news story

31st October 2008

MP Demands Ministerial Action Over Yate Train Service Farce

Northavon MP Steve Webb has challenged ministers to step in over the shambolic rail service between Yate and Bristol. The MP has been inundated with complaints from commuters who repeatedly suffer cancellations and overcrowding on this busy commuter route.

On one occasion recently one of the two main morning commuter trains was cancelled, leaving over 100 passengers to cram onto an already crowded later train. Other residents have told Steve Webb about occasions when the train was so crowded coming back to Yate in the early evening that it was not possible to get on the train at Bristol Temple Meads.

The MP and passengers have contacted First Great Western about this issue and have been told that there is a shortage of rolling stock. New rolling stock is planned across the rail network, but relatively little has been allocated by ministers to the West.

Now Steve Webb has written to new transport secretary Geoff Hoon urging him to intervene.

Steve Webb said:

"People are constantly being told to get out of their cars and to use public transport, but the standard of public transport for people in our area is sometimes diabolical. It is totally unacceptable that people face cancellations or being routinely crammed onto trains like cattle. New rolling stock is urgently needed and our services need to be seen by Government as a priority. The transport minister needs to realise that passengers are losing patience with this totally unacceptable level of service".

Earlier this year Steve Webb took First Great Western regional manager Andrew Haines on the Yate to Bristol commuter route to see for himself how crowded conditions were on the service.