Improvements to First Great Western rail services calling at stations throughout Bath and North East Somerset have been welcomed by the Council.
Services from Bristol Temple Meads to Keynsham, Oldfield Park, Bath Spa and Freshford will benefit from an additional carriage each at 0841 and 1749 (both 4 carriages instead of 3) on Mondays to Fridays.
Services from Bath Spa to Bristol Temple Meads via Oldfield Park and Keynsham will benefit from additional carriages at 0847 (4 carriages instead of 2), 1415 (2 carriages instead of 1), and 1607 (3 carriages instead of 2). These trains all run on Mondays to Fridays and also call at Freshford 12-13 minutes before Bath Spa.
Each additional carriage contains 70 – 75 seats. They will be placed into service as and when First Great Western receive them. The process should be complete by mid-December.
Statistics published by the Office of Rail Regulation confirm that there were 30% more rail passenger journeys to and from stations in Bath and North East Somerset in 2009/10 than in 2004/5.
Councillor Roger Symonds (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Transport, said, “The additional carriages provide welcome extra capacity for these busy services. Bath & North East Somerset Council, through the West of England Partnership, has been lobbying the Department for Transport for several years to make more rolling stock available to First Great Western so we are pleased our suggestions have been acted upon.
“Part of the Council’s integrated transport policy will consider how our railway infrastructure can be better used to encourage more people to use trains and reduce dependence on the private car. This includes highlighting the case for more rolling stock to be made available to train operators to help them meet the growing demand for rail services.”
For full information on train times and fares, please contact National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or http://www.nationalrail.co.uk.
