Carno Station Campaign Rejuvenated

Carno Station Action Group

PRESS RELEASE

CARNO STATION CAMPAIGN REJUVENATED

Over 60 Carno residents attended a lively public meeting in Carno on Wednesday April 4th and expressed firm support for the developing campaign to re-open Carno station.

After opening remarks by Alan Humphreys, Clerk to the Community Council, the chairman of the action group, Tony Burton, explained the unique opportunity to eliminate the Talerddig passing loop presented by the planned introduction of an hourly service on the line. All trains currently stop at this remote spot to pass each other, but the Network Rail feasibility study had shown that moving the passing loop to Carno would have negligible cost implications, as it would save 2 miles of new double track near Welshpool, where trains would also have to pass. Moving the loop to Carno would enable trains to serve a new station there without any time penalty to the tightly timed service.

The second speaker was Cllr Gwilym Evans, Chairman of TraCC, Trafnidiaeth Canolbarth Cymru, the recently formed Mid Wales Transport Consortium. Cllr Evans began by explaining TraCC’s role in planning highway and public transport development in Ceredigion, Gwynedd and Powys and described the work they had already done in setting up regular two-hourly bus services on the Brecon – Newtown and Shrewsbury – Llanidloes routes, which interconnect at Newtown. He set out TraCC’s aspirations for the hourly service on the Cambrian line and for improved connections between train and bus services – all of which would help to reduce road traffic growth.

Focussing on Carno station, he said he had been impressed by the strength of the Case for Re-opening submitted by the action group, and confirmed that TraCC will press for Carno’s case to be considered by the Welsh Assembly Government. He added that TraCC backed the repositioning of the existing Talerddig passing loop at Carno.

Mick Bates AM, the third speaker, started by looking at sustainability in relation to transport. The re-opening of Carno station would contribute to sustainability by helping to reduce traffic congestion and reducing CO2 emissions while promoting the local economy. He explained that the next few months were crucial in the campaign, because the Welsh Assembly Government would take a decision on the infrastructure for the hourly service in July or August. He recommended the action group act without delay to

  • send a large petition to the Minister,
  • write to all AM’s in Wales and
  • set up a website

Then the group should send a delegation in May or June to press Carno’s case with the WAG Rail Team in Cardiff.

The meeting ended with a general discussion and a resolution to step up the campaign forthwith.

 

Ends.
Released April 6th, 2007