Council Seeks Views Of Severn Tunnel Junction Rail Users

Monmouthshire County Council and the Severn Tunnel Action Group are seeking the opinions of rail passengers using the Severn Tunnel Junction station with a view to improving access, parking, safe walking, cycling and other provision. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Questionnaires will be available at Severn Tunnel Junction from Thursday 14th April, or online at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SevernTunnelJunctionstation with a closing date of Monday 16th May. The questions will also be aimed at travellers from Lydney, Chepstow and Caldicot who interchange at Severn Tunnel Junction. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The survey is to be carried out following a number of developments over recent years. Passenger growth from Severn Tunnel Junction has more than doubled over the past ten years and currently over 250 cars park at or near the station every day. Previous research suggests passengers come from as far away as Cardiff, Ross-on-Wye, and the Forest of Dean ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over £12 million has been spent on the station within the last six years and a new ticket office with public toilets is being constructed on the site as well as a footbridge with ramps to meet the requirements of disability legislation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Both the Welsh Government and Monmouthshire County Council agree that Severn Tunnel Junction has the potential to become a key parkway station with its proximity to the M4 and M48. Plans exist for further park-and-ride spaces. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Meanwhile, electrification of the line and the introduction of trains with more carriages could result in changes to the current rail service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

County Councillor David Dovey, Chairman of the council’s Strategic Transport Group said: “Severn Tunnel Junction is a hugely important element of the rail transport service for Severnside, South East Monmouthshire, Wales and cross border journeys and so we are keen to receive the views of rail users to improve the service the station provides. Please fill in the questionnaire and return it by 16th May so we may better understand your needs.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

From September 12th to October 21st the Severn Tunnel will be closed to all rail traffic to Bristol and London as part of Network Rail’s Paddington to Swansea rail electrification process. A bus replacement service is planned and responses to the questionnaire may help achieve practical solutions. In addition, from early October, Rogiet’s Station Road bridge – which crosses the tracks at Severn Tunnel Junction – will be closed to all traffic for about six months, including to pedestrians. This will deny access to the overspill parking currently enjoyed by up to eighty vehicles. The county council has indicated that it wishes to work with other agencies to minimise any problems that may arise. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​