FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT

A well deserved pat on the back is due for the members of the Severn Tunnel Action Group who’s long term fight to save and develop Severn Tunnel Junction Railway Station is delivering real results for local rail users, with retained rail services, better passenger waiting areas, new electronic information boards, improved parking facilities and the restoration of platform 4 (open as of Monday 4^th January 2009) which means that there should be less delays to train services. They have over the years successfully fought (alleged irreversible and permanent) cuts in services which would have made passengers journeying to Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and beyond lives a great deal more difficult. They are carrying on the fight to get the foot bridge and the provision of lifts for easy access for disabled and elderly passengers.

Caldicot Town Councillor David Ashwin and myself (frozen by dawns early light at Severn Tunnel)

For those of you who don't know it, Severn Tunnel Rail Junction Railway station is pretty often exposed to a particularly bitter east wind of the Severn estuary - there have been long term issues with secure parking, decent facilities (including shelter) and access to the from the 'island' platforms int he middle for the station. On a number of occasions outside and during election campaigns I and colleagues have been seriously frozen at Severn Tunnel on a number of times whilst campaigning for better rail services.

The railway station provides a vital link for rail passengers to and from work in Bristol, Bath, Newport, Cardiff and beyond - with passengers travelling from as far a field a Monmouth and the Wye Valley, the Forest of Dean and eastern Newport to catch the train to work. I am convinced that but for the on going fight made by the Severn tunnel Action Group that the station would have been quietly run down following proposed cuts in services, now it has more than a fighting chance of acting as useful transport hub for local rail passengers and residents.

Severn Tunnel Action Group's fight for better services, better facilities for passengers and better access to the 'island' platforms continues and provides a working example of what it is possible to achieve when people set their minds to an objective. Well done!