We relate most of our aspirations to the Bristol travel-to-work area as this is the largest aggregation of housing, jobs, shopping, education, entertainment and travel in the Region and because our organisation brings together individual travellers and a variety of community organisations from that area.

In the interest of local business and the environment, Government intervention is essential to change the culture of favouring and relying on cars and cheap flights. We are urging local transport authorities and the Government Office for the South West to prioritise the contribution of rail and buses in the Joint Local Transport Plan. We recognise that the physical and network limitations of rail, such as signalling at Bristol Temple Meads and rebuilding the Stapleton Road Bridge, needs substantial investment. We want a timed plan for these improvements within the seven years of the franchise.

Although Bristol suburban train services are currently infrequent and poorly coordinated with mainline trains, passenger numbers have risen, for example by 78% in the past 10 years on the Severn Beach line. The franchisee who builds on this demand by increasing services would have our support. This will need timetabling between mainline rail, branch lines and bus services in order to create an integrated transport service accessible to cyclists as well as pedestrians and motorists. A fare structure and a map of rail and bus routes in the GWR franchise area needs to be published by the franchisee and /or local authorities to end current passenger confusion.

We look for commitment by the franchisee to the following improvements

1. Regular and improved service patterns and frequencies within the Bristol travel-to-work area, including regular stopping services from Weston-super-Mare to Bristol Parkway including stops at Parson Street, Bedminster, Lawrence Hill and Stapleton Road which serve socially deprived areas.

2. Restoration of rail passenger services to Ashton, Pill and Portishead. The proposed showcase bus service on the A369 could not be as fast as a passenger train service.

3. Half-hourly service from 05.15 to 23.15 between Temple Meads and Avonmouth on the Severn Beach line to link with other rail services at Bristol Temple Meads. The FOSBR passenger survey on the 06.33 from Severn Beach in 2004 showed that many passengers used the Severn Beach line to commute to Bath, Cardiff, Swindon and London.

4. A Sunday service on the Severn Beach line. The Faber Maunsell Report erroneously stated that the trial was unsuccessful. In fact there has been no trial. Bristol City Council funded free services on two Sundays in 1998 and 1999 which were a tremendous success and demonstrated the demand which is currently not being met.

5. Investigate the suggested conversion of the Avonmouth to Severn Beach stretch to a light rail shuttle. This would both improve the service on that stretch and facilitate a clock face hourly service between Temple Meads and Avonmouth and the extension of the Severn Beach line services on the Henbury loop line to Filton.

6. Restoration of passenger services to Chittening, Hallen and Henbury, using the line currently only carrying freight; and to Horfield and Ashley Down where the abandonment of the Tram proposal leaves an opportunity for rail.

7. More frequent services to Pilning, Patchway, Keynsham.

8. More frequent services on the line from Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth at peak times.

9. 'Innovatation' is a government criterion. Use of the under-used parts of the rail network to take into account the considerable growth of population and housing in the region and the need for sustainable modes of travel (including rail) to reduce the threat of climate change is innovative.

10. Timetabling generally to recognise the movement towards a 24 hour day, 7 day week culture.

11. Improved connections and interchange at Bristol Temple Meads with other railway lines and other forms of public transport. On board announcements on arriving trains of the time of departure of connecting services is desirable.

12. Improved rolling stock including enough units to ensure that there is space for passengers, buggies, cycles and luggage on all trains.

13. A fare structure which will encourage off-peak and weekend travel and challenge the claims of Alistair Darling about the cost of transporting fresh air about the system.

A bus / rail card.

14. Improved passenger information and, in the event of a train being cancelled, immediate provision of information and an adequate bus and taxi replacement.

16. As a public service provider the franchisee must provide safe journeys to passengers and good working conditions for its employees.

Julie Boston 16 June 2005

Tel: 0117 942 8637 / 944 5687

E-mail:info@fosbr.org.uk ; j.boston@unisonfree.net

website: http:www.fosbr.org.uk