Meeting Focuses on Future of Rail Services Around Chepstow
.jpg)
The future of rail services between Newport and Gloucestershire was top of the agenda at a meeting of South East Wales representatives on Monday 6th February.
A meeting of the Severn Tunnel Action Group saw politicians and representatives of councils and other organisations in Newport, Monmouthshire and the Forest of Dean come together to discuss the future of the Wales and Borders rail franchise.
The service is currently run by Arriva Trains Wales, but the franchise is due to end next year. The new operator is to be handed a 15-year contract, which will include responsibility for the South Wales Metro.
Among attendees at the meeting was Newport East MP Jessica Morden, who said she was calling for a more “joined-up” approach to the line between Newport and Cheltenham.
“We discussed the need for continued improvements at Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicot and Lydney stations, and the potential of a new station for Magor as part of the forthcoming Metro system,” she said afterwards.
“A key theme that emerged from discussions was the need to ensure that smaller stations don’t fall between the cracks in the midst of larger projects like electrification of the south Wales main line and the development of the Metro.”
She added the group was also calling for the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales to increase the number of services between Chepstow and Cardiff, as well as the need for more freight providers between Newport and the Forest of Dean.