Commuters May Finally Have Say On Woeful Yeovil - Bristol Train Line
By yeovilite | Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 13:01
In a move that will come as music to the ears for local commuters, rail users could soon have more of a say in how the rail link between Bristol and Weymouth is run.
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What improvements would you like to see on the Bristol - Weymouth rail line?
The route, which passes through Yeovil Pen Mill train station, is famous among local commuters for being late, inadequately seated and generally woefully unreliable.
Having worked in Bristol and commuted from Yeovil every day for some time, I can safely say it is one of the worst services I have ever travelled on. For me, it's the overcrowding issue that needs to be looked at most.
By the time the train reaches Bruton it is often already filling up, by Frome it's standing only, and by Trowbridge commuters are squashed in like sardines and the guard has given up fighting his way through the crowds checking tickets.
According to this BBC report, the new proposals could mean more direct community involvement in the planning and running of services as early as the end of this year.
The BBC report says: "Transport secretary Theresa Villiers said in a letter to Yeovil MP David Laws that the route could carry more passengers and would be 'better value for money'. Mr Laws said the route was 'key' but that current services were 'too infrequent and often overcrowded'. 'The priority here has to be the needs of local resident' he said."
Well hear hear I say - but what does everyone else think? Anyone else got any horror stories from their time commuting along this line, or should I just man up and get over it?!
What improvements would you suggest given half a chance?
Vent spleen in the comment box below!
Photo: here
Comments
The problem definitely lies in the fact that the train company seems unwilling to provide more carriages at the peak times i.e during commuter hours. I can only speak for the section heading from Yeovil to Bristol and visa versa during these times, and must say that the service is terrible. As you get closer to Bristol more and more people get on (naturally) yet they never add carriages or add more frequent services. The same applies for leaving Bristol between 4.30 and 6.30pm - it's a lottery as to whether or not you'll get a seat, and many times i've seen elderly and more needy passengers being pushed aside in the rush for seating. I look forward to being able to have my say on this issue.
By Darth_V at 15:14 on 16/09/11
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