Severn Tunnel Action Group update

[whole diary]

[Lee]

From Save Severn Tunnel :

We could do with some more rail commuters/travellers on the Action Team. We now meet at 8.00pm on the first Monday each month in the Tippling Philosopher, Chepstow Road, Caldicot (unless some important business comes up in the meantime) where we use a private room at the back. If you don't regularly join us but would like to get more invoved the transport needs for this area, please come along.

Alternatively, do you know of someone who might be interested in getting involved? In which case either invite them to come along, or ask them to contact me on 01291 423551 for an informal discussion.

[Lee]

Further message from Save Severn Tunnel :

If anyne wants to see our presentation we'll be giving it to Severnside Forum next Tuesday (20/02/2007) evening in Portkewett (7.00pm) , or on the last Wednesday of the month (28/02/2007) to Caldicot Town Council (also 7.00pm)

Severnside Forum Meeting Wednesday 21st February 07 Presentation of the Severn Tunnel Plan (approx 6.45 pm)

Will be held at the Church Hall, Crick Road, Portskewett.

To find St. Mary^s Church Hall, Portskewett please click on the link

http://www.caldicot.com/st.marys/portskewett/map.htm

Turn from the Mitel roundabout to Portskewett drive about half a mile you will see a telephone box on the left of a road junction, turn left here, the hall is 200 yard on the right hand side of the road (Crick Road)

[Lee]

Details contained in the link below.
http://www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk/Minutes%20-%2005.02.2007.doc

[Lee]

From Severn Tunnel Action Group :

Following continued pressure from the Severn Tunnel Action Group (STAG^▸ (Severn Tunnel Action Group)), First Great Western will restore the late-night service from Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Tunnel Junction from 20 May. The service was cancelled in the controversial timetable revision brought in last December by First Great Western.

These earlier cuts meant that the last train left Bristol Temple Meads for Severn Tunnel Junction at 21.24.

After months of campaigning, the later 22.54 service from Bristol has been reintroduced,. This means that rail passengers wishing to spend an evening of leisure, or work evening shifts around Bristol, will be able to go home by train arriving at Severn Tunnel Junction at 23.14.

STAG was set up late last year to campaign against the axing of trains serving Severn Tunnel Junction. Cuts which First Great Western brought in with its new timetable on 11 December.

As well as campaigning to restore full services to Severn Tunnel Junction, the group is also lobbying National Car Parks, the Welsh Assembly, Arriva Trains, Monmouthshire County Council and others to improve parking and accessibility to the station. The station is regularly used by people from as far away as the Forest of Dean, Monmouth, and even Cardiff.

Commenting on the change David Flint, Chairman of STAG, said that the extra train was a small step in the right direction. He added that the campaign group has expressed its thanks to Andrew Griffiths, Regional Manager of First Great Western, for listening to their needs. The group intend to continue to press for further service improvements, and in particular for further timetable improvements when a futher timetable change is introduced again this December.

[Lee]

To download a copy of this please click on http://www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk/TR115.doc

Severn Tunnel Action Group members will be carrying this out at the station on Wednesday 4 July 2007.

[Lee]

Initial information from the survey can be found in the link below.
http://www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk/TR123%20%20Survey%20Information.doc

[Lee]

Andrew Griffiths :

"I am pleased to report that not only will the 2022 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central service call at STJ^▸ (Severn Tunnel Junction railway station) on Saturdays from the December timetable change, but also it will in fact start to do some from this coming Saturday, 11 August. We will do a poster for ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) to display at the station."

Alan Vickers , the Severn Tunnel Action Group's timetable specialist , commented 'First Great Western seem to be listening to our requests for improvements to the services at the station, and we look forward to working with First Great Western in developing and delivering further improvements in the future'.

More on this in the link below.
http://www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk/news.htm

[Lee]

We can duly assure you that the early services currently provided by Central Trains from Caldicot and Severn Tunnel Junction into Cardiff will continue in the new franchise, as will the services currently provided by Virgin to and from Bristol in the peaks.

