Great Western Coffee Shop

Here is a report on the meeting held at the Southville Centre , Bristol , last night :

We started off with a very informative presentation from Chris of Sustrans , detailing their plans for the Bristol area. A large section of this dealt with Home Zones (link below.)
http://www.brake.org.uk/index.php?p=472

Chris also put forward a powerful argument that investment in alternatives to road construction can be far more cost - effective than building new roads.

On heavy rail , the argument I put forward was basically as follows :

1) That everyone should support the new 40 min frequency service on the Severn Beach Line , so that it can be held up as a success story for others to follow.

2) That I believed that Yate - Weston - super - Mare capacity enhancement plus the upgrading of the Henbury & Portishead lines to passenger status were essential medium to long term targets , in order to help acheive the step - change in heavy rail passenger service frequencies that we want to see , and to accomodate projected freight growth.

3) That the Greater Western Franchise should not have responsibility for local Bristol rail services , and instead these should be specified , part - funded and indeed run by a new Passenger Transport Authority.

I also briefed the meeting on Gateway To The Future (link below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=357.msg1034#msg1034

Terry Miller Of FOSBR put forward some excellent points regarding cycles on trains , and the inadequacies of First Great Western's operations in the Greater Bristol Area. Pip Sheard (of the Alliance) outlined her group's wish to see Bristol Temple Meads re - signalled.

An interesting point raised by one of those present was the withdrawal of the direct Bristol - Oxford service a few years back , an SRA decision that adversely affected passengers across an area far wider than Greater Bristol.

All in all , I thought that it was a very worthwhile meeting.