Bristol Metro in the News

[madhattie]

From the Bristol Evening Post

A blueprint for a new cross-Bristol rail network is being drawn up to ease the area's chronic congestion.

It would use almost entirely existing lines, with new trains running at half-hourly intervals covering the whole Bristol area.

In the long-term, the plan will also include the long-hoped-for Portishead link into the city, which would involve bringing a disused stretch of line back into service.

Before that, it could mean more rolling stock, more cross-region services and millions of pounds spent on station projects.

Campaigners see the so-called Bristol Metro scheme as a possible breakthrough in the battle to solve the area's traffic crisis.

Congestion costs the local economy ú350 million a year. Even the first stages of the Metro project are expected to start to ease the pressures by getting commuters out of their cars and on to trains.

Over the next five years they are expected to include:

● More half-hourly services on the routes between Weston and Yate and between Cardiff and Westbury (Wiltshire) via Bath and Bristol.

● New, high-capacity rolling stock, which is more economical, with faster acceleration. This would be additional stock, not replacements.

● A new bay platform at Weston-super-Mare and a new facility to turn around trains at Yate.

Government funding of nearly ú20 million is being sought for these projects, which should be completed by the spring of 2014.

The West of England Partnership of local councils (Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North-East Somerset) has applied to the South West Regional Assembly for support.

Ministers at the Department for Transport are likely to look favourably on funding recommendations put forward by the assembly.

But the assembly û made up of local councillors, businesses and voluntary sector representatives û is set to be abolished next year.

Its responsibilities are being handed over to the South West Regional Development Agency (RDA), which yesterday held a meeting in Exeter in order to discuss a range of regional schemes for transport, housing and the economy.

If it goes ahead, the Metro scheme will eventually link Portishead with Bristol and the Severn Beach line.

This is described in the document as "future development" not included in the initial project.

Trains will then be routed back via Temple Meads and Henbury to Bristol Parkway.

This is a long-term aim and would mean finding space for passenger trains on what is already a busy freight route.

Reliability, punctuality and rail access to the Bristol area will be improved even by the first stages of the Metro project, says the West of England's application.

The work carried out over the next five years will support jobs and housing, it is hoped.

Thousands of families moving into new homes in the West will share in the benefits of more efficient transport services.

There could be as many as 12,000 in Weston-super-Mare, another 10,500 on the south-western edge of Bristol, 3,000 at Yate and at Keynsham and 8,000 in Bath.

In the 10 years from 1997, rail travel doubled in the West.

The partnership's application to the assembly says: "Existing services have suffered from short trains leading to overcrowding and even passengers left behind on stations."

The application says the Bristol Metro will deliver a better local rail network, complementing train company First Great Western's plans for 11 new four-carriage trains on the Cardiff-Portsmouth route.

"The West of England's vision is for a buoyant economy, a rising quality of life for all and easier local, national and international travel. The Bristol Metro will help deliver the vision's priorities," the document says.

The immediate plans for more rolling stock and enhanced services would be linked to a fourth platform at Bristol Parkway and resignalling between Bath Spa and Temple Meads through Network Rail's business plan.

Future developments would include half-hourly services on the Severn Beach line linked to reopened lines to and from Portishead and Henbury.

Funding is being separately applied for over the Portishead project.

Other later schemes could include a double line between Worle and Weston-super-Mare, longer trains and platforms.

The model for the Bristol Metro follows projects which are already up and running for frequent, cross-city services in the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Merseyside.

[tugboatcharly2]

Any one running on book on the odds of this scheme getting of the ground
It will be very interesting to learn of any progress in this YET another plan
A,B.C, AND ON! well hears hoping!!!! or disappointing