We note your comments about whether the 0653 from Caldicot could make an additional call at Severn Tunnel Junction. On taking over the franchise we will take over the timetable inherited from Central Trains and it is too late to make alterations for the December 2007 timetable. However, we are aware of your aspirations in this regard and will continue to look at what may be feasible going forward.

Regards,

Gavin Bostock
External Relations Manager: Arriva Trains CrossCountry Mobilisation Team

More details contained in the link below.
http://www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk/news.htm

[Lee]

From Severn Tunnel Action Group :

Severn Tunnel Junction Station car park, Lighting and electrical work to start on 24 September to complete by 15 October. Resurfacing work to commence 08 October and complete by 15 October. Would still point out that adverse weather conditions may alter the commencement and completion dates.

[Jim]

That was a riot, they did a small block before the summer, than 2 weeks later all the diggers and stuff left!

[Lee]

An update on this from Severn Tunnel Action Group :

Work is about to start on lighting and surface upgrades at Severn Tunnel Junction car park that have been long awaited.

A time table showing the two stages of works and relevant dates.

Lighting columns to be installed and associated electrical and civil works
13/10/2007 - 25/10/2007

Area of car park to be resurfaced
26/10/2007 - 30/10/2007

A second flyer will be issued regarding the re surfacing sections of the work as this will impact on available parking much more than the lighting works.

It's estimated that during the lighting works we may loose between 5 ^ 20 spaces on certain days but that during re surfacing we will loose between 25 ^ 40.

[Lee]

The work is now complete , and here are some photos (link below.)
http://www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk/car%20park/photo-1.htm

[paulsouthwales]

The work is now complete , and here are some photos (link below.)
http://www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk/car%20park/photo-1.htm

have the folks from bettertrains4chepstow.org given their response to the AXC^» (Arriva Cross Country - about) december 2008 tt?  i hope they have as this is now the chance to get a call from the hourly cardiff - nottingham service.  i have personally written to AXC accordingly!

i also think that the XX55 from cardiff and the XX15 from paddington should call at STJ^▸ (Severn Tunnel Junction railway station) to provide a service to and from the east mons area!!!

[Lee]

From Severn Tunnel Action Group :

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have finally released the Saturdays Only timetable

Good news far outweighs that bad, here goes :-
Firstly departures towards Bristol 5 extra stopping services.

09.25 Goes forward to Newcastle
12.25 Goes forward to Taunton
16.55 Goes forward to Portsmouth Harbour
17.55 Goes forward to Portsmouth Harbour
21.25 Goes forward to Exeter St. Davids

As is now well known most of our stopping services continue on into Somerset terminating at Taunton or in the case of the last train to Exeter St. Davids, all services go via Weston super Mare.

Now onto arrivals at STJ^▸ (Severn Tunnel Junction railway station) 2 extra services, but 1 lost.

Extras

07.14 arrival from Bristol TM^‡(resolve)- Cardiff Central
22.18 arrival from Portsmouth Harbour-Cardiff Central

Losses

07.46 arrival from Bristol TM-Cardiff Central

As with eastbound services most of our stopping trains now originate from Taunton with a few originating from Weston super Mare. (Bucket and spade anyone !!!)

[Lee]

From STAG^▸ (Severn Tunnel Action Group) :

The meeting will take place on Tuesday 5th February 2008 at The Tippling Philosopher starting at 7.00pm.

The planned agenda this next week - see below - revolves around the visit of Mark Youngman, the Transport Policy Officer for Monmouthshire County Council; and Diana Fox, a passenger interested in the overcrowding issues.

The proposed agenda

1. Introductions
2.. Matters arising
3. 'Station development' (a PowerPoint Presentation*)

Interval

4. 'Integrated transport' (a PowerPoint Presentation*)
5. Quick update on where we are and what we are doing
6. Objectives for the next two months
7. AOB
- Overcrowding
- Network Rail and extra stops
- Housing / Business developments in our area