IT IS good to see Network Rail calling for millions of pounds of investment in Bristol's rail network to cope with the huge predicted increase in the next 10 years.

What with the promised rail electrification between Temple Meads and London Paddington, and the line between Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway also earmarked for electrification, things are looking good for us here in Bristol.

Now is the time to strike while the iron is still hot.

We need to secure funding for the Greater Bristol rail network. This is hopefully where the Council and the West of England Partnership come in.

The council and the West of England Partnership need to identify and secure funding for reopening closed railway stations.

The Portishead line? Hopefully it looks like the investment will arrive here to reopen this line.

Attention needs now to go to the Henbury loop line which needs to be reopened for passenger trains.

Doesn't it tell you something that Bristol Temple Meads station is the third most used railway station on the Great Western network and is expected to experience the largest growth in the next decade.

We need to kick on from here and start investing in our local rail network to meet the demands of railway passengers coming our way.

We need the council and the West of England Partnership to secure funding to reopen Ashley Hill and Ashton Gate railway stations and build a new platform at Shirehampton park and ride site.

It is no good all these railway passengers arriving at Bristol Temple Meads station.

We do not want to put these people onto taxis or buses. If railway stations were reopened they could catch trains to these stations.

We have the railway infrastructure in place to do this.

We need to call on the Council and the West of England Partnership to push this through.

Let's not sit on our backsides and miss this opportunity.

Lets go for it now.

David Wood, Rail Maritime and Transport Union, Bristol.