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Greens launch rail revival plan

12th April 2005

Bristol Green Party has published proposals to make good use of one of the city's most neglected assets - its suburban railways.

The ten point plan describes how little used lines and more thought for passengers needs could help toward solving the city's chronic traffic and pollution problems.

Some are cost-free, others need adding to the Local Transport Plan if they are to attract vital government funding.

"Bristol's local railways are an asset that's seriously underused, when they could be helping to cut the dreadful congestion and pollution that road traffic brings to the city" says Charlie Bolton, the Green Party's candidate in Bristol South. "If that's to be turned around, we need people in the councils and the government with the foresight and the imagination to make it happen."

The detailed suggestions are published on the Bristol Green Party web site at www.bristolgreenparty.org.uk. They range from bringing the Portishead and Henbury lines back into use, to increased train frequency and improved security and information.

" Nationally, we believe that the railway system can and should be brought back into public ownership, with service as the priority, not private profit. But there have to be be local initiatives too, involving the local community" said Arjuna Krishna-Daz, Green Party candidate for Bristol East.

"In other parts of Britain, local community enterprises or businesses have managed to improve stations or even whole lines. Imagine what could be done for Parson Street or Lawrence Hill or Montpelier. It would do a lot to make passengers feel more welcome and safe. We've already put our ideas to the Friends of Bristol Suburban Railways (FoBSR) and they were welcomed."

"No-one's pretending that these simple improvements are going to solve Bristol's horrendous road traffic problems" says Arjuna "but they will certainly help, and they all offer new opportunities for people to get easily from A to B. It would be crazy to keep neglecting our rail assets. They can do so much to make Bristol a better place to live and work"