THE SEVERN BEACH LINE

USE IT OR LOSE IT

This commuter line runs through some of the most industrial parts of Greater Bristol as well as the beautiful Avon valley and ends at Severn Beach with fine views of South Wales and the old and new Severn Bridges. It has, believe it or not, been recommended by Thomas Cook's European Railway Guide as one of the scenic routes of Europe!

A full timetable in printable form is available here, part of the excellent Wessex Trains web site.

The Route Today

For an interesting view of the line, try The Severn Beach Railway line

What Needs to be Done

The Problem

Bristol has a Transport Crisis. It is totally car bound. Up to its ears in internal combustion. The Bristol area has one of the highest car ownership rates in the country. Only London traffic moves more slowly than Bristol's but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The Solution

An ancient branch line, long forgotten by British Rail, has been discovered by a commuter at Clifton. Believed to date back as far as the steam age, this line is a monument to the practice of public transport. Experts were astounded at its construction, it has a mile long tunnel hewn out of solid rock. To build a line like this today would cost around 100 million pounds. It's just sitting there waiting to be used. What an amazingly valuable asset! What a discovery! All it needs is a little bit of maintenance and some sensible management and we have the transport solution of the future.

What the Severn Beach Line needs

• Increase train frequency to two trains an hour in each direction.
• Trains to run from Temple Meads until at least 23.30 at night.
• An information system at each station to report arrivals, delays etc.
• Weekly inspections of stations and regular cleaning.
• Improved security for passengers at stations, e.g. CCTV, better lighting.
• Weekly season tickets for school students and commuters.
• Integrate this line with other suburban railway lines in Bristol.
• Link up with future light railways in Bristol

This line should be promoted

• Local employers should promote it. Bristol University, Radio Bristol, Bristol Zoo and Sainsbury's Supermarket are all near Clifton Down Station.

• Local Health Bosses should promote it. There are Sports Centres, gyms or swimming pools in walking distance from Avonmouth, Montpelier and Lawrence Hill stations. Fewer cars - less asthma among inner city children.

• Local schools do promote it. The train is well used by pupils from Cotham Grammar School, Fairfield School and St Mary's School, Redcliffe.

• Bristol City Council promotes it by spending £110,000 a year to ensure an hourly service. It produced the June - September timetable.

N. B. Newcastle and other cities have integrated, effective, transport systems. Why can't Bristol?

FRIENDS OF SUBURBAN BRISTOL RAILWAYS - FOSBR

Actively campaign for our local lines

FRIENDS OF SUBURBAN BRISTOL RAILWAYS (FOSBR)

Campaign to:

defend and improve the services and facilities of the Severn Beach Railway
restore passenger services and stations on the Henbury Loop (Avonmouth to Bristol Parkway) and to Portishead and increase services to Bedminster, Keynsham, Parson Street, Patchway, Lawrence Hill, Stapleton Road, and Pilning stations
improve connections with other railway lines and /or other forms of public transport.

They meet each month, monitor cancellations and organise events to publicise the advantages of our suburban railways.

If you would like to support their activities telephone:

(0117) 9428637 or e-mail: julie.boston@unisonfree.net,