More than 50 people filled a crowded cabinet chamber last night as the campaigners protested against last year's withdrawal of a subsidy for the service, which left commuters with a less convenient hourly service.

Members of the Friends Of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) were joined by representatives of campaign group Transport 2000 in calling for more regular trains.

They said the city council should work with other councils in the former Avon area as well as rail operator First Great Western to invest in the suburban services.

Rail user Bernard Lane, from Dursley Road, Shirehampton, lives in a home overlooking the railway station and is a frequent service user.

He said: "We would like to use it more but because of large gaps between train times we find we are often unable to.

"The promotion of the line would yield positive results and working together with the local community would make the service more attractive."

Council leader Barbara Janke said: "The Government is not interested in investing in rail because it doesn't get as much value from it as from road-based solutions."

Your Views
Somebody ought to tell council leader Barbara Janke that blaming central government lack of interest in rail for Bristol City Council's abject failure to support local rail services is otherwise known as passing the buck. I've used the Severn Beach line regularly for the last 30 years. I'd use it even more if it had a regular AND reliable service.
Steve Woods, Easton