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TRAFFIC levels have increased by more than a third on Westcountry roads over the last 15 years despite rising concern about the impact of emissions on the environment.
 According to figures released yesterday, the number of vehicle kilometres covered in Devon rose by 31 per cent between 1993 and 2007 while Cornwall saw an increase of 36 per cent.
http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/news/TRAFFIC-SOARS-33-CENT/article-777665-detail/article.html
 Despite its green credentials  Labour  has and still is favouring road investment over rail in Devon and Cornwall.What do you think.

You said it..... LABOUR!!!!!

However Devon and Cornwall have also missed out on road investment, plans to upgrade the A30 to make it a continuous dual carriageway from Exeter to Camborne were shelved in 2006.  The A391 St Austell to A30 link road and A39 Camelford Distributor Road were also shelved at this time.  Plans to upgrade the A303 to give a second strategic route to the South West have now also been scrapped.  I would not call the current policies pro-road or rail.

Devon and Cornwall are rural. It doesn't take a rocket scientist. I for one have started to learn to drive. The train is simply not convenient unless I wish to travel past Exeter, and the bus is frankly a complete rip off!

I will comment that the A38 Dobwalls Bypass near Liskeard is well underway with construction, The Idea is to Bypass the villiage of Dobwalls with Dual Carriageway and install a Roundabout at the West end of Dobwalls, Thus removing the A38 from the Villiage and removing congestion at the Signalled Junction of the A38 & A390. Also removing the Dual > Single Carriageway reduction on entering the villiage which causes no end of problems during the summer... >:(

Only problem is there is the Cornish Main Railway Line that runs: Liskeard > Moorswater Viaduct > Dobwalls > Doublebois > Two Waters Foot > Bodmin Parkway which crosses the A390 just after a bad bend. How they will incorporate the new section of A390 that connects onto the roundabout without interfering with the railway line I don't know.

I believe the plans are on the HA website ;D


Agreed, In Taunton to get from Priorswood > Taunton Railway Station costs ^1.70 for a journey of less than 4 minutes >:(

I can't drive so I have to stick to buses and trains, It's all ok having Railcard and Bus Pass but as I found out getting to work this morning, you can't rely on Public Transport to turn up on time, which is a shame really.

Granted however, I've been very happy with the trains around the Taunton, Bristol and Westbury area. The problem I experience is with the buses, which in Taunton and Bath can be a bit of a lottery win if a bus actually runs or not...!

I don't think changing from Labour to another party will make much difference.

Whilst I prefer the train to the car, I learnt to drive as soon as I could as the buses are abysmal in my area...!

Are there any members who don't drive on this forum (out of interest)? If you don't, it is because you think public transport is sufficient? I know people who don't for this reason.

With a few exceptions the main A30 and A38 trunk roads west of Exeter have been completely rebuilt the Dobwalls bypass being the the latest addition.In contrast the main rail route between Exeter and Plymouth and Penzance is as built,slow and sinuous with little hope of any real improvement.

A concrete tunnel was contructed in sections, then lowered in placed overnight when no trains were running. embankments were then built both sides of the tunnel, which the new section of the A390 will run on top of.

Mark

I don't drive but I certainly don't consider public transport to be sufficient at least in this part of Devon.

I recently sold my car as it was far too expensive to run (I had an economical car with cheap insurance but repairs, tax, petrol etc etc etc). The train is a viable alternative for the few long distance journeys we do. Bus - well, one bus a week on a Wednesday from where I live so a real no go. I now share my partner's car.

I have a vague recollection of an interview with Cameron about rail - he seemed to want to do more than Labour. That said, it has to materialise....

I can't drive because of a disability. I guess i'm lucky in a way because I get a Bus pass and Disabled Railcard. But I wouldn't say that the transport is good. I mainly have trouble with buses and tend to stick to trains. Some cases this isn't possible.

For example, a Bus Journey from Taunton > Yeovil takes 1 hour and 20 minutes. I don't particularly like sitting on a bus for that length of time, but you can't get to Yeovil by rail without either going down to Exeter St Davids, or Castle Cary. The latter normally includes a lengthy wait at Castle Cary.

I used to take the Bus to get to work from Bath > Radstock. The driver however decided he was going to finish his cigarette, thus incurring a 10 minute delay, which by the time we got to Radstock, turned into a 20 minute delay. One off occasion isn't so bad, but when this was happening for 3 days in a row. I think I have the right to be slightly annoyed with the bus company.

Sometimes you just want to get somewhere as quickly as possible. But with public transport thats not possible because the Bus routes go all round the houses which consquently is really annoying when you know you could get there in 20 minutes, but the bus journey takes 50...!

The only other viable option to get to where you want to go when you want, is a cab. Which is very bad for the bank balance >:(

Just a thought with reference to the presumed change of Government which may be upon us by 2010.   

David Cameron may boast  'green' credentials and has undeniably have given the Tories a modern voice; but as PM, he will be under massive pressure to deliver the kind of policies so still so dear the heart of his party.   A larger and more vigorous rail industry would arguably require more public investment, anathema to traditional Tories and would also increase the clout of the unions.  Historically, the Tories have not been exactly pro-rail.  For all his posturing, David Cameron may not be able to change that stance.

I think G.Uard's comments are valid ones. Ever since the 60s, UK governments of both hues, in good times and bad, have a lousy track record when it comes to the railways.

The focus on "Labour" in the initial post is distracting, especially as the period of 15 years quoted stretches back to 93, when there was a fairly recently elected conservative government in power, and just incites party-political confrontation instead of focussing attention on the issue of underinvestment in rail relative to road.

 
 

I haven't own a car for over 5 years because I don't need one enough to justify the expense (I've had some very nice holidays with the money I've saved!). On the rare occasions I need one I hire one -- brand new car, fully insured with AA cover, and for a weekend works out cheaper than the train for longer journeys, with the added advantage of having it while you're there.

However, I live in a city and have no kids, and I'm able to cycle most journeys around the city, and I work in various places so don't have a daily commute to somewhere remote like Aztec West. Although public transport in Bristol is abysmal for a built up area of around 700,000 people at least it runs every day and doesn't stop at 6pm like in those villages lucky enough to have any kind of bus service. So I am never one to urge others to give up their cars, just cause it's possible for me to do it without great inconvenience. I can see why people might not want to spend an hour travelling from here to Southmead by bus like I did the other day, a journey of around 5 miles. Glad I don't have to do that in the rush hour!

Don't drive anymore but do have the added bonus of a free train pass  ;D it is slow in Devon and Cornwall by train but it is easier than parking and all that crap and we do have a pretty good train service for such a rural area.

I thought ability to drive was more or less a requirement if you worked on the railways due to the shift patterns.  There is no 24 hour public transport in Devon or Cornwall.

Now there's an irony, surely: train crew must be able to drive to work?  :o ::) ;D

I don't think vacman would be much use if there were no trains  :D

Don't need a car if I live within a minutes walk of my home station!

It would be interesting to know if there are any train drivers outside London that do not hold a car driving licence.

I know of one at penzance, has a motorbike licence tho

Couple at Exeter do. Live within walking distance of the station.