[quote="captain cab"]
Bristol Temple Meads: 'Bear with' crowded conditions, says Network RailNetwork Rail has asked Bristol’s train commuters to “bear with” the cramped conditions at Temple Meads while facilities at the station are updated.
After a row with taxi drivers earlier this week, Network Rail said the station was on a slow and steady journey to redevelopment.
Taxi drivers at Temple Meads went on strike on Monday over what they claimed was a threat to their livelihoods.
Cabbies feared Network Rail would take away their permits to pick up passengers at the station, after it emerged the huge numbers of taxis were causing chaos on the forecourt. A Network Rail spokesman said some drivers had been using the short-stay car park as a rank to wait for fares, and were making it hard for passengers using the railway to use it to drop off or pick up friends and family. This is in breach of the terms of their permits.
He said: “A small number of the drivers staged a protest at the start of the week which caused some delays to passengers using the station. We are sorry this situation has developed in the way it has but want to assure passengers using Temple Meads that they remain our number one priority.
“We will continue to talk to the drivers about resolving the legitimate concerns they have about the space set aside for their cabs and have already taken a number of steps to improve the situation, including putting a stop on any new permits being issued to create more space in the taxi rank.
“Our aim is always to offer the best possible service to our passengers, which in this instance means ensuring that the parking bays are available exclusively for their use.
“More widely, our investment in this part of the rail network will mean significant improvements for commuters and the growing city of Bristol.
"Looking to the future, we have an aspiration with Bristol City Council and our other partners to redevelop the station and its surrounding area to improve its facilities and contribute towards economic growth in the city by transforming it into a place where businesses can grow and thrive.
"All of this investment means it is an exciting time for Bristol and for Temple Meads and a dispute over spaces for our taxi drivers should not be allowed to detract from that. To those who use the station every day I would ask that you bear with the sometimes crowded surroundings.”
Improvements lined up
Work is currently ongoing to double the number of railway lines between the city’s two main stations, which started this month. It will enable more services to run between Temple Meads and Parkway, and reduce journey times.
The arrival of electrification by 2017 will also introduce a new fleet of longer, faster, quieter and greener electric trains, designed to improve travelling experiences, and bring the time taken to travel to London down to below an hour and a half.
When electric trains arrive, Temple Meads station will also be partially redesigned. Many are hoping this will result in more room for traffic and public transport.http://www.southwestbusiness.co.uk/news ... work-rail/[/quo
No doubt the cab Trade have ensured negotiations on every aspect of these plan are taking place, and threatend to withdraw all coverage if their demands are NOT fully met, they will never be in a stronger negotiating position ...................ffs make it count

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