Gateway To The Future

[whole diary]

[Lee]

Regular visitors to this site will be aware that some of us have been involved in working up proposals for the kind of service that we would like to see in the future. Our proposals call for the creation of a Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Authority and for the following to be delivered :

LINE UPGRADES

- Upgrade of the Henbury and Portishead lines to passenger standard , along with the Pilning goods loop. This upgrade would include the provision of two short double - track sections on the Portishead line , in the Ashton Gate & Pill areas , as proposed by Andrew Griffiths of First Great Western. This would allow 2 freight and 4 passenger trains to run on the line per hour.

- Yate - Weston - super - Mare capacity enhancement (link below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=465.msg1507#msg1507

- Proposed new platforms at the current Bristol Parkway station to be built.

Also , our proposed Melksham line timetable (see posts below) has been designed to allow 1 freight and 2 passenger trains to run on the single - track per hour.

STATIONS

New stations at the following locations :

Ashley Hill
Ashton Gate
Charfield & Wotton
Corsham
Cullompton
Ham Green
Henbury
Horfield
Pill
Portbury
Portishead
Stonehouse London Road

"Gateway" upgrades at the following key existing station locations :

Bristol Parkway (to be renamed Bristol Gateway)

Melksham (to be renamed Melksham & West Wiltshire Gateway)

Pilning (to be renamed Pilning & Severn Gateway)

Severn Tunnel Junction (to be renamed South Wales Gateway)

Shirehampton (to be relocated next to the Portway Park & Ride site and renamed Shirehampton & Port Gateway)

Worle (to be renamed Worle & Somerset Gateway)

The "Gateway" concept has been designed to create the best possible "experience" for both existing and potential rail users. "Gateway" station upgrades would include (but not be restricted to) enhanced bus / rail interchange , extended car / cycle parking and vastly improved passenger waiting facilities. Also , research suggests that there is an enormous "pool" of potential rail users who could be converted into train passengers along the Bristol - Gloucester corridor. We propose that this line be designated as a "Gateway Route" with the stations along it (some of them "new - build") receiving facilities similiar to those mentioned above.

The choice of initial "Gateway" station upgrades has been made based on the existance of detailed proposals by the following :

Bristol Parkway , Pilning and Worle - Joe Patrick (Friends Of Suburban Bristol Railways)

Melksham - Graham Ellis (Melksham Rail Development Group / Save The Train)

Severn Tunnel Junction (Severn Tunnel Action Group)

Shirehampton - Andrew Griffiths & Keith Walton (First Great Western / Severnside Community Rail Partnership)

However , the "Gateway" concept is envisaged as being a rolling programme , with further station upgrades and route designations taking place in partnership with stakeholders. In particular , early extensions of the "Gateway" station upgrade concept are likely to be considered at Ashton Gate and Keynsham , subject to detailed proposals being drawn up.

[Lee]

Our last round of timetabling produced the following (links below.)
http://www.shinewithstyle.co.uk/literature/melksham%20new%202007%20timetable%20proposals.pdf

http://www.shinewithstyle.co.uk/literature/Suggested%20Portsmouth%20-%20Rhoose%20timetable.pdf

http://www.shinewithstyle.co.uk/literature/Suggested%20Weymouth%20-%20Severn%20Beach%20timetable.pdf

http://www.shinewithstyle.co.uk/literature/Draft%20Greater%20Bristol%20Metro%20Proposals.pdf

We wanted our proposals to be both feasible and to have as much public support as possible. Many people read and commented on the timetables , and also provided us with their own aspirations for the future. As a result , we have updated our timetable proposals as follows (timings are minutes past each hour) :

WEST - EAST / NORTH - SOUTH THROUGH BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) - Weston - super - Mare xx22 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx27 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx45 depart xx00 - Bath Spa arrive xx11 depart xx12 - Chippenham xx25 - Swindon arrive xx40 depart xx41 - Didcot Parkway xx55 - Reading xx14 - London Paddington xx45.

CCF - (the Midlands / North) - Birmingham New Street xx08 - University xx14 - Bromsgrove xx29 - Ashchurch for Tewkesbury xx47 - Cheltenham Spa xx56 - Gloucester arrive xx06 depart xx13 - Bristol Gateway xx45 - Filton Abbey Wood xx48 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx00 depart xx05 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx22 - Taunton xx40 - Tiverton Parkway xx52 - Exeter St Davids xx06 - (the West Country.)

STA - Bristol Gateway xx48 - Filton Abbey Wood xx51 - Horfield xx54 - Ashley Hill xx58 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx01 - Lawrence Hill xx03 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx05 depart xx10 - Bedminster xx13 - Parson Street xx15 - Nailsea & Backwell xx23 - Yatton xx29 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx35 - Weston Milton xx40 - Weston - super - Mare xx43 - Highbridge & Burnham xx53 - Bridgwater xx00 - Taunton xx12.

