More Seats For Popular Train Route Through Yate

It is great to see that there are plans to introduce

more seats on the popular Bristol to London train line that goes through Yate.

Under the plans announced by

transport minister Theresa Villiers, First Great Western will be adding 48

extra carriages to morning and evening peak services creating several hundred

additional seats on the Bristol to London line through Yate has been welcomed

in the town.

The extra carriages will be made

available from the summer next year and will lead to 588 seats on morning peak

hour services between Bristol and London and a further 336 on evening peak

services out of Paddington.

I for one use this service on a

regular basis and the  incease in seats

will make the journey much easier.

Thornbury and Yate MP Steve Webb, who

has long campaigned for extra seats on trains in and out of Yate, welcomed the

announcement.

Mr Webb, himself a regular commuter

on the Great Western mainline, said: "Rail passengers will very much

welcome this investment in extra carriages for peak hour First Great Western

services. "Like many people, I regularly travel on peak-hour services

which are standing-room only. These extra carriages will help more people to

travel in comfort and are a further boost following the news of extra carriages

for suburban services from Yate. "Coming on top of the confirmation of

plans to electrify the Great Western mainline, this news is further evidence of

the government's commitment to invest in our public transport

infrastructure."

First Great Western said the

improvements would cost £29million. Managing director Mark Hopwood said:

"We've seen an ever increasing demand for travel on our services. This

investment will deliver thousands of extra seats for customers across our

network."