Memorandum by Cambrensis Ltd (RR 30)
RURAL RAIL
I was delighted to learn that you and the Transport
Select Committee had travelled to Hereford by train yesterday
to investigate rural train services. Thank you for taking the
trouble to do this—your Committee's assistance in this area
is both welcome and highly necessary.
I enclose some correspondence with Paul Keetch
MP, Arriva Trains and the Strategic Rail Authority about the abrupt
cancellation of the 5.43 pm direct service from Bristol Temple
Meads to Hereford (and on to Manchester). [3]
No warning of the cancellation of this service
was given, no consultation undertaken. It just happened the next
day. I now have to wait 40 minutes at Newport every day that I
travel to and from Bristol, my day is even longer and I cannot
collect my son from his school bus. Correspondence with my local
MP has produced replies from:
(i) Arriva trains saying that the decision
was taken by the Strategic Rail Authority, and I wouldn't have
to wait for 40 minutes if I took an earlier train (apparently
overlooking the fact that in the real world working people work
in the afternoons); and
(ii) the Strategic Rail Authority informing
me that they have a "Capacity Utilisation Policy" and
a "Network Utilisation Strategy", which is of course
an enormous relief but which does not address my mundane concerns
about the 5.43 from Bristol. If you ever find out what this body
actually does, apart from cancelling services that we really need,
please be sure to let us know.
Places like Hereford depend on good and reliable
train services to other centres, such as Bristol, Birmingham,
Cardiff and London. Many people locally work either full time
or part time in other places, and we cannot afford to let our
transport links be knocked about in this arbitrary and unaccountable
fashion.
William Wilson
Director
22 April 2004
3 Not printed-contact enquiries@cambrensis.org Back
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