FGW - Cardiff Central xx15 - Newport xx29 - South Wales Gateway xx39 - Pilning & Severn Gateway xx51 - Patchway xx56 - Filton Abbey Wood xx03 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx10 depart xx15 - Bath Spa xx28 - Bradford - on - Avon xx41 - Trowbridge xx47 - Westbury arrive xx54 depart xx59 - Warminster xx06 - Salisbury arrive xx29 depart xx30 - Romsey xx49 - Southampton Central arrive xx01 depart xx02 - Fareham xx24 - Cosham xx32 - Fratton xx41 - Portsmouth & Southsea xx45 - Portsmouth Harbour xx49.

STA - Gloucester xx23 - Stonehouse London Road xx33 - Cam & Dursley xx38 - Charfield & Wotton xx45 - Yate xx53 - Bristol Gateway xx03 - Filton Abbey Wood xx06 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx11 - Lawrence Hill xx13 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx15 depart xx20 - Keynsham xx27 - Oldfield Park xx34 - Bath Spa xx37 - Freshford xx47 - Avoncliff xx50 - Bradford - on - Avon xx53 - Trowbridge xx59 - Westbury xx06 - Dilton Marsh xx09 - Warminster xx15 - Salisbury xx38.

FGW - London Paddington xx30 - Reading xx56 - Didcot Parkway xx11 - Swindon xx30 - Chippenham xx45 - Bath Spa xx01 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx15 depart xx20 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx38 - Highbridge & Burnham xx48 - Bridgwater xx55 - Taunton xx07 - Cullompton xx23 - Exeter St Davids xx33.

STA - Bristol Gateway xx35 - Henbury xx43 - St Andrews Road xx51 - Avonmouth arrive xx54 depart xx55 - Shirehampton & Port Gateway xx58 - Sea Mills xx02 - Clifton Down xx08 - Redland xx10 - Montpelier xx12 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx16 - Lawrence Hill xx18 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx20 depart xx25 - Bedminster xx28 - Parson Street xx30 - Ashton Gate xx32 - Ham Green xx38 - Pill xx40 - Portbury xx42 - Portishead xx46.

FGW - Exeter St Davids xx10 - Cullompton xx20 - Taunton xx38 - Bridgwater xx50 - Highbridge & Burnham xx57 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx07 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx25 depart xx30 - Bath Spa arrive xx41 depart xx42 - Chippenham xx55 - Swindon arrive xx10 depart xx11 - Didcot Parkway xx25 - Reading xx44 - London Paddington xx15.

CCF - (the Midlands / North) - Birmingham New Street xx38 - University xx44 - Bromsgrove xx59 - Ashchurch for Tewkesbury xx17 - Cheltenham Spa xx26 - Gloucester arrive xx36 depart xx43 - Bristol Gateway xx15 - Filton Abbey Wood xx18 - Bristol Temple Meads xx30.

STA - Bristol Gateway xx18 - Filton Abbey Wood xx21 - Horfield xx24 - Ashley Hill xx28 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx31 - Lawrence Hill xx33 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx35 depart xx40 - Bedminster xx43 - Parson Street xx45 - Nailsea & Backwell xx53 - Yatton xx59 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx05 - Weston Milton xx10 - Weston - super - Mare xx13.

EWR - Portsmouth Harbour xx52 - Portsmouth & Southsea xx57 - Fratton xx01 - Cosham xx09 - Fareham xx17 - Southampton Central arrive xx38 depart xx40 - Romsey xx51 - Salisbury arrive xx10 depart xx11 - Warminster xx31 - Westbury arrive xx37 depart xx40 - Trowbridge xx46 - Melksham & West Wiltshire Gateway xx55 - Chippenham xx06 then attaching to :

EWR - Cardiff Central xx45 - Newport xx59 - South Wales Gateway xx09 - Pilning & Severn Gateway xx21 - Patchway xx26 - Filton Abbey Wood xx33 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx40 depart xx45 - Bath Spa xx58 - Corsham xx04 - Chippenham xx11. Combined train continues to Swindon arrive xx30 depart xx31 - Didcot Parkway arrive xx53 depart xx56 - Oxford arrive xx09 depart xx11 - Islip xx24 - Bicester Town xx37 - (East West Rail destinations.)

FGW - London Paddington xx00 - Reading xx26 - Didcot Parkway xx41 - Swindon xx00 - Chippenham xx15 - Bath Spa xx31 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx45 depart xx50 - Worle & Somerset Gateway arrive xx08 depart xx12 - Weston - super - Mare xx17.

