Warning to First as New Platform Opens

Bristol Evening Post article written after the opening of the new platform at Bristol Parkway:

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=17268392

Rail Minister Tom Harris has warned that First Great Western could be stripped of its franchise if it failed to improve its service in the Bristol area.

The warning to the rail operator was made by Mr Harris as he opened the third platform at Bristol Parkway today.

The ^3 million platform has been funded by Network Rail to ease congestion for trains travelling into Bristol Parkway from London and Birmingham, South Wales and the South West.

At present there is a bottleneck at the station, meaning trains coming from different directions have to wait for others to leave before they can enter.

The opening of the platform comes after a turbulent time for passengers on Bristol's train network.

Last December there was outrage when First Great Western introduced a new timetable and cut the number of carriages on many services.

In January, a group called More Trains, Less Strain organised a day of action in which passengers refused to pay their fares in protest at the overcrowding.

Mr Harris said the Government was closely monitoring the situation.

He said: "Since then we have seen a modest improvement with First Great Western's service but we do still want to see further improvements.

"We have drawn up a 40-point plan with them which we hope will mean that the problems we have seen in the past are being dealt with.

"As with all franchises, if there are not any improvements there is the possibility of taking it away but this would only be a last resort."

At this morning's ceremony, Mr Harris cut a ribbon to mark the opening of the new platform.

He told an audience of Network Rail and First Great Western officials that it was part of a huge Government investment in the rail system. He said: "It is clear that the next 20 years will see a rise in the number of rail passengers on both inter-city routes and on commuter services in the region.

"So the West needs not only continued investment in stations, trains and tracks to accommodate that growth but, just as important, a strategy on where that spending will be most effective.

"We have already committed to providing 1,000 new carriages across the country, to be used where they are most needed."

Although the new platform is the third one at the station, it is called Platform 4. The existing two platforms have been numbered two and three and Network Rail hopes to find funding to built Platform 1 in the near future.

Passengers welcomed the addition of the new platform. James Beyer, 33, of Nailsea said: "You do get quite a lot of delays here so hopefully this platform will put an end to this."

Greg Gibson, 37, of Fishponds said: "Anything which reduces the amount of time you have to wait for trains has got to be welcomed."

First Great Western managing director Alison Forster said: "This is a tangible example of investment in the network."

Network Rail western route director Robbie Burns said: "This new platform will east congestion to that passengers will see an improvement in the reliability of trains passing through the station."

ENDS