News / Transport
Campaigners highlight Bristol’s poor public transport interchanges
Armed with signs, campaigners set out to demonstrate the improvements they say are badly needed at railway stations in Bristol.
Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FoSBR) wanted to draw attention to “the poor nature of interchanges” at stations, as well as the lack of accessibility, and highlight what needs to be done to improve the situation.
The group focused their efforts on Filton Abbey Wood and Lawrence Hill but say the point could be made at almost any station in the city.
is needed now More than ever
They argue improved signage to assist passengers and better bus links would go a long way towards making public transport accessible for all.
Lawrence Hill currently has no step-free access to or from platform two, a situation the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) is looking into rectifying. While there is an accessible, step-free route to access platform one, FoSBR chair Rob Dixon says many people wouldn’t know about it due to a lack of signage.
“Journeys need to be easy if people are going to choose public transport rather than using their car. You need to be able to easily change between bus and train,” said Dixon.
“Our local stations don’t have any signs and maps showing how to get to the bus stop, any timetables or displays showing the next buses or trains. How are people supposed to change between one and the other?
“In some places the bus stop is too far away for many people to walk and in others you wouldn’t even know there was a station or bus stop nearby.
“Having good interchanges at rail stations is a basic thing that you would expect a transport authority to prioritise.
Only one of the platforms at Lawrence Hill station has step-free access
The message comes as Bristol is set to receive an investment of more than £229m – the city’s share of a £382m pot for the wider region – designed to bring about significant change in transport systems and improve accessibility.
Speaking about Lawrence Hill, Dixon said: “If you couldn’t see the buses stopping from the station platform you wouldn’t know there was a bus stop there. There are no signs and there is no information at the bus stops either. Nor would you know that there is an accessible route to platform one instead of going down the steps.”
Campaigner Barbara Segal added: “Stapleton Road station has a stop outside the station in one direction but not the other. Facilities – even signage – are lacking.”
In Filton, campaigners argue the distance from the bus stops to the railway station would discourage people from changing between bus and train.
Campaigners argue the distance from the bus stops to the railway station would discourage people from changing between bus and train in Filton
All photos: Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways
Read more: Multi-million-pound investment in Bristol transport
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