FGW - Gloucester xx53 - Stonehouse London Road xx03 - Cam & Dursley xx08 - Charfield & Wotton xx15 - Yate xx23 - Bristol Gateway xx33 - Filton Abbey Wood xx36 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx41 - Lawrence Hill xx43 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx45 depart xx50 - Keynsham xx57 - Oldfield Park xx04 - Bath Spa xx07 - Freshford xx17 - Avoncliff xx20 - Bradford - on - Avon xx23 - Trowbridge xx29 - Westbury xx36 - Frome xx47 - Bruton xx57 - Castle Cary xx02 - Yeovil Pen Mill xx14 - Thornford xx18 - Yetminster xx21 - Chetnole xx25 - Maiden Newton xx34 - Dorchester West xx44 - Upwey xx51 - Weymouth xx57.

STA - Bristol Gateway xx05 - Henbury xx13 - St Andrews Road xx21 - Avonmouth arrive xx24 depart xx25 - Shirehampton & Port Gateway xx28 - Sea Mills xx32 - Clifton Down xx38 - Redland xx40 - Montpelier xx42 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx46 - Lawrence Hill xx48 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx50 depart xx55 - Bedminster xx58 - Parson Street xx00 - Ashton Gate xx02 - Ham Green xx08 - Pill xx10 - Portbury xx12 - Portishead xx16.

EAST - WEST / SOUTH - NORTH THROUGH BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS

FGW - Weston - super - Mare xx22 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx27 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx45 depart xx00 - Bath Spa arrive xx11 depart xx12 - Chippenham xx25 - Swindon arrive xx40 depart xx41 - Didcot Parkway xx55 - Reading xx14 - London Paddington xx45.

CCF - (the West Country) -  Exeter St Davids xx52 - Tiverton Parkway xx06 - Taunton xx20 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx37 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx55 depart xx00 - Filton Abbey Wood xx07 - Bristol Gateway xx11 - Gloucester arrive xx43 depart xx46 - Cheltenham Spa xx56 - Ashchurch for Tewkesbury xx04 - Bromsgrove xx22 - University xx38 - Birmingham New Street xx45 - (the Midlands / North.)

FGW - Portsmouth Harbour xx22 - Portsmouth & Southsea xx27 - Fratton xx31 - Cosham xx39 - Fareham xx47 - Southampton Central arrive xx08 depart xx10 - Romsey xx21 - Salisbury arrive xx40 depart xx41 - Warminster xx01 - Westbury arrive xx07 depart xx15 - Trowbridge xx21 - Bradford - on Avon xx27 - Bath Spa arrive xx42 depart xx47 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx00 depart xx05 - Filton Abbey Wood xx12 - Patchway xx19 - Pilning & Severn Gateway xx24 - South Wales Gateway xx34 - Newport xx44 - Cardiff Central xx58.

STA - Weston - super - Mare xx31 - Weston Milton xx34 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx39 - Yatton xx44 - Nailsea & Backwell xx50 - Parson Street xx00 - Bedminster xx02 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx05 - depart xx10 - Lawrence Hill xx13 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx15 - Ashley Hill xx18 - Horfield xx22 - Filton Abbey Wood arrive xx25 depart xx28 - Bristol Gateway xx32.

STA - Salisbury xx51 - Warminster xx11 - Dilton Marsh xx15 - Westbury arrive xx19 depart xx22 - Trowbridge xx28 - Bradford - on - Avon xx34 - Avoncliff xx36 - Freshford xx39 - Bath Spa xx53 - Oldfield Park xx56 - Keynsham xx03 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx10 depart xx15 - Lawrence Hill xx18 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx20 - Filton Abbey Wood xx25 - Bristol Gateway xx29 - Yate xx38 - Charfield & Wotton xx45 - Cam & Dursley xx52 - Stonehouse London Road xx58 - Gloucester xx10.

FGW - London Paddington xx30 - Reading xx56 - Didcot Parkway xx11 - Swindon xx30 - Chippenham xx45 - Bath Spa xx01 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx15 depart xx20 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx38 - Highbridge & Burnham xx48 - Bridgwater xx55 - Taunton xx07 - Cullompton xx23 - Exeter St Davids xx33.

STA - Portishead xx49 - Portbury xx53 - Pill xx55 - Ham Green xx57 - Ashton Gate arrive xx03 depart xx10 - Parson Street xx15 - Bedminster xx17 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx20 depart xx25 - Lawrence Hill xx28 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx30 - Montpelier xx33 - Redland xx35 - Clifton Down xx38 - Sea Mills xx42 - Shirehampton & Port Gateway xx46 - Avonmouth arrive xx49 depart xx54 - St Andrews Road xx56 - Henbury xx04 - Bristol Gateway xx12.

CCF - Bristol Temple Meads xx30 - Filton Abbey Wood xx37 - Bristol Gateway xx41 - Gloucester arrive xx13 depart xx16 - Cheltenham Spa xx26 - Ashchurch for Tewkesbury xx34 - Bromsgrove xx52 - University xx08 - Birmingham New Street xx15 - (the Midlands / North.)

