Fears that key planks of metro could be derailed

PARTS of Bristol's eagerly anticipated metro rail network may be in doubt, according to transport campaigners.

Large parts of the service, mapped out in the City Deal from central government, are not included in the latest rail franchise documents.

The franchise documents spell out the commitments that next year's new franchisee will have to deliver when they take on a contract which runs until 2028.

But the 164-page plan has no details of some new lines and new stations which make up "phase two" of the improvements, say the Greater Bristol Transport Alliance, South West Transport Network and Friends of Suburban Railway.

The West of England Partnership (WoEP), which lobbied the Department for Transport (DfT) to include phase two in the documents, said that they were surprised to see that it had been omitted.

The group also said it now lay in the hands of the preferred bidder whether the improvements were implemented or not.

The DfT told the Post that the WoEP had the option to add the improvements in later.

As reported in the Post last month, new funds released to the city from central government promised Bristol new lines to Portishead and Henbury with stations set to re-open or be built at Ashton Gate, Horfield, Ashley Hill, Saltford and Henbury.

But the franchise documents released on July 27 only specify phase one of the improvements, which includes trains to Portishead, increased frequency to Severn Beach, new stations at Portishead and Pill and the potential for a new station at Ashton Gate.

Dave Redgewell from the South West Transport Alliance told the Post that Bristol "deserved more".

He said: "After years of hard work campaigning we were promised a metro system in Bristol. But what's being delivered under the latest franchise is not what Bristol has been asking for. They are pulling the wool over our eyes."

Mr Redgewell, along with members of the Greater Bristol Transport Alliance and Friends of Suburban Railway, have sent letters to MPs in Bristol to pressure transport authorities to deliver the promised improvements.

They have also arranged a meeting with Bristol City Council tonight to help get to the bottom of the omissions.

The DfT, which drew up the franchise documents, told the Post that the additional phase two improvements were the responsibility of the West of England Partnership due to the "decentralisation" of transport powers.

Darryl Lloyd, a spokesman for the DfT, said: "The funding is subject to the West of England Partnership fulfilling agreements outlined in the Bristol City Region City Deal document."

He added that the partnership may implement services later using a "change mechanism".

Julia Dean, a spokeswoman at the partnership said: "We are surprised it [phase two] is not in there [the franchise document]. But we are really pleased with what we have got with phase one."

She added: "The problem with phase two is that it is dependent on phase one. Once we have phase one in place we can move forward with more certainty."

However she also said that this would be up to the franchisee. She said: "Everything beyond what is in the contract is up to them."

adjustable memory foam bed