Calls for cheaper rail tickets between Gloucester and Lydney

There are calls for cheaper rail journeys between Gloucester and Lydney^[1]. The cost of an adult return day ticket from the city to the Forest of Dean market town currently costs £11.60 while one to Chepstow is £13.20.

There are no off-peak concessions between the two stations and Forest of Dean District Council^[2] chiefs want answers from Transport for Wales and CrossCountry. Councillor Alan Preest (C, Lydney East) and put forward a motion at Wednesday's (August 2) meeting to ask the Welsh Government about the rail company’s pricing structure for the Chepstow-Lydney-Gloucester journeys.

He also said the pricing seems unfair when compared to other journeys similar journeys elsewhere in the country. “Lydney to Gloucester is a journey of 21 minutes on average with a cost of £11.60 for a day return fare. I quickly and randomly searched for similar journeys.

“Gloucester to Yate, 24 minutes - £8.90 return. Hereford to Ledbury, 16 minutes - £4.20 return. Lydney to Newport around, 35 minutes - £9.70 return. Penzance to Camborne, 26 minutes - £7.00 return. Preston to Blackpool, 24 minutes £8.10 return.

"As you can see those travelling from Lydney^[4] certainly to Gloucester appear to be paying a disproportionately higher day return fare. The benefits of travelling by train are there for all to see. It takes 21 minutes compared to 55 minutes on an average by bus journey.”

The council will ask rail transport bosses to consider an overall fare reduction. But councillors, at the very least, want the creation of a more realistic off-peak day return fare.

“Travelling by train is more than a journey, it is and should be the ready-made solution to make our roads quieter and safer and improve the air quality,” Cllr Preest^[5] said in his motion.

“Rail is an environmentally friendly way to travel and plays a critical role in helping to tackle climate change." Councillor Jackie Dale (G, Pillowell) also suggested writing to CrossCountry who also operate that line

And Cllr Preest said he was happy to take that issue up with Transport Secretary and Forest MP Mark Harper. Councillor James Bevan^[6] (I, Lydney East), who has worked in public transport for more than 50 years, said everyone wants a service as good as Transport for London’s.

“You ain’t gonna get it. It’s a dream, it is," he said. The council voted unanimously to support the motion.

References

1. ^{^} Lydney (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
2. ^{^} Forest of Dean District Council (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Listen to Alan Titchmarsh and drop rewilding, council told, as complaints rise over 'messy' car park (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
4. ^{^} Lydney (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
5. ^{^} Cllr Preest (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
6. ^{^} James Bevan (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)