Good news for all four train operating companies in the South West

Passenger Focus has published the results of the National Passenger Survey for Autumn 2008, which reveals that customer satisfaction has increased with all four train operating companies in the region. The overall customer satisfaction rating for First Great Western increased to eighty per cent (a rise of ten percentage points since Autumn 2007) – this increase was mainly attributable to a ten per cent improvement in customer satisfaction with the company’s punctuality and reliability. The overall customer satisfaction ratings for South West Trains increased to eighty-seven per cent (a rise of two percentage points since Autumn 2007), for CrossCountry to eighty-four per cent (a rise of two percentage points since Autumn 2007) and for Arriva Trains Wales to eighty-six per cent (a rise of one percentage point since Autumn 2007). Customers were particularly critical of the cost of rail fares, the responsiveness of operators to delays and toilet facilities on trains.

‘Kickstart’ bus funding relaunched

The Department for Transport has invited bids from local authorities and partners in South West England for a second round of ‘Kickstart’ funding for new and enhanced bus services – bids have to be submitted by 3 July 2009. Kickstart is targeted at schemes that have the potential to become successful profitable non-subsidised bus services but are only currently marginal in commercial terms and therefore require some financial support. Twenty five million pounds is been provided by the Government to finance the successful applicants.

Two new West of England Partnership transport packages

The West of England Partnership (comprising the four unitary authorities of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire) has agreed to make two bids to the Department for Transport for major scheme funding. The first bid, for approximately forty-seven million pounds, will be for a seven kilometre bus-based rapid transit scheme linking Bristol city centre with the Long Ashton park-and-ride site – half of the route will be segregated or traffic-free and the initial route could subsequently be extended to Bristol International Airport. The second bid, for approximately forty-nine million pounds, is for phase one of the Weston-super-Mare transport package, including a new bus interchange and additional car parking spaces at Worle station and new bus priority measures in the town.

Exeter planned infrastructure improvements

Devon County Council has proposed infrastructure plans for Exeter to tackle congestion and to improve public transport – the proposals include a new seven hundred and eighty space park-and-ride site at Ide (south-west of the City Centre), new bus lanes, priority at traffic junctions for buses and improved facilities for both cycling and walking.

Bristol International Airport

Macquarie, the owners of Bristol International Airport, have published plans to build two new multi-storey car parks, with three thousand, eight hundred spaces, and a transport interchange on the roof of one of them – Macquarie wishes to increase the percentage of passengers who travel to and from the airport by public transport from the existing eight per cent to fifteen per cent by 2016. The Department for Transport (DfT) has published revised passenger demand figures for Bristol International Airport – the DfT expects that the current annual volume of six million passengers to rise to eight million by 2015 and to twelve million by 2030.

Government Office for South West praises West of England Partnership

The Government Office for the South West (GOSW) has praised the four West of England Partnership unitary councils for their progress in delivering the current joint local transport plan – the creation of a joint transport committee, progress on bus ridership, tackling congestion and increased journeys by cycle were particularly praised. GOSW remains concerned about air quality issues in the geographical area of the partnership.

And finally,

First Great Western recently received substantial customer and media criticism for the decision to introduce car parking charges from 1 February 2009 at six railway stations in South West England – Bodmin Parkway, Bridgwater, Clifton Down, Falmouth Docks, Frome and Liskeard. The publicised charges have not been introduced, as the necessary ticket machines have yet to be delivered!