HALF HOURLY TRAINS FROM YATE a TORY MYTH

Remember back in June when the Tories announced half hourly train services from Yate. This is something we have been fighting to get for a long while. We were surprised, as WECA was still in the process of commissioning reports. We asked WECA whether there was now a decision. Their reply is long, but in essence, they are no further forward. The press release was just spin manufactured from nowhere.

Compare the official answer from WECA with the Tory press release.....

(https://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/18533814.new-half-hourly-train-services-announced-yate-bristol-gloucester/)

Stephen Williams, pictured above, who is helping us try to get WECA to deliver. commented "We need ACTION not SPIN."

They are still writing business cases and risk assessments, as they have been since 2016.The WECA reply (and it is Weca that are in charge) received today is: " The March 2019 MetroWest Phase 2 Outline Business Case identified Yate as the terminating point on the Bristol Parkway to Gloucester line for MetroWest services and increasing the services calling at Yate to half hourly, this remains a WECA commitment.

The Gloucester Extension report you reference was produced in December 2016 and the infrastructure work required for the extension is being revisited by Network Rail to validate the proposal and includes liaison with the train and freight operators. The December 2016 Gloucester Extension report did not include any timetable or Railsys modelling and therefore this needs to be considered. The report noted that the next steps should be timetable and operational assessments and this is being progressed by WECA.

As part of the operational assessment, risk assessments of the increased service frequency at level crossings on the line to Gloucester need to be undertaken. Once this has been completed and any alterations to level crossings due to safety concerns identified, WECA will confirm the programme of infrastructure works required for the revised timetable. WECA have commissioned a consultant to undertake a Transport Economic Assessment for MetroWest Phase 2 to include the extension to Gloucester to review the Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR). This will confirm our approach to ensure a robust Full Business Case is submitted for the full capital works required."