Council investment finally delivers on Severn Beach Line

The Severn Beach Line enhancements in the February 2007 Liberal Democrat council budget have finally come to pass with all party support. On Sunday June 1st Mike Carroll, Managing Director of First Great Western (FGW) was joined by politicians of all parties on Clifton Down Station to unveil a plaque to celebrate the enhanced service. Pictured here are local Liberal Democrats Stephen Williams MP, and Ashley ward councillors Jon Rogers and Shirley Marshall.

The FGW vision for the line is “A frequent, reliable and safe method of public transport". The service is more frequent, but what is needed is a much higher reliability to give people the confidence to use the service.

Jon Rogers has recently been appointed as the Bristol Liberal Democrat lead for Transport and Sustainability. He said, "Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) did a great job in 2006 raising the profile of the line and encouraging the council and FGW to invest in a three year trial of more frequent services. We all believe that a frequent, reliable service can attract more people out of their cars and onto public transport. With fuel prices so high, many people are starting to think about alternatives and we must ensure that those alternatives are there.

"My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I are keen to investigate developing the rail network and have urged the city council to look closely at light rail options now that the Government has indicated that investment (our money!) is not just available for buses and roads."

For more photos of the event, please see the FOSBR site http://www.fosbr.org.uk/magazine.php?magid=0000000135