THE CONFIRMATION that half-hourly trains will go from Yate to Bristol has been hailed as a 'monumental moment' for the town by its MP.
On Tuesday, the Government’s Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper, visited Yate, to see for himself the benefits which the upgraded service will bring to the local community.
The first train on the new timetable will depart at 6.31am on Monday, May 22.
Delivering more frequent trains between Bristol and Yate station is something which Yate MP Luke Hall has campaigned for ever since he was first elected.
Earlier this year he held a debate in Parliament, arguing the case that the current hourly services are not frequent enough to be a viable option for many people, and that overcrowding on the Bristol-Yate services is a real problem.
These trains are only two carriages long, and at peak times are often already full, with people living in Yate, Chipping Sodbury, and many of the surrounding towns restricted from accessing this vital service.
As Yate continues to grow, with more residents in the community, and more cars on the roads, access to regular and reliable public transport links is increasingly essential, argued the MP.
This announcement is latest development in the MP’s Positive Plan to improve local Transport infrastructure, with other initiatives including the opening of the new Yate Park and Ride, scrapping the Severn Bridge Tolls, reinstating bus services to Southmead hospital, and re-opening the Right-hand turn from Heron Way onto Kennedy Way.
Speaking at Yate Station, Mr Harper said: “I am delighted that half-hourly services from Yate to Bristol and Gloucester are finally about to start.
"I know that Luke Hall and local campaigners have been working towards this for many years, and supported by Government investment, we have together made this a reality”
Luke Hall said: “This is a good day for commuters in Yate, Chipping Sodbury and the surrounding towns and villages.
"Half hourly train services to Bristol and Gloucester will make train travel a more viable option for many in our community.
"This will help to cut journey times, take more cars off the road and reduce emissions."
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