Rail campaigners have welcomed new figures showing dramatic increases in the use of local train services, particularly from Severn Beach station
Figures published as part of the Severnside Community Rail Partnership’s (SCRP’s) 2011 Annual Report from the weekday passenger count carried out in November show that passenger numbers have increased from 135 to 201 – or by 49 per cent – at Severn Beach station between 2009 and 2011.
The same count found increases at other South Gloucestershire stations over the same 2 year period:
- Filton Abbey Wood has seen a 12 per cent increase – from 3,102 to 3,461
- Patchway has seen a 26 per cent increase – from 234 up to 295
- Yate has seen a 5 per cent increase – from 931 up to 974
Cllr Robert Griffin (Con, Pilning & Severn Beach) said:
“The Severnside Community Rail Partnership does a tremendous amount of good work and this whopping 49 per cent in passenger numbers is testament to these marvellous efforts.”
“All we can do is encourage people to leave their cars at home and use public transport and it’s great to see this being done in ever increasing numbers on the Severn Beach line.”
“And there’s always more we can do to keep this trend heading in the right direction, particularly improving reliability.”
Cllr Brian Allinson (Con, Stoke Gifford), Conservative Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport at South Gloucestershire Council, which is a sponsor authority of the SCRP, added:
“I’m delighted that these figures highlight the increasing use of our local train services because, as a council, we have regular discussions with the rail industry about how we can work together to make travelling by train as attractive as possible.”
“This has included successfully lobbying for extra carriages, which were added at the end of last year to help ease overcrowding on a number of local services.”
“And we have already worked with First Great Western to fund a Sunday rail service to and from Severn Beach for the last couple of years.”
Related link more: SCRP 2011 Annual Report [PDF, 466kB]
Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council
