FGW - Yesterdays 'managers special' at BTM

[AJR]

Ref.: thisisbristol - 09:30 - 04 April 2006

Link to online source

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Commuters trumpet brave new rail world

The train arriving at Temple Meads yesterday lunchtime signalled a new era for West rail travel and brought an end to fragmented services in the region, transport campaigners said. Train company First Great Western (FGW) launched the new Greater Western Franchise at Bristol Temple Meads station. It means the vast majority of rail services in the West will be run by one operator, rather than three, for the next seven to 10 years.

FGW, which fought off stiff competition from Stagecoach and National Express to run the new franchise, said it would lead to a more co-ordinated service for West commuters.

Transport campaigners agreed, saying the unified franchise was something they had been waiting years for.

Welcomed to Platform Six at Temple Meads by a trio of trumpeters at noon yesterday, the special from London Paddington to Penzance also boasted a new livery.

FGW managing director Alison Forster said it was a very special day for the company which would now run hundreds of local and regional services previously run by Wessex Trains and First Great Western Link.

Ms Forster said: "There are some really exciting developments which passengers will see over the next 18 months involving local and Inter City services.

David Redgewell, spokesman for lobby group Transport 2000 and a member of the South West Public Transport Users' Forum, said: "It's great news.

The idea of having three different companies running rail services in a small area like the South West was just crazy.

We've been waiting eight years for this to happen. It joins up local, regional and Inter City services in a way we used to see years ago.

"We know it worked then and we're sure it will benefit everyone again. We now need the Government to agree to providing more rolling stock to allow First Great Western to run the level of services the region deserves." Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy also welcomed the launch of the franchise but she warned FGW still had work to do to improve the West's rail services.

The Labour MP said: "The signals First Great Western are putting out during this launch are positive but we need to see real improvements in reliability, punctuality and service.

"While people using the trains must realise changes won't happen overnight, First must also realise there are real issues to solve, especially in the Bristol area, to help persuade people to get out of the cars and on to public transport." FGW has vowed to maintain an hourly service on the Severn Beach line despite Bristol City Council withdrawing ú136,000 funding for it in favour of subsidising community bus services.

Ms McCarthy said she hoped the local authority would reconsider that decision and that a minimum half-hourly service be introduced on the line.

[Portishead Prowler]

Mmmmm...how much of what FGW say is marketing rhetoric and how much is going to be evidenced by action. I wonder....

[Graham]

I think the press and polititians are looking at the timetable restructuring through rose-tinted glasses. Yes, there are some improvements, but many places are also going to lose out with a reduction in services. Not everyone will benefit in the way they're claiming.