FGW - Exeter St Davids xx10 - Cullompton xx20 - Taunton xx38 - Bridgwater xx50 - Highbridge & Burnham xx57 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx07 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx25 depart xx30 - Bath Spa arrive xx41 depart xx42 - Chippenham xx55 - Swindon arrive xx10 depart xx11 - Didcot Parkway xx25 - Reading xx44 - London Paddington xx15.

EWR - (East West Rail destinations) - Bicester Town xx42 - Islip xx54 - Oxford arrive xx08 depart xx09 - Didcot Parkway arrive xx20 depart xx23 - Swindon arrive xx45 depart xx46 - Chippenham xx01 then dividing as follows :

Corsham xx08 - Bath Spa xx13 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx30 depart xx35 - Filton Abbey Wood xx42 - Patchway xx49 - Pilning & Severn Gateway xx54 - South Wales Gateway xx04 - Newport xx14 - Cardiff Central xx28.

Chippenham depart xx06 - Melksham & West Wiltshire Gateway xx17 - Trowbridge xx26 - Westbury xx32 - Warminster xx39 - Salisbury xx00 - Romsey xx19 - Southampton Central arrive xx31 depart xx32 - Fareham xx54 - Cosham xx02 - Fratton xx11 - Portsmouth & Southsea xx15 - Portsmouth Harbour xx19.

STA - Taunton xx32 - Bridgwater xx44 - Highbridge & Burnham xx51 - Weston - super - Mare xx01 - Weston Milton xx04 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx09 - Yatton xx14 - Nailsea & Backwell xx20 - Parson Street xx30 - Bedminster xx32 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx35 - depart xx40 - Lawrence Hill xx43 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx45 - Ashley Hill xx48 - Horfield xx52 - Filton Abbey Wood arrive xx55 depart xx58 - Bristol Gateway xx02.

FGW - Weymouth xx30 - Upwey xx35 - Dorchester West xx44 - Maiden Newton xx55 - Chetnole xx03 - Yetminster xx06 - Thornford xx08 - Yeovil Pen Mill xx14 - Castle Cary xx26 - Bruton xx31 - Frome xx43 - Westbury xx52 - Trowbridge xx58 - Bradford - on - Avon xx04 - Avoncliff xx06 - Freshford xx09 - Bath Spa xx23 - Oldfield Park xx26 - Keynsham xx33 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx40 depart xx45 - Lawrence Hill xx48 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx50 - Filton Abbey Wood xx55 - Bristol Gateway xx59 - Yate xx08 - Charfield & Wotton xx15 - Cam & Dursley xx22 - Stonehouse London Road xx28 - Gloucester xx40.

FGW - London Paddington xx00 - Reading xx26 - Didcot Parkway xx41 - Swindon xx00 - Chippenham xx15 - Bath Spa xx31 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx45 depart xx50 - Worle & Somerset Gateway arrive xx08 depart xx12 - Weston - super - Mare xx17.

STA - Portishead xx19 - Portbury xx23 - Pill xx25 - Ham Green xx27 - Ashton Gate arrive xx33 depart xx40 - Parson Street xx45 - Bedminster xx47 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx50 depart xx55 - Lawrence Hill xx58 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx00 - Montpelier xx03 - Redland xx05 - Clifton Down xx08 - Sea Mills xx12 - Shirehampton & Port Gateway xx16 - Avonmouth arrive xx19 depart xx24 - St Andrews Road xx26 - Henbury xx34 - Bristol Gateway xx42.

OTHER SERVICES

FGW - London Paddington xx15 - Reading xx41 - Swindon xx10 - Bristol Gateway arrive xx37 depart xx39 - Newport xx02 - Cardiff Central arrive xx18 depart xx19 - Bridgend xx39 - Part Talbot Parkway xx52 - Neath xx59 - Swansea xx13.

FGW - London Paddington xx45 - Reading xx11 - Swindon xx40 - Bristol Gateway arrive xx07 depart xx09 - Newport xx32 - Cardiff Central xx48.

FGW - Swansea xx30 - Neath xx40 - Port Talbot Parkway xx49 - Bridgend xx00 - Cardiff Central arrive xx22 depart xx24 - Newport xx38 - Bristol Parkway arrive xx59 depart xx01 - Swindon arrive xx27 depart xx29 - Reading xx00 - London Paddington xx33.

FGW - Cardiff Central xx54 - Newport xx08 - Bristol Parkway arrive xx29 depart xx31 - Swindon arrive xx57 depart xx59 - Reading xx30 - London Paddington xx03.

FGW - London Paddington xx48 - Reading xx16 - Swindon arrive xx47 depart xx52 - Kemble xx07 - Stroud xx23 - Stonehouse Central xx29 - Gloucester arrive xx50 depart xx55 - Cheltenham Spa xx05 - Ashchurch for Tewkesbury xx13 - Worcester Shrub Hill arrive xx30 depart xx33 - Worcester Foregate Street xx36.

