Severn Beach line - Big show of support for railway line

Post by **AJR** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:57 pm

Ref.: thisisbristol - 11:00 - 18 April 2006

Link to online source

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Big show of support for railway line

More than a dozen local organisations have put their weight behind the Severn Beach railway line after a row over funding. Charities, NHS primary care trusts and businesses are among those who have signed an open letter condemning Bristol City Council for ending a subsidy for the busy commuter rail line.

The Severn Beach line's Ãº136,000 annual subsidy is being scrapped under the new budget approved by members on February 26.

Campaign group Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) says this will lead to a reduction in services, with trains starting later, and finishing earlier. The group said public transport should be promoted and the council should set aside money to lease trains.

Lib Dem cabinet councillor Dennis Brown has said the subsidy was only ended after they were given assurances that First Great Western would pick up the bill as part of the contract for winning the franchise to run the line.

Among the groups which signed the open letter are: Bristol Primary Care Trusts; Bristol Friends of the Earth; Arena Concern; Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways; Henbury Community Council; Portishead Railway Group; Sustrans and Transport 2000.

simon · Post by **simon** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:32 pm

Was reading a book at my sisters over Easter about Montpelier - according to this book up until the 1950's there were over 750 people a day using Montpelier station and they had something like 71 passenger trains through there every day. Locals were quoted as saying no one knew the timetable you just turned up and there would be a train along in a few minutes.

Portishead Prowler · Post by **Portishead Prowler** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:37 pm

simon wrote:Was reading a book at my sisters over Easter about Montpelier - according to this book up until the 1950's there were over 750 people a day using Montpelier station and they had something like 71 passenger trains through there every day. Locals were quoted as saying no one knew the timetable you just turned up and there would be a train along in a few minutes.

It's desolate there these days....

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:53 pm

Still quite a few people use the station I've even had a customer catch a train from avonmouth to montpelier to get some stuff from us!( I work in the plumbing merchants in the estate by the station)Network rail were there last week tidying around.

simon · Post by **simon** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:24 am

Tim wrote:Still quite a few people use the station I've even had a customer catch a train from avonmouth to montpelier to get some stuff from us!( I work in the plumbing merchants in the estate by the station)Network rail were there last week tidying around.

Glad to hear it is still used, tho looking at Pete's photos it is not the most inviting of locations.

When I first knew it in the early 1970's there was a boarded-up booking office at the other end of the footbridge from the main station building as visible in this photo

http://simon71.fotopic.net/p21680599.html

(the footbridge looks like a replacement compared with the one in my photo.).

At one point, vandals broke down the door and a few of my friends and I explored inside it. It was full of old timetables and leaflets dating back to the Edwardian era- all tho very much the worse for wear from damp and vermin.

I assume it has been long knocked down.

I also have a waiting room sign in my attic from the main station building -the building was rented out and the sign was visible through a window in one of the rooms. I asked the occupiers how much they wanted for it. Take it they said, so I did!