Forcing people to drive
The Government is driving us mad. The increased cost of season tickets from January 2010 will force many commuters to drive to work (Rail users to face fare rise in 2010, Evening Post, November 17). This will give drivers hours to ponder the wanton waste of our suburban rail network.
Recently I spoke to a passenger as he got off the train at Keynsham Station. He commutes from Cardiff and said the proposed £800 increase in his season ticket would force him to drive to work next year.
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Passenger numbers on trains in the greater Bristol area have increased substantially in recent years. The Government seems intent on curbing this.
Bristol City Council investment in a more frequent service on the Severn Beach line has resulted in a 40 per cent passenger increase since May 2008.
Double-tracking the line from Clifton Down to Montpelier would allow trains to pass and create a 30-minute service to stations between Bristol Temple Meads and Avonmouth. To make this possible, FOSBR (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) is conducting a postcard campaign in response to Network Rail's consultation.
In order to deal with traffic problems and our environmental commitments, we need pressure to cut train fares and increase the frequency of rail services.
Julie Boston,
Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways.
3 Comments
by Shh, Under the stairs!
Wednesday, December 16 2009, 10:24AM
“For the sake of the environment we should all quit our jobs & live on benefit!
Not all of us are lucky enough to live within walking distance of our place of work - believe me - if I could afford to do so, I would!
I do not enjoy driving to & from work every day, but it's unfortunately necessary...”
by Mike Hope, Easton
Saturday, November 28 2009, 11:03AM
“Which government do you mean? The idiotic government of John Major which flogged off the railways in the first place, something so mad even Thatcher decided against it, or the current one for not renationalising?
The truth is the railways are not a public service. They are run for the benefit of the likes of Branson, Souter and useless companies like Worst Late Western.
Instead of whingeing, Julie Boston should be campaigning with the Labour Party to remind them that the railways should be a public service and take them back into public ownership.
If she thinks the railways would be better under a slash and burn Cameron government, she might be, but hopefully not, be in for a big shock.”
by George, Bristol
Friday, November 20 2009, 6:57PM
“Absolutely spot on.......
We need to be encouraging public transportation and discouraging the use of cars.
Putting up the prices is contrary to this very simple standard that our european counterparts have been doing for years. Surprisingly or not, their congestion is far less than ours - we should take a lesson from them”