And he's not the only one
From today's Bath Chronicle. Click on link below to read his article where you will find the link to this page:
http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=180730&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232327&home=yes&contentPK=17260928#viewsAngry protests by rail commuters in Bath have not fallen on deaf ears, a government minister writes in the Chronicle today.
Rail Minister Tom Harris is in the south west to address the regional assembly on the pressures facing the region's rail network.
But in an article written exclusively for this newspaper, he pledges not to take his eyes off embattled train operator First Great Western.
The company has been under pressure ever since changes to the winter timetable led to problems with overcrowding and delays on services in and around Bath.
In January this led to more than 2,000 commuters mounting a fare strike on morning rush hour services between Bath and Bristol.
A similar national strike has been rumoured for September.
In his article Mr Harris acknowledges how high passions are running and points out that
FGW▸ is taking steps to improve services in the region.
But he also says how train operators choose to deliver their franchises is up to them, provided they run at least an acceptable service.
Mr Harris is set to speak to the south west's politicians today to outline his vision for sustaining growth on the railways.
He has promised to explore the possibility of bringing longer trains and more frequent services to the area.
He will present the Department for Transport's planning assessment, published yesterday, which reveals Bath Spa to be the region's second busiest station, with a total of 3,895,317 train journeys ending or beginning there between 2005 and 2006.
The assessment also concludes the short-term priority for the area is to provide additional seating capacity by lengthening trains on services from Bath and on the Severn Beach line, but says this should be aided by FGW's plans to increase seats on its high-speed train fleet.
Data collected in the assessment also shows most station car parks in the region are being used to capacity, with 100 per cent of spaces at Bath Spa and Trowbridge stations occupied.
The assessment says: "The most important issue in the south west arises where forecast future passenger demand is in excess of seated capacity.
"This is expected to occur primarily on the intercity routes to London east of Swindon and Newbury, on the Bristol to Birmingham route, on most of the routes radiating from Bristol, and on some trains into the other main urban centres.
"Related to this is the need for additional car parking capacity at many stations in the region to improve access to the railway."
Mr Harris wants more car parking spaces to be provided at stations approaching capacity, but points out FGW pledged to create 1,700 more spaces as a franchise promise.
Mr Harris also plans for the eventual introduction of smartcard technology to reduce travel in peak times by encouraging passengers to travel at other times.
Mr Harris was at Bristol Parkway station this morning to open a new ^3m platform aimed at reducing hold-ups on the Bristol to Wales and London to the Midlands mainlines.
ENDS
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