Local MP Luke Hall has hailed a ‘monumental moment for Yate’, with confirmation being given that, after many years of promises, half-hourly trains to Bristol will finally be starting from May 22nd, with the first train on the new timetable departing at 06:31.
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.
Delivering more frequent trains between Bristol and Yate station is something which Luke Hall has campaigned for ever since he was first elected as the local MP.
Earlier this year he held a debate in Parliament, arguing the case that the current 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 2 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.
Luke took the opportunity of this latest announcement to show the Transport Secretary around Yate Railway Station and highlight the range of benefits which enhanced services will bring.
Improving the viability of rail as a means of travel for will improve congestion in the local area by taking cars off the roads and reduce carbon emissions, helping us to meet our net-zero targets. 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.
The news is the latest development in the local MP’s Positive Plan to improve local Transport infrastructure, with recent successes 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, the Mark Harper commented, “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 added “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. Introducing half-hourly services is just the latest step in our Positive Plan for Transport in South Gloucestershire.”