FGW - Worcester Foregate Street xx49 - Worcester Shrub Hill arrive xx51 depart xx54 - Ashchurch for Tewkesbury xx11 - Cheltenham Spa xx20 - Gloucester arrive xx30 depart xx33 - Stonehouse Central xx48 - Stroud xx54 - Kemble xx08 - Swindon arrive xx22 depart xx23 - Reading xx56 - London Paddington xx26.

CCF - Cardiff Central xx30 - Newport xx44 - South Wales Gateway xx54 - Caldicot xx57 - Chepstow xx06 - Lydney xx15 - Gloucester xx39 then attaching to northbound CCF services.

CCF - Cardiff Central xx00 - Newport xx14 - South Wales Gateway xx24 - Caldicot xx27 - Chepstow xx36 - Lydney xx45 - Gloucester xx09 then attaching to northbound CCF services.

CCF - Detaching from southbound CCF services at Gloucester xx09 - Lydney xx28 - Chepstow xx38 - Caldicot xx46 - South Wales Gateway xx49 - Newport xx59 - Cardiff Central xx13.

CCF - Detaching from southbound CCF services at Gloucester xx39 - Lydney xx58 - Chepstow xx08 - Caldicot xx16 - South Wales Gateway xx19 - Newport xx29 - Cardiff Central xx43.

PPM^‡(resolve) - Severn Beach xx58 - St Andrews Road xx04 - Avonmouth xx07.

PPM - Severn Beach xx28 - St Andrews Road xx34 - Avonmouth xx37.

PPM - Avonmouth xx10 - St Andrews Road xx12 - Severn Beach xx19.

PPM - Avonmouth xx40 - St Andrews Road xx42 - Severn Beach xx49.

KEY

CCF - Cross Country Franchise Service
EWR - East West Rail Service
FGW - Greater Western Franchise Service
PPM - Parry People Mover Service
STA - Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Authority Service

[Lee]

One of the key aims of the Transport 2000 campaign "Growing The Railway In the South West" is to transform Bristol Temple Meads into a regional hub. Our timetable proposals would turn this vision into reality by providing easy to remember "clock - face" departures from Bristol Temple Meads as detailed below (timings are minutes past each hour) :

00 - Bath Spa - Chippenham - Swindon - Didcot Parkway - Reading - London Paddington.

00 - Filton Abbey Wood - Bristol Gateway - Gloucester - Cheltenham Spa - Midlands / North.

05 - Worle & Somerset Gateway - Taunton - Tiverton Parkway - Exeter St Davids - West Country.

05 - Filton Abbey Wood - Patchway - Pilning & Severn Gateway - South Wales Gateway - Newport - Cardiff Central.

10 - Bedminster - Parson Street - Nailsea & Backwell - Yatton - Worle & Somerset Gateway - Weston Milton - Weston - super - Mare - Highbridge & Burnham - Bridgwater - Taunton.

10 - Lawrence Hill - Easton & Stapleton Road - Ashley Hill - Horfield - Filton Abbey Wood - Bristol Gateway.

15 - Bath Spa - Bradford - on - Avon - Trowbridge - Westbury - Warminster - Salisbury - Romsey - Southampton Central - Fareham - Cosham - Fratton - Portsmouth & Southsea - Portsmouth Harbour.

15 - Lawrence Hill - Easton & Stapleton Road - Filton Abbey Wood - Bristol Gateway - Yate - Charfield & Wotton - Cam & Dursley - Stonehouse London Road - Gloucester.

20 - Keynsham - Oldfield Park - Bath Spa - Freshford - Avoncliff - Bradford - on - Avon - Trowbridge - Westbury - Dilton Marsh - Warminster - Salisbury.

20 - Worle & Somerset Gateway - Highbridge & Burnham - Bridgwater - Taunton - Cullompton - Exeter St Davids.

25 - Bedminster - Parson Street - Ashton Gate - Ham Green - Pill - Portbury - Portishead.

25 - Lawrence Hill - Easton & Stapleton Road - Montpelier - Redland - Clifton Down - Sea Mills - Shirehampton & Port Gateway - Avonmouth - St Andrews Road - Henbury - Bristol Gateway.

30 - Bath Spa - Chippenham - Swindon - Didcot Parkway - Reading - London Paddington.

30 - Filton Abbey Wood - Bristol Gateway - Gloucester - Cheltenham Spa - Midlands / North.

35 - Filton Abbey Wood - Patchway - Pilning & Severn Gateway - South Wales Gateway - Newport - Cardiff Central.

40 - Bedminster - Parson Street - Nailsea & Backwell - Yatton - Worle & Somerset Gateway - Weston Milton - Weston - super - Mare.

40 - Lawrence Hill - Easton & Stapleton Road - Ashley Hill - Horfield - Filton Abbey Wood - Bristol Gateway.

