGW has been working with local authorities to advise them on the best way forward since the outset of the project. Transport groups, campaigners and local authority representatives were invited on the special train, which used existing freight train tracks as a practical demonstration of a possible element of any future Metro scheme.
Charlotte Leslie said: "I'm delighted that FGW has been able to put on this 'Henbury Loop Special' train to demonstrate just how possible it can be to introduce a Henbury Loop Line to transform transport in our city. The rail line is already there - all we need is for our region's decision makers to demonstrate vision, drive and ambition for our city region. Around 1000 people have now signed the Henbury Loop petition, businesses are supportive - the Rail Minister encouraged the West of England to have another look at the case for a loop line - all we need now is for our local decision makers to do the sensible thing!
^If you haven't already, please sign the petition at
www.henburyloop.bristolpetitions.com. This could be a transport game-changer for the city."
A Metro has been widely discussed as a way of easing some of the traffic congestion issues in and around Bristol. Should it go ahead, the scheme could reinstate disused track beyond Portbury, to link Portishead with Bristol and the Severn Beach line, as well as reinstate track to the north of Bristol Temple Meads via Filton Abbey Wood towards St Andrews Junction.
The train will left Bristol Temple Meads at 12.17 on Saturday 27 July.
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