News / Transport
‘Cuts to local train services hitting some of Bristol’s poorest communities’
Some of Bristol’s poorest communities will struggle to access jobs in the north of the city due to train timetable changes, warns a transport campaigner.
The biggest shake-up of the network since 1976 came into play on Monday, December 16, bringing faster journey times, more frequent service to “key locations” and the new high-speed link to London Paddington that takes just 68 minutes.
But the major changes have also seen a dramatic reduction in trains between some of the city’s smaller stations and Bristol Parkway, a key area for employment. The majority now terminate at Filton Abbeywood in order to free up space for the London service.
is needed now More than ever
This means people travelling from Stapleton Road or Lawrence Hill must go to into Temple Meads in order to go back to Bristol Parkway. Commuters travelling from the Weston-super-Mare or Bedminster direction now have to change at Temple Meads, where they used to be able to get a through train.
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Raising the issue at a full council meeting on Tuesday, Dave Redgewell, a campaigner and member of the mayor’s transport board, said: “I want to raise with you urgently the cuts in the Bristol train service.
“We are forced into a situation where local trains that used to cross the city between some of the poorest communities of Bedminster and Parsons Street, through to Lawrence Hill and Stapleton Road and through to the north fringe have now been cut back to run between Weston and Filton, leaving access to jobs and employment around the Bristol Parkway area very difficult for people to access outside of the few peak trains that run.
“It’s wonderful for us to have 68 minutes to London Paddington for those who can afford the high fares or can go to London.”
He asked mayor Marvin Rees to write to the secretary of state for transport as a matter of urgency to call for the local trains to Parkway to be reinstated.
Dave Redgwell is calling for the services to Bristol Parkway to be reinstated
Great Western Railway (GWR) bosses say a ticket easement system is in place so affected passengers from Lawrence Hill and Stapleton Road don’t have to pay more for the longer journey.
A couple of peak time services through to Bristol Parkway remain in operation and the rail company says it has produced a leaflet showing alternative bus times, which has been distributed at the relevant stations.
A GWR spokesperson added: “Figures show low numbers of affected customers, but this is something we want to put right and we are working on it for May with Network Rail.”
Bristol City Council has also said it is working closely with GWR and other stakeholders to explore options that will help to reduce the impact on local passengers.
A council spokesperson added:“We hope that these issues will be fully resolved when the timetable is next changed in May 2020. In the meantime, we recommend train users visit the GWR website to view the latest timetables.”
Passengers from Stapleton Road
Under the timetable changes, three extra trains will operate between Temple Meads and London Paddington at peak times in the morning and evening. There are also four extra off-peak services from Temple Meads to London Paddington, via Bristol Parkway and an improved Sunday service along the Severn Beach line.
For more information about timetable changes visit: www.gwr.com/plan-journey/timetable-2019
Read more: Does Bristol Temple Meads deserve to be compared to Poundland
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