FIVE thousand into one won't go ... and the result is a traffic snarl-up to match the best in Britain as Foresters endure the daily trek to work in Gloucester and Cheltenham.

The queue grinding its way to Gloucester's Westgate often goes back miles – frequently to Minsterworth on the A48 and Churcham on the A40.

And this week it brought a renewed call for alternative methods to beat the blockade with one idea to press strongly for Newnham's railway station to be rebuilt and reopened.

"There should be a constructive campaign to put pressure on the powers-that-be to re-open the railway station at Newnham especially as passenger trains to Gloucester run on this line every day," says Georina Keddle, of Coronation Cottages, High Street, Newnham.

"I feel that it is time to attempt to take some action against the increasing amount of traffic on the A48.

"I usually start the very slow crawl at Chaxhill School and, if lucky, between Minsterworth School and The Apple Tree at Minsterworth. It doesn't appear to make any difference what time I leave my house – I've left at varying times between 8am and 9am – I still on average get to work at around 9.20 – 9.30am," she says.

Mrs Keddle says the exception is during school holidays when the journey can be completed at an appropriate speed.

"This term has been the worst I have known during the six years I have been travelling at this time of day. I'm wondering if this may be due to the newly opened University of Gloucestershire?

"Not only is this journey frustrating it concerns me that the pollution levels must be greatly increased also."

Calling for consideration to be given to reopening Newnham station, Mrs Keddle said that around 1990 she helped with a Shire Hall survey which revealed a "good response" from Newnham residents in favour of the station being reopened. However at that time it was decided the costs were too high to meet the requirments.

Mrs Keddle asks: "Are there other concerned and frustrated commuters out there – this could also include bus travellers – also stuck in these horrendous queues?"

•The peak traffic flow into Gloucester is 2,500 vehicles an hour at Over in the morning rush.

The 24 hour traffic flows are: west of Huntley 2,000; Highnam 6,400 and Over 20,400.