MP warns: No new train carriages for Bristol area until 2016

Weston-super-Mare MP John Penrose has warned that the Greater Bristol area may not have any new train carriages until 2016.

As reported in the Evening Post yesterday, First Great Western has lost out on 30 second-hand carriages from London to two transport authorities up north.

The rail company's long lease on 24 carriages on loan from another authority is due to run out in June, and the recent announcement that electrification is on its way to the area means 44 expected diesel vehicles won't be coming either.

MP John Penrose has written to Rail Minister Lord Adonis demanding to know how the Government will fulfil its capacity targets to 2014 now that it won't provide the region with the carriages it needs.

He said: "This is a double blow for rail users. The new carriages would have improved the service significantly, giving the area's hard-pressed commuters an alternative to using their cars.

"But the Government's plans for electrification mean that these have now been cancelled and the area might not be getting any new carriages until 2016.

"Worse, the Government's gone quiet on whether they're going to renew the leases on the current carriages we're using.

"If they let them lapse, it could mean further over-crowding or even a cut in the number of trains passing through Weston and Worle.

"We've been working extremely hard to increase the frequency and capacity of services to Weston and Worle because it's vital that we provide commuters and tourists an alternative to the chaos at Junction 21.

"Over the last few years we've succeeded in increasing both the number and length of trains stopping locally, but all these improvements could now be under threat."

First Great Western has stressed that the announcement the London carriages are going elsewhere only means it won't be receiving those specific vehicles, and hopes to still be provided with others by the Department for Transport.

Spokesman Dan Panes said: "There are a number of Class 150s across the country that would be suitable, and would be allocated by the rolling stock leasing companies, so it's difficult to say where they might come from."