Rail link to airport would help cut pollution
Having read all the opinions on the airport expansion in the media, it seems the main concern is pollution.
As well as aircraft pollution, a large problem is the pollution and congestion caused by the extra car journeys to and from the airport. There is no doubt the existing road networks struggle to cope, and more car parking space is required.
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As the airport seems to have plenty of cash to throw at making the airport bigger, why not fund a dedicated rail link? This could branch off of the main line around the Flax Bourton area, giving a direct rail link to Temple Meads and beyond. This would surely win favour with local residents fed up with heavy traffic, cut pollution considerably, and also win favour with local councils. There is also a huge benefit of extra passengers, attracted by hassle free access to the airport by direct train and no parking costs.
To compete with other airports, Bristol must at least look at a rail link especially when fuel emissions are so high on the agenda and access to and from are key factors to passengers.
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Comments
by John, redhill
Thursday, October 08 2009, 7:22AM
“The best solution to a Bristol airport with decent transport links is to re-locate airport to Filton, right beside existing national rail and motorway networks .”
by Ian, Cheltenham
Monday, September 28 2009, 12:45PM
“A rail link using the old railway trackbed to radstock, via north somerset junction and pensford would be better were it still possible to lay the track....of course, was there the will at the top level, it would get done.”
by Richlyn1, Bradley Stoke
Wednesday, September 23 2009, 11:08AM
“A monorail would be great - a continuous loop would work well and be a lot quicker than the Flyer”
by MendipMan, Wurzel Country
Saturday, September 19 2009, 10:19AM
“First have not chopped the 121 because North Somerset Council put more money in to fund it when the threat was made earlier this year. As for competing with the airport Flyer, it doesn't.
Very few people use it to reach the airport. It's mainly a vehicle for getting villagers to and from Bristol and Weston-super-Mare.
Many of the people who complain about airport-related vehicle pollution are the very people who have moved to the ever expanding villages in recent decades and who commute daily to Bristol for work, thus creating their own pollution.
The A 38 is only really busy at commuter times which is nothing to do with the airport at all.
A rail link would not work. Apart from the heavy enginering required it would not be feasible to run a service at the frequency that would be required.
Bristol actually competes exceptionally well without a rail link.
Look at Cardiff airport that has one - well nearly anyway, because a short bus trip is still required to reach the terminal.
Some years ago the Welsh Assembly Government spent £19 million of tax payers' money to reopen the Vale of Glamorgan railway line so that Cardiff airport could have a rail link. The result? Two local trains an hour and an airport that struggles to get airlines to serve it.
The Scottish Executive has this week pulled the plug on the £500 million plan to link Glasgow airport to the rail system because of budget constraints.
In thoery a rail link to Bristol airport sounds great but the reality is different. The Flyer coach is a perfectly acceptable substitute and it is in effect a train anyway. Through bookings are available from all rail stations, the airport is shown as a station on the FGW booking system and the coach appears on the departure boards at Temple Meads.
It should have a system of quicker loading though. It can take up to ten minutes which is ridiculous.”
by Matt, Bristol
Thursday, September 17 2009, 6:22PM
“An elevated monorail would handle gradients better than conventional trains, and would leave a lot more ground space. It could go right into the middle of Bristol, going over roads. That ground next to Temple Meads could make a good depot.”
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Thursday, September 17 2009, 10:55AM
“Nice idea, but wouldn't the gradients be a bit stiff?
And, of course, it would make it more difficult for the airport to rip people off for parking fees and coach fares.
Incidentally, notice that Worst Bus have chopped the 121 bus? Could this be because it competed with their airport coach service?”