45 - Bath Spa - Corsham - Chippenham - Swindon - Didcot Parkway - Oxford - Islip - Bicester Town - East West Rail destinations.

45 - Lawrence Hill - Easton & Stapleton Road - Filton Abbey Wood - Bristol Gateway - Yate - Charfield & Wotton - Cam & Dursley - Stonehouse London Road - Gloucester.

50 - Worle & Somerset Gateway - Weston - super - Mare.

50 - Keynsham - Oldfield Park - Bath Spa - Freshford - Avoncliff - Bradford - on - Avon - Trowbridge - Westbury - Frome - Bruton - Castle Cary - Yeovil Pen Mill - Thornford - Yetminster - Chetnole - Maiden Newton - Dorchester West - Upwey - Weymouth.

55 - Bedminster - Parson Street - Ashton Gate - Ham Green - Pill - Portbury - Portishead.

55 - Lawrence Hill - Easton & Stapleton Road - Montpelier - Redland - Clifton Down - Sea Mills - Shirehampton & Port Gateway - Avonmouth - St Andrews Road - Henbury - Bristol Gateway.

[Lee]

PROPOSED GREATER BRISTOL SUBURBAN FREQUENCY GUIDE (tph = trains per hour in each direction.)

Ashley Hill 2 tph
Ashton Gate 2 tph
Avoncliff 2 tph
Avonmouth 4 tph
Bath Spa 6 tph
Bedminster 4 tph
Bradford - on - Avon 3 tph
Cam & Dursley 2 tph
Charfield & Wotton 2 tph
Clifton Down 2 tph
Easton & Stapleton Road 6 tph
Filton Abbey Wood 8 tph
Freshford 2 tph
Ham Green 2 tph
Henbury 2 tph
Horfield 2 tph
Keynsham 2 tph
Lawrence Hill 6 tph
Montpelier 2 tph
Nailsea & Backwell 2 tph
Oldfield Park 2 tph
Patchway 2 tph
Parson Street 4 tph
Pill 2 tph
Pilning & Severn Gateway 2 tph
Portbury 2 tph
Portishead 2 tph
Redland 2 tph
Sea Mills 2 tph
Severn Beach 2 tph
Shirehampton & Port Gateway 2 tph
South Wales Gateway 4 tph
St Andrews Road 4 tph
Stonehouse London Road 2 tph
Trowbridge 4 tph
Weston Milton 2 tph
Weston - super - Mare 3 tph
Worle & Somerset Gateway 5 tph
Yate 2 tph
Yatton 2 tph

We would very much appreciate your views on these proposals. Suggestions would be particularly welcome regarding the following :

- Better train pathing of the proposed services into , and out of , Gloucester station.

- The extension of one of the proposed Bristol Gateway - WSM services to Taunton , without creating overly long turnaround times.

(Note - some edits have been made as a "tidying - up exercise." None of the actual proposals were altered as a result.)

[grahame]

Lee, Tom Harris has talked of 1000 extra carriages for the railways - perhaps by some amazing change we're all headed in the same direction and this is the sort of thing we'll see happens with both the government and the users of the services pulling in the same, sane, direction.

And this proposal is excellent work ... you've put a lot of knowledge, care and time in to it.

[devon_metro]

Some interesting stuff there although a 1 minute stop at any station with an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) is unrealistic. Refering to your xx11a xx12d from Bath.

[Lee]

Some interesting stuff there although a 1 minute stop at any station with an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) is unrealistic. Refering to your xx11a xx12d from Bath.

Thanks for that , Liam. We based our HST dwell times on the originals submitted by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) prior to December 2006.....

By the way , this topic has also been posted on the Save The Train Forum (link below.)
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2569.msg5679#msg5679

[devon_metro]

Well, in theory it is possible and certainly FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have got it in the bible. Although i love it how some trains arrive xx42 and depart xx42 (I refer to Newton Abbot) in order NOT to provide a guaranteed connection. Totally lacking IMO^▸ (in my opinion). Although most stops booked for 1 minute where the train arrives at the booked arrival noramally take at least 2 mins until ready to leave. This is down to a number of factors particularly the leaving of doors open. Particularly bad at the FC^‡(resolve) end where it seems the doors are expected to be closed for them. The slack on the timetable between Chippenham-Bath Spa is a good 3 minutes so it does not make sence as to why FGW don't promote imporved journey times as a result of the removal of slack.

Take the 0830 Paddington-Bristol arriving 4 minutes before booked arrival time...

[Lee]

As well as the Gateway stations being served by local bus services , our proposals envisage the creation of "Gateway Connect" bus services (along existing bus routes) , linking them to stations on other lines in the area , mainly via non - rail destinations.

BRISTOL GATEWAY

Gateway Connect services to :

Bath Spa
Keynsham
Patchway
Shirehampton & Port Gateway

Full bus service list :

73 / 580 Bradley Stoke (73) - Patchway Station - Cribbs Causeway.

