Call to use Chepstow's new rail services (From South Wales Argus)

Call to use Chepstow's new rail services

10:29pm Monday 7th March 2011 in Gwent news By Melissa Jones

BUSINESS people in Chepstow are being encouraged to support a number of measures designed to make its increased train services a permanent fixture.

From May 24, 14 more Cross Country trains will stop at the station, after the company announced a trial of the new timetable to reveal customer demand for a more frequent service.

The news came following a five year campaign by Better Trains 4 Chepstow.

Jim Jenkins, from the group, asked locals at a recent Chepstow Chamber of Commerce meeting to make the most of this opportunity.

He said unless the services are used, they may be withdrawn after a year.

Plans for BT4C include working with Monmouthshire council to target walkers from the Midlands, as they are said to regularly visit the town.

The group has drafted timetables, to show how trains connect to those of First Great Western and Arriva Trains Wales.

They also support an inclusion in local tourist guides showing public transport routes.

Other possibilities include involving schools and Chepstow Racecourse, which already run a bus service from the station on race days.

Cllr Jacqui Sullivan, who hopes to put up a banner about the services through Chepstow Marketing, said the town needs to make it a success.

She said: "What we need to do is make sure people use the service as it is only a trial, so when Cross Country look at it they see it's needed."

"We need to work in partnership with organisations."

The new service proposes trains on Mondays to Saturdays will increase to ten in each direction at Chepstow and six at Lydney.

In turn, the trains will offer new opportunities to travel north to Gloucester, Cheltenham and Birmingham and south to Newport and Cardiff.