National rail awards

Public transport users in the Greater Bristol area have reacted with incredulity to the decision of the judges of the National Rail Awards 2008 to recognise Bristol Temple Meads as the Major Station of the Year – the station is renowned for long queues for ticket purchase, the travel centre failing to open due to staff shortages and poor customer information, particularly at times of disruption. Somerset public transport users were also very surprised that Taunton station was ‘highly commended’ in the Large Station category. Bournemouth was ‘highly commended’ in the Medium Station category. First Great Western was ‘highly commended’ in the ‘Project of the Year’ category for the high speed train re-engineering and interior ‘refresh’ programme.

Yellow school bus network plan

A dedicated network of yellow school buses has been proposed for primary schools across England by a commission established by the public transport operator, FirstGroup. The commission claims that a dedicated network of yellow school buses would provide a safe way to school, reduce traffic congestion and cut vehicle emissions at an estimated cost of one hundred and fifty-four million pounds per year. The transport charity, Sustrans, has warned that the establishment of the proposed yellow school bus network would undermine current efforts to get more children walking and cycling to school.

Kemble – Swindon redoubling update

Network Rail has challenged the determination made by the Office of Rail Regulation not to provide funding of the cost of redoubling the railway line between Kemble and Swindon during the next control period from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2014 inclusive.

Leather seats for Bournemouth bus users

Transdev Yellow Buses are introducing eleven new low floor, single-decker buses with leather seating on the company’s high frequency service 1A (Bournemouth – Somerford via Christchurch).

Plymouth ‘Bus War’ update

Plymouth Citybus has now withdrawn the Monday to Friday morning peak restriction which previously applied to the company’s day return tickets – First Devon and Cornwall continues, for present, to charge a higher day return fare where the outward journey is commenced before 0846hrs on Monday to Friday.

Personal travel planning in Weston-super-Mare

A team of personal travel planners is to descend on Weston-super-Mare to try to encourage residents to cut their car use – transport charity Sustrans and consultant Socialdata are to implement their ‘TravelSmart’ initiative in the coastal resort. The scheme is been funded by the South West Regional Development Agency and North Somerset Council.

Dartmoor Railway

British American Railway Services Limited, part of Iowa Pacific Holdings, has bought the Dartmoor Railway from the previous owners, ECT Group. Iowa Pacific Holidays is a privately owned American company, which has bought five railway operators in the United States during the last seven years. The Dartmoor Railway is the seventeen mile railway route between Coleford Junction and Meldon via Okehampton in Devon.

And finally,

An irate Gloucestershire businessman has applied for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders against two named individuals employed by Gloucestershire County Council and by the Highways Agency, who he claims, are responsible for the appalling traffic congestion caused by road works on the A40, west of Gloucester – the work is causing severe disruption to bus services between Gloucester and the Forest of Dean operated by Stagecoach West.