73 Bristol City Centre - Temple Quay.

312 / 318 / 319 / 517 / 518 UWE - Frenchay - Downend.

312 Almondsbury Hill - Alveston - Thornbury.

318 / 319 Cribbs Causeway.

318 / 319 Staple Hill - Kingswood.

318 Longwell Green - Willsbridge - Keynsham Station.

319 Warmley - Bitton - Bath Spa Station.

517 / 518 Mangotsfield - Emerson Green.

517 / 518 Filton - Southmead Hospital - Westbury - Coombe Dingle - Long Cross - Shirehampton Centre - Shirehampton & Port Gateway Station.

581 Filton Abbey Wood Station - UWE - Blackberry Hill Hospital - Fishponds - Lodge Causeway - Kingswood - Hanham - Longwell Green.

581 Winterbourne - Frampton Cotterell - Yate Station - Yate Town Centre - Chipping Sodbury.

MELKSHAM & WEST WILTSHIRE GATEWAY

Gateway Connect services to :

Bath Spa
Corsham

Full bus service list :

14 Portman Road - Avon Road - Addison Road - Dunch Lane.

14 Sainsburys - Melksham Market Place - Forest Road - Methuen Avenue - Melksham Forest - Sherwood Avenue - Blackmore Road - Queensway - Snowberry Lane - Melksham Hospital.

72 Melksham Market Place - Melksham Hospital - Berryfields.

72 Portman Road - Avon Road - Addison Road - Dunch Lane - Shaw - Atworth - Whitley - Gastard - Corsham Station.

234 / X34 Beanacre - Lacock (234) - Notton (X34) - Chippenham Railway Station - Chippenham Bus Station.

234 / X34 Melksham Market Place - Semington - Hilperton - Trowbridge Town Centre - Trowbridge Station - Southwick - Beckington - Oldford - Frome Station.

237 Melksham Market Place - Broughton Gifford - Holt - Staverton - Hilperton Marsh - Trowbridge Town Centre - Trowbridge Station.

272 / X72 Melksham Market Place - Bowerhill.

X72 Sells Green - Devizes - Potterne - West Lavington - Market Lavington - Easterton.

272 / X72 Shaw - Atworth - Kingdown (272) - Bathford (272) - Batheaston (272) - Ashley (X72) - Bath Spa Station.

PILNING & SEVERN GATEWAY

Gateway Connect services to :

Clifton Down
Henbury
Severn Beach

Full bus service list :

624 Pilning Village - Severn Beach Station.

624 Easter Compton - Cribbs Causeway - Hallen - Henbury Station - Westbury - Clifton Down Station - Bristol City Centre.

SHIREHAMPTON & PORT GATEWAY

Gateway Connect services to :

Bristol Gateway

Full bus service list :

517 / 518 Shirehampton Centre - Long Cross - Coombe Dingle - Westbury - Southmead Hospital - Filton - Bristol Gateway Station - Mangotsfield - Emerson Green.

902 Hotwells - Harbourside - Bristol City Centre - Temple Quay - Old Market - Broadmead.

SOUTH WALES GATEWAY

Full bus service list :

62 Tudor Court - Magor.

62 Caerwent - Old Ship Yard.

WORLE & SOMERSET GATEWAY

Gateway Connect services to :

Ashton Gate
Frome
Portishead

Full bus service list :

Frequent services to Weston suburbs.

350 Congresbury - Yatton Town Centre - Yatton Station - Cleeve - Backwell - Flax Bourton - Cambridge Batch - Long Ashton - Ashton Gate Station - Bristol City Centre.

X25 Clevedon - Walton-in-Gordano - Portishead Station - Cribbs Causeway.

New Gateway Connect Express Coach Service - Winscombe - Cheddar - Wells - Shepton Mallet - Frome Station.

I'd propose a 1 tp 2 h fast service calling at Bristol Temple Meads, Worle & Somerset Gateway, and Weston-super-Mare from Paddington, or perhaps the CCF service.

Looked at it , having trouble pathing it. Do you (or does anybody else) have a timing proposal?

We have extended a London - Bristol service to Weston - super - Mare , calling at Worle & Somerset Gateway. This also provides a connection at Worle & Somerset Gateway for those who wish to travel from / to WSM from / to Exeter St Davids , Cullompton , Taunton , Bridgwater and Highbridge & Burnham.

[grahame]

For Melksham and West Wilts, I would expect the operators to add as appropriate buses on the occasional X71, X85, X86 and X76 routes (and I may have missed some!).  In particular, the X71 would give early morning and evening links from and to Sells Green, Bowerhill, Melksham Spa, Melksham Forest, Melksham Town Centre and Atworth at times when the other (regular, daytime) buses haven't started or have ceased.

