TravelWatch Southwest
Newslog 77 Monday 22 June 2009

Arriva Trains Wales demands the return of a class 150 unit on hire to First Great Western

First Great Western (FGW) is currently sub-leasing five two-carriage class 150 units from Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) – ATW can give three months notice at any time that the units must be returned. ATW has now given notice that one class 150 unit has to be returned – to provide short-term cover, FGW has agreed to sub-lease a two-carriage class 158 unit from South West Trains from 27 June 2009 to 5 September 2009 inclusive.

First Somerset and Avon to stop using social networking websites

The customer services team of First Somerset and Avon based at Bath bus station have been piloting the use of social networking websites, including Facebook and Twitter, to improve dialogue between the company and passengers – the initiative has also included a ‘blog’ on a dedicated internet website. First Somerset and Avon has now announced that the pilot will finish on Friday 26 June, despite the very positive reaction from customers, particularly during periods of severe traffic congestion in Bath.

First Great Western Class 142 ‘Pacer’ units to stay longer in the West?

First Great Western (FGW) is currently leasing seven two-carriage class 142 ‘Pacer’ units from Northern Rail until July 2010 – the seven units are used on FGW local services linking Exeter with Barnstaple, Exmouth and Torbay. The seven trains are currently due to be replaced by class 150 units cascaded from London Midland – this cascade is now likely to be delayed due to the late delivery to London Midland of new Bombardier trains. First Great Western may therefore be forced to attempt to negotiate to retain the seven class 142 units beyond the contracted return date in July next year.

New transport strategy for Swindon

Swindon Borough Council has unveiled a new strategy costing three hundred and seventy million pounds (at current prices) that is designed to meet the transport needs of the local population, which is expected to expand by thirty-six per cent over the next seventeen years. The new transport strategy features rapid transit (technology is not specified), a new orbital bus route, additional park-and-ride facilities and improved travel planning – the strategy also includes provision for a new station on the railway line between Kemble and Swindon, to serve the north-western housing areas of the town.

Road traffic volumes fall

The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that road traffic volumes in Great Britain fell by 0.8 per cent in 2008, compared with the previous year – the first recorded fall in annual traffic volumes since 1979. The DfT monitoring of traffic congestion in major urban areas revealed that morning peak journey times for motorists in Greater Bristol improved by five and a half per cent in 2008, compared with the previous year.

And finally,

Iris Horn, a ninety-two year old lady who is the station manager at Stogumber on the West Somerset Railway, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.