We are on a roll!

So, the victory in getting a consultation event held in Bedford proved to be a very real victory. The Department for Transport hired a 200-seat room for it (instead of their normal 50). And we MORE THAN filled it. Standing room only. One of the DfT officials said that after dozens of such meetings he had never before been to such a well-attended meeting. Massive, massive thanks to everybody who turned up, and for all the well informed comments. I think we have left the officials in the Department for Transport with no doubt that the issues we are raising need to be taken seriously, and they saw that sometimes ‘broadly the same’ is just not enough information. They heard the reality of the effect on people’s lives of making changes that will require people to change trains, or have journeys that are “only” a few minutes longer. Now is the time for the 6,500 of us (another milestone passed today!) to start to convert those stories of impacts on our lives into consultation responses. You will find some suggested responses, including useful responses to some of the questions you might find a bit obscure, at https://www.facebook.com/EastMidsRailCampaign/posts/154161485174270 (you DON'T need to be on -or sign up to- facebook to see it). Please re-phrase them in your own words, adding in your own situation and experiences. Individual responses are vastly more effective than petition signatures or mass-produced responses. Meanwhile, consultation events continue. If you can get to Sheffield for the consultation event tomorrow (11am to 1pm, Sheffield Town Hall, Pinstone Street, S1 2HH) please do. They need to hear that not everybody in Sheffield has bought their claims of a ‘faster service’ operated by as-yet-uninvented super-fast bi-mode trains. Equally, if you can make it to Wellingborough for the last consultation event, (next Monday, 2nd Oct, 6pm to 8pm, Wrenn Academy, Mountbatten Hall), please make use of that last opportunity to let them know face-to-face what impact their proposals will make on real people’s lives. If you can make the Sheffield one, please email ben.foley@greenparty.org.uk for more information. If you can make the Wellingborough one, and are on facebook, please look at www.facebook.com/events/140431043237396/ for updates (if you are not on facebook, again, , please email ben.foley@greenparty.org.uk). I have no doubt that we are making the Department for Transport have a careful think about their plans. If we can keep going with the campaign, we can make sure they reach more sensible conclusions.