The difficulty in finding out about all these services and journey options highlights, alas, one of the probems of even the current system, which is how to plan your journey from outside the area; the information is not corrolated in one place on line (and indeed Lee is one of the best folks I know at finding online resources ane relating them to each other).  The Gateway concept is an excellent one and with appropriate information available and integrated at Tourist Information Centres, the Gateways themselves, and online it could "fly" at surprisingly low cost.  But when you see an operator who can't even provide a timetable for their bus when it calls at their station 9 months after the service has been inaugrated (I refer to First and the 234 at Chippenham Station), you begin to wonder.

It has been noted elsewhere that First replaced the town map at Melksham Station, showing people what was available nearby, with a poster highlighting the company and including a picture of the local station manager.  I like the guy, but I regret the replacement of information that's useful to many people arriving in the town with something of much less general utility.

[Lee]

For Melksham and West Wilts, I would expect the operators to add as appropriate buses on the occasional X71, X85, X86 and X76 routes (and I may have missed some!).  In particular, the X71 would give early morning and evening links from and to Sells Green, Bowerhill, Melksham Spa, Melksham Forest, Melksham Town Centre and Atworth at times when the other (regular, daytime) buses haven't started or have ceased.

Agreed.

Our proposals show the envisaged hourly train service pattern. You will have noticed that the Bristol - Waterloo services are not included , but this does not mean that they would not be run (although they may need to be retimed) , rather that they are infrequent and are not included for that reason. We envisage a similiar number of journeys per day as now would continue to be run.

The X71 , X85 , X86 and X76 bus routes are also infrequent , and a similiar approach has been taken.

Regarding promotion , we have (as you would expect) had a few ideas on this. Watch this space....

[Lee]

GATEWAY STATION FEATURES

Each "Gateway" station would feature the following , based on proposals by Joe Patrick (Friends Of Suburban Bristol Railways) :

- Enhanced bus / rail interchange facilities
- Free tarmaced car parking for at least 12 hours (24 hours at Bristol Gateway)
- Enough parking spaces to meet demand
- Adequate number of sheltered bicycle racks
- All day staffing
- Indoor or heated waiting facilities & platform shelters
- CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) covering car park & station
- Tactile platform edge for the blind
- Full wheelchair accessibility
- Live Information Screens
- Automatic announcements
- Roadside signs saying how long to next train
- Adequate signage on major/local roads to the station
- Public telephone

As well as provision of the above , measures at specific "Gateway" sites will need to be taken as follows :

BRISTOL GATEWAY

- Abolition of car parking charges
- Additional signage , particularly around the Bradley Stoke area , required

PILNING & SEVERN GATEWAY

- Land to be purchased to provide adequate parking and existing rail contractors^ facilities re-sited
- Original station building to be reconverted into ticket office & waiting room
- New shelters on both platforms
- New footbridge required

SHIREHAMPTON & PORT GATEWAY

- Platform to be provided next to Portway Park & Ride site

SOUTH WALES GATEWAY

- Establish parking on toll plaza side of the track in preparation to become a full Park and Ride with parking for over 1,000 cars
- Extra platform to be provided

WORLE & SOMERSET GATEWAY

- Better information provision , including new information screens & local area signage
- CCTV to be expanded to cover more of the car park
- New ticket office & waiting room

For an overview by Graham Ellis of the work required at MELKSHAM & WEST WILTSHIRE GATEWAY , click on the link below.
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2436.msg5486#msg5486

[Lee]

We would very much appreciate your views on these proposals. Suggestions would be particularly welcome regarding the following :

- Better train pathing of the proposed services into , and out of , Gloucester station.

- The extension of one of the proposed Bristol Gateway - WSM services to Taunton , without creating overly long turnaround times.

These issues have now been addressed , and as a result , we propose a slight reduction in the minimum connection time at Gloucester station , from 7 minutes to 6 minutes. We have also included further feedback suggestions , and some of the earlier posts have been edited as a result.

PROPOSED STA GREATER BRISTOL METRO NETWORK

RED LINE - Weston - super - Mare - Bristol Gateway (every 30 minutes.)

BLUE LINE - Portishead - Bristol Gateway via Avonmouth (every 30 minutes.)

YELLOW LINE - Westbury - Gloucester (every 30 minutes.)

GREEN LINE - Avonmouth - Severn Beach (every 30 minutes.)

METRO EXPRESS - Bath Spa - Bristol Temple Meads - Filton Abbey Wood - Patchway - Pilning & Severn Gateway - South Wales Gateway (every 30 minutes Bath Spa - South Wales Gateway , every 15 minutes Bath Spa - Bristol Temple Meads.)

[Lee]

My thanks go to Nicki Pittman (CANBER^▸ (Campaign Against the New Beeching Report)) & Graham Ellis (Save The Train) for their assistance with the maps below.

[simonw]

What are the chances of any of these proposals being implemented?