From the
FOSBR▸ press release which has just landed in my inbox.
Yes, I'll be going Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways, FOSBR, will meet on Friday 23 January at 6.30 pm in the Halo Caf^, 141 Gloucester Rd, Bristol, BS7 8BA, for the Annual General Meeting.
Improving local rail is the aim of the meeting. And local rail includes rail fares and overcrowding. Each of speakers will tell us how they are improving local rail
Speakers
Graham Ellis, Melksham Chamber of Commerce will speak from theTransWilts perspective.
Cllr Mark Weston, Leader of Bristol City Council Conservative group, will speak on MetroWest and the Henbury Loop Campaign.
Paul Hughes, Bristol RMT▸ secretary.
Bernard Kennedy, Bristol ASLEF»
Mr Ellis said ^Wiltshire Council and First Great Western, encouraged by local groups, obtained central government funding for a three year trial of a significantly improved service which has now been running for just over a year.^
Mr Ellis will say ^how the new services on the line from Swindon via Westbury to Salisbury is going, and how the local group is promoting it and looking to ensure that appropriate services are run beyond the three year trial.
Cllr Mark Weston submitted a statement for the Bristol City Council meeting on 20 January, which started by saying - ^As a city Bristol has a lot to be proud of, however one of things we lack is a sustainable form of public transport system that enjoys widespread public support.^
Bernard Kennedy, Bristol ASLEF, deplores the cattle truck conditions for commuters reported in the local press recently. A step in the right direction is to support Caroline Lucas's Private Members 'Railways Bill' comes up in the House of Commons for its second reading and a vote - Friday 27 February
Paul Hughes, says ^The RMT's position generally is that while we are in favour of an expansion to the rail network that it shouldn't be done at the expense of the safety and security of the travelling public. This means retaining existing staffing levels at stations and on board trains to keep the passengers safe and to keep revenue intact^.
There will also be elections for the FOSBR committee ^ Chair, Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Campaigns Organiser and Press Officer.
The meeting starts at 7 pm with a break and finishes at 9.30 pm.