Message of hope for city

WHAT a breath of fresh air to read the “25 years of friendship” letter in the Bristol Post.

Covid-19 has shown the Severn Beach train line as a practical form of transport for walkers as well as being the fastest, the least polluting and least damaging transport.

Have Extinction Rebellion Youth Bristol, in the same issue as ‘25 years of friendship’, added trains and buses to their agenda?

For the past 25 years Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) have lobbied for a 30-minute frequency to the 25 stations in Bristol’s travel to work area. Only passengers between London and Paddington have that luxury.

I have the luxury of living near a station on the Severn Beach Line.

With friends, or in groups of six, walking from local stations using routes designed by John Beales, a walk leader with Bristol Amblers for many years, has kept me Covid19 resistant.

Earlier this week I walked from Sea Mills Station to Clifton Down Station with my son who took wonderful photos of the River Avon plus many improvements. There are now steps, for those who survive crossing the Portway, to walk under the railway and onto Bishop Knoll.

Spirit of Sustrans, John Grimshaw, flagged this up in his Missing Links talk to Bristol Ramblers AGM some years ago.

Twenty-five years ago, Alex Gordon, RMT guard on the Severn Beach line in 1995 and RMT President later, suggested that Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways take the train off peak to raise revenue. This suggestion set FOSBR off on the walking route.

Strangely only Bristol Ramblers responded with organised walks from local stations.

There’s more to celebrate. Happy birthday 180 years Bristol Temple Meads celebrations by Network Rail include the newly decorated ladies’ lavatories.

They are free, clean and open for many hours. Network Rail sends a message of hope for Bristol.

Julie Boston

Bristol