Rail bosses attacks Bristol's 'woeful' lack of services
Bristol suffers from a "woeful" lack of rail services and the area is failing to attract the funding it should, a Network Rail boss has told MPs.
Mike Gallop is the western region route enhancement manager for the publicly-owned company responsible for developing and maintaining the rail network.
Called to give evidence to a House of Commons committee investigating transport issues in the South West yesterday, Mr Gallop told MPs the train network was inadequate and the city also suffered from the lowest proportion of public transport per person of any urban area in the UK.
He also contrasted Bristol's record in attracting funding for transport schemes with the success of Birmingham, where an integrated transport authority (ITA) takes strategic decisions and lobbies for Government money.
But Mr Gallop insisted the electrification of services from Bristol to London would go ahead and told them a Bristol "metro" route, which would provide a cross-Bristol rail network using almost entirely existing lines, was achievable as long as the cash could be found.
Mr Gallop told the South West Regional Select Committee: "Bristol has the lowest proportion of public transport per head of any urban area in the UK.
"It is woefully under- provided with rail services, the majority of which is due to an accident of history and the way the Victorians laid out the railway network in Bristol.
"However, Bristol is an area of growth for the railway and it is a very important passenger revenue source. It will have an electrified railway in the next decade.
"Those aspirations for the Bristol area, known locally as the Bristol metro, are entirely achievable subject to funding and will deliver a much better railway for the people of Bristol."
Political differences between the four local authorities have been blamed for hampering major schemes to improve transport services.
The proposed super tram system to link the city centre with the northern fringes of Bristol floundered when the city council and neighbouring South Gloucestershire could not agree on the location of the northern terminus.
And last month hopes of creating an ITA to take greater control of public transport and roads in the former Avon area were dashed when Bristol's three neighbours, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and B&NES voted down the idea.
Supporters say an ITA would give the Greater Bristol area much more weight when lobbying the Government for cash to improve the bus, road and rail network and would allow councils to take greater control of bus and rail services and roads.
Bristol North West MP Doug Naysmith quizzed Mr Gallop about how much difference an ITA would make.
Mr Gallop told him: "My patch also includes Birmingham and the approach of Birmingham is markedly different. The success of Birmingham in attracting funding is marked."
The committee raised fears about potential disruption the electrification of the London- to-Bristol line would create.
MPs said all transport organisations should be involved in planning. Stopping train services while work was carried out should not happen at the same time as major roadworks or closures on the M5 or A303, they warned.
Mr Gallop told them they were working to ensure they "didn't score any own goals".
9 Comments
View all
by J.E.Cupis, Bath, UK
Friday, December 17 2010, 9:02PM
“I drove the 689 service before Wessex Connect took it over. In the early years of this century there was no call for later buses on that route. Now petrol is getting dearer and more people are looking to the bus as staple transport. When will the British government wake up and accept that privatised Trains and Buses just don't work. Britain needs a federal system like France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Switzerland et al. It means we all pay for it in our taxes but you get a truly integrated system like that of an ITA which just HAS to be a step in the right direction. The old local authority corporation bus systems were so efficient and reliable and they offered a better standard of vehicle and quality of service. Far better than First Bus or Stagecoach who just want to be profitable with no thought of providing a SERVICE. What do you sit on in a modern bus? - a plastic moulding!! It is cattle truck stuff. I remember London Transport buses with seat upholstery ten centimetres thick! The revival of the cinema, ballroom dancing (from 'Strictly') and the theatre should provide an impetus for that wonderful social institution - The Evening Bus Service. I remember when buses ran until midnight. In London there is still a night service.
A federal system would provide the services that people are going to need as fossil fuel increases in scarcity and hence price, to running out altogether. Then alternative fuelled buses will be the only answer. The British Government should be offering cash prizes to Engineering Companies who come up with a viable alternative.”
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 4:11PM
“Hello, Fred. I think I recognise the Californial Pucklechurchian. I met Angie at the OE's grand re-opening last Saturday.
Yes, that's true about last buses. The Transport Direct website gives the last bus to Pucklechurch as Wessex Connect 689 at 6:15pm. Very useful, I don't think.”
by fred, Californial
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 2:49PM
“In the early 70's I lived in Pucklechurch and worked 8 till 6 in Bedminster and commuted by bus. It would be impossible to do now as I think the last bus leaves the Haymarket around 6 p.m. The last bus used to be about 10 p.m. I tried looking up the present schedule on First's web site but was unable to figure out which buses went to Pucklechurch.
While other urban areas have been trying to get people out of their cars Bristol has been doing the complete opposite. First bus is expensive and crap, the local rail tracks have turned into roads, its really sad.”
by Bob de Bilde, Bristol
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 2:22PM
“It's very simple to make a comparison of the effectiveness of ITAs.
Which major urban areas have the worst public transport and the most expensive fares - those with ITAs or the single urban area (Bristol) without an ITA?
You will find that the answer is Bristol - the only major city in England not covered by an ITA.
Coincidence?”
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 1:48PM
“Read the article, Barry. Local transport needs to be coordinated in the whole area.
A council representing maybe half the built-up area of Bristol is going to get less reponse from Government than an authority able to put forward a coherent transport plan. As the example of Brum shows, the Government has listened to its ITA. It hasn't listened to the Toytown councils and the semi-Bristol council.”