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FORGET WATER TAXIS, REOPEN OUR RAIL LINE
10:40 - 20 February 2008
Campaigners fighting for Portishead Railway line to be reopened have
criticised plans for water taxi service as an alternative.
North
Somerset Council's chairman David Shopland says reopening three miles of railway
line from Portishead to Portbury could cost nearly £30 million.
Instead,
he has suggested Portishead and North Weston Town Council look at the
feasibility of introducing water taxis for commuters along the River
Avon.
However, campaigners fighting for the railway line have knocked the proposal saying it would take too long and would not ease road congestion.
Alan Matthew, chairman of the Portishead Railway Group, said: "To go by water taxi would take hours to get to Bristol whereas reinstating the railway line would be a much quicker commuting solution.
"To get from Portishead to Bristol Temple Meads would be 28-30 minutes by train taking commuters into the largest office building area in Bristol.
"If you take workers by water taxi how do they get into the town centre or to their offices elsewhere in Bristol, such as by Temple Meads?
"Also, there is the issue with cars still using the main Portishead road, the A369 to get to the water taxi service, so the roads would still be congested.
"First Great Western has told the council it will cost £20m to rebuild the line and the Greater Bristol Strategic Transport study says £29m.
"This sounds absurd to me when in South Wales they have built six stations and 18 miles of track for £30m.
"What we are saying is we need some proper figures, a proper study needs to be done."
Carl Francis-Pester, North Somerset Council's executive member for environment also raised some concerns on the proposed water taxi service.
He said: "In order to have sufficient ferries in rush hour there is a risk of a great deal of cost. I am guessing you would have water taxis operating from 7-9am and 4-6pm and you would have at least 40 minutes getting into Bristol, which may be fine but you have got to have six boats to do that.
"If operators can't make money to provide services then it is not going to work."
Reader comments
| It does beggar belief that this line hasn't been re-opened. When you look at the expansion of Portishead. We are being constantly reminded how people are pouring into the area. Most of these either commute to Bristol of head off on the M5. Every day there are huge tailbacks across the Clifton Suspension Bridge & down to Hotwells as people drag themselves into the city on the A369. Get the trains running. This must be one of the most obvious cases for a service! |
| tomas hintern, bristol |
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