All political parties are expected to vote for the motion (links below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/07/new_group_planned_for_city_bus.html#morehttp://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=17907072&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145365&contentPK=17906091FOSBR▸ have also made the following statement :
RAIL CAMPAIGNERS URGE COUNCIL TO STAND FIRM
FOSBR call on
BCC» to press First Group for a progress report on the 40 minute weekday service between Temple Meads and Avonmouth from December 2007.
FOSBR has decided to make this request not because we do not trust Bristol City Council to respect the budget commitment made by the all party council meeting in February. We are making it because First has a tradition of treating Bristol bus and train passengers with contempt and getting away with it.
This is the background to our request. On July 3 the Severn Beach Line working party was told by First Great Western^s Regional Manager that the 40 minute frequency could not be implemented this December. We were outraged but promised not to make a press release for 24 hours. That was three weeks ago.
The reason for bringing this to the Full Council is not just that a more frequent service has popular support. 3,000 people signed our half hour petition in 2006 and nearly 600 sent post cards earlier this year which inspired councillors of all parties on Bristol City Council to fund an increased service for 3 years. It is also because people are using the line. The passenger count on the
SB▸ Line was up by 12%.
Another reason to persist with the 40 minute frequency is that the investment would give BCC some control over the reliability of the service. Last year First Group promised to run the SB Line service without financial support. Cllr Brown was ecstatic. If Cllr Brown ever travels on the line he will know that the reliability of the service is appalling with some trains timetabled for Severn Beach turning round at Avonmouth with no transport between the two stations.
The record cancellation was 11 trains on Saturday 7 July.
Investment will give BCC some control over reliability of the service. But the councillors must be proactive. I suggest that
1) A councillor from each political party should meet with First Group representatives to negotiate.. We cannot leave the negotiations to the officers.
2) BCC must call on Bristol
MPs▸ , the
GOSW» and the Dept. for Transport to ensure the 40 minute frequency, which has been budgeted, for starts on Monday 10 December..
3) BCC must publicise progress of the negotiations. Then we can move on and campaign for a half hour service between Parson Street and Patchway and all Bristol^s suburban stations.
Julie Boston - 24 July 2007
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