Passenger numbers up at Redland, Clifton Down and Montpelier stations.

Passengers using trains from Redland, Clifton Down and Montpelier to get to Bristol Temple Meads has increased by more than 100,000 over the last year, according to the latest figures.

Yet the services remain pretty infrequent and I’d put money on the fact that this number would double, triple or quadruple if the rail operators actually planned a decent, reliable and more regular service.

Passenger numbers released by the Association of Train Operating Companies reveal the Severn Beach Line (from Avonmouth to Bristol Temple Meads) carried 673,000 passengers in 2009/10, compared with 575,673 2008/9 – one of the largest increases in the country.

Julian Crow, spokesman for train operator First Great Western, said: "We're pleased to see the number of passengers choosing to travel with us is growing significantly year on year.

"We do everything we can to make journeys as comfortable and relaxing as possible, and our performance and customer satisfaction is at an all time high. I hope this trend continues and we continue to welcome even more people on to our trains over the coming year."

Could’ve fooled me. I try my darndest to avoid travelling on train, especially FGW ones, due to the lack of seats, unreliability and sheer cost of it all. Why would I spend £1.50 travelling on a 15-20 minute train from Redland to Temple Meads (of which there are only two an hour) when I could walk it in half an hour or so, or, if laden down with bags, hop on the number 8 or 9 bus which comes every 10 minutes or so?

And it looks like I’m not the only one who agrees more could be done to improve this convenient train link.

Dave Redgewell, of the Campaign for Better Transport, said that although the increase in passengers was "fantastic", there needed to be continued investment in the service.

He said: "This increase has happened as a result of funding from Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council. If that funding is no longer forthcoming, these figures won't continue to rise."

Improvements include installing ticket machines at Redland, Clifton Down and Montpelier stations but passengers would still like to see CCTV and more security measures.

Ending on a positive note, he added: "The figures are fantastic and it shows how partnerships can work between local authorities and First Group. We need to make sure this partnership continues and need to make sure funding is forthcoming in the future.

"If we keep improving, we can get people out of their cars and on to public transport."