Yate train services - it could get worse before it gets better...

A mixed meeting this afternoon with the new Managing Director of First Great Western. I highlighted the very poor service on the Yate-Bristol route, with too many overcrowded trains, carriages not turning up and lack of information when things go wrong.

In the medium term, there is a hope of improvement. A few new carriages have so far been allocated to the West of England, but a bidding process is currently going on involving First Great Western which should hopefully mean quite a few more carriages - but they probably wouldn't be in service for the best part of two years. Likewise, the idea of a 'turnback' at Yate, which could mean more frequent services is being considered, but isn't currently included in Network Rail's five year priorities document that has just been produced.

In the short term, the company was keen to stress that the newly opened Bristol maintenance depot had led to a big improvement in reliability, which is welcome. But some of the carriages currently being used on the route are on loan from Wales, and the Welsh Assembly Government can ask for them back with just 3 months' notice....

It looks like no short-term respite for Yate commuters, so the fight goes on.