Council introduces train subsidy

The money will pay for an extra train to run every 30-50 minutes

Bristol City Council is to introduce a subsidy for the Severn Beach rail line.

The council will spend £140,000 "for the first quarter" between winter 2007 and spring 2008 and an additional £450,000 has been allocated.

The money will be spent providing a more regular train service between Bristol Temple Meads and Avonmouth.

The council voted to scrap its original £135,000 subsidy in 2006 after First Great Western (FGW) won the contract to run the line.

Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) petitioned the council for a service running every 30 or 40 minutes.

FOSBR members sent 561 postcards to the council in response to a budget consultation.

Cut congestion

The Liberal Democrat-run council will allocate the money for an extra train for a trial period from December 2007 until March 2010.

They will spend £140,000 "for the first quarter" between winter 2007 and spring 2008 and an additional £450,000 has been allocated until the end of the three-year trial.

FOSBR campaigner Julie Boston said: "We're delighted by the decision. It shows the Lib Dems are listening to local people and that they want to use the local rail network to cut congestion.

"Running the more frequent service for a two to three-year trial period is a great idea - it will provide enough time to increase passenger numbers and show the potential of the line."

Council leader Barbara Janke said the money to pay for the extra train has come from a successful crackdown on fraudulent claims for 'lone household' discounts on council tax bills.