PROTESTERS were heading to London today as part of a fight to save a Hampshire bus service.
Downing Street, the headquarters of South West Trains and the offices of Hampshire County Council will face a wave of protest from angry passengers and bus users fighting to keep the Romsey to Winchester rail link service, which is due to be axed at the beginning of December.
Campaigners are delivering a petition signed by thousands of residents together with a list of destinations to show transport chiefs how much they value the integrated public transport system.
Since the decision to axe the 11-year-old service was announced campaigners have collected signatures and held protests in Romsey and Winchester to gather support.
Campaigner Nadine Taylor said: "We are in the middle of a vigorous and dynamic campaign with four weeks to go and everything to play for."
Following a public meeting with transport bosses and local politicians South West Trains agreed to fund additional morning and evening bus services on an existing bus timetable until July next year to see if a train commuter service would be viable.
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The company say not enough rail passengers are using the bus to get on to the mainline train service but protesters have questioned the transport chiefs' information gathering. Hampshire County Council says it will independently monitor the extra bus services to see if they would be profitable.
Despite forming a working party with transport bosses to help find a way to promote and boost the value of the bus route until next summer, campaigners say they will continue their protests against axing the route, which also serves communities in Ampfield, Hursley and Woodley.
South West Trains say the rail-link currently loses the company nearly £100,000 a year and that with more rail journeys planned between Romsey and Southampton Central stations commuters will be accommodated.
Posted by: Hiram Hackenbacker, Tracey Island on 11:32am Thu 22 Nov 07
The trouble with this action group (aside from the fact that don't understand that the service needs passengers to survive) is that their figurehead is not well liked in Downing Street. Remember the present Prime Minister did get hit with purple flour in May 2004.
The trouble with this action group (aside from the fact that don't understand that the service needs passengers to survive) is that their figurehead is not well liked in Downing Street. Remember the present Prime Minister did get hit with purple flour in May 2004.
Posted by: keith, test valley home of the MIGHTY SANDRA GIDLEY on 2:20pm Thu 22 Nov 07
Last report states that they are still driving round and round, they didn't realise that there's no vehicular access to downing street,exept for emergency vehicles. Anybody got any blues and twos that will fit a bus?
Last report states that they are still driving round and round, they didn't realise that there's no vehicular access to downing street,exept for emergency vehicles. Anybody got any blues and twos that will fit a bus?
[quote][bold]Hiram Hackenbacker[/bold] wrote:
The trouble with this action group (aside from the fact that don't understand that the service needs passengers to survive) is that their figurehead is not well liked in Downing Street. Remember the present Prime Minister did get hit with purple flour in May 2004. [/quote] Whats that got to do with this canmpaign. This is about local public transport being axed, and i understand they trip to Downing Street went ahead without any problems and the petition was handed in so good for them all for taking on bully boy companies like SWT.
Hiram Hackenbacker wrote:
The trouble with this action group (aside from the fact that don't understand that the service needs passengers to survive) is that their figurehead is not well liked in Downing Street. Remember the present Prime Minister did get hit with purple flour in May 2004.
Whats that got to do with this canmpaign. This is about local public transport being axed, and i understand they trip to Downing Street went ahead without any problems and the petition was handed in so good for them all for taking on bully boy companies like SWT.
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