TravelWatch Southwest
Newslog Monday August 4 2008

Rail Maintenance staff to strike

The RMT union has announced that twelve thousand maintenance staff employed by Network Rail will strike for four days from Friday 15 August to Monday 18 August inclusive.

Stagecoach monitors driver behaviour

Stagecoach has commenced a six-month trial of a new driver system designed to improve safety and reduce emissions. The system is designed to improve driver behaviour ‘behind the wheel’ by an in-vehicle sensor monitoring up to one hundred and twenty driving manoeuvres such as braking, acceleration, lane handling and turning. Data is sent in a continuous stream to a web server, who provides instant feedback to the driver using red, amber and green lights on the bus dashboard.

Devon County Council calls for nationwide campaign for concessionary companion passes

Devon County Council has called for ‘equality of access’ to the national concessionary bus pass scheme – the local authority is campaigning for ‘companion passes’ to be issued nationwide, stating that ‘it is neither fair or just’ that eligible disabled or elderly people who are unable to travel alone safely cannot be accompanied, free of charge, by another person.

Wilts and Dorset increases fares

Wilts and Dorset has announced increased fares from Saturday 16 August 2008 – adult and child single fares will increase by ten pence, while adult and child return fares will rise by a maximum of twenty pence. Fares on the following routes will not be increased, due to competition from other bus operators:-

Improvements at Yeovil Junction railway station

One hundred and ten additional car park spaces, together with a new bus shelter, extra cycle hoops and additional closed circuit television cameras are to be installed at Yeovil Junction railway station.

People,

Barry Cogar, the very long serving General Manager of the Paignton and Dartmouth Railway, has retired.

And finally,

Wilts and Dorset Bus Company have registered a new service ‘B’ to operate between Eastleigh Bus Station and Southampton City Centre, in competition with Black Velvet Travel, the business established by former Go South Coast manager, Phil Stockley - the new Wilts and Dorset service has been registered to commence from Monday 15 September, but the Traffic Commissioner has already been advised that the last day of operation will be Saturday 20 September! Will this new Wilts and Dorset bus service actually operate for just six days?