Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FoSBR) - merged topics

[whole diary]

[Lee]

Can be found in the link below.
http://www.fosbr.org.uk/newsletter/63.doc

[Lee]

From Friends Of Suburban Bristol Railways :

Monday, 10 December 2007
FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) Campaign Group
17.45 to 19.10
meet at caf^ on platform 9 at Temple Meads Station (07791 867 512)

Thursday, 13 December 2007
Climate Change Committee
2 pm, Council House, College Green.
Support Ruth Webb in her statement urging the Climate Change Committee to include rail to its transport list.

[Lee]

Will be held on Saturday, 12 January 2008, 18:00, Great Western Staff Club, Temple Meads approach road

[Lee]

Press release from FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) :

FARE STRIKE SPREAD TO BRISTOL AREA ?

The rail campaign group FOSBR will discuss whether to lead a fare strike in the Bristol area at its AGM^▸ (Annual General Meeting) on Saturday 12 January. If members give this the go ahead, FOSBR will organise a public meeting near Temple Meads Station with a speaker from More Trains Less Strain aimed at spreading the fare strike throughout the Bristol area.

Fare increases, the erosion of the service between Severn Beach and BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) and delay on the Portishead passenger line (reopening) are issues in the Bristol travel to work area. The Severn Beach line had a record 27 cancellations in a single week leading up to Christmas, (Evening Post 31 Dec 07)

FOSBR applaud Kerry McCarthy MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)'s move to get the issue of rail in the Bristol area onto the parliamentary agenda.

Julie Boston 08 January 2008

The number of passenger journeys on buses in Bristol has dropped by 1 million every year since 2003.[1][1]

Meanwhile, the number of people travelling by local rail has increased in the Greater Bristol area by 19.4% since 2004.[2][2]

[1][1] Council^s Physical Environment Scrutiny Commission agenda 6/3/07.

[1][2] West of England rail survey 2006.

Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) campaigns for improved train services throughout Bristol.

Our current focus is on the Half Hour Train campaign for improved frequency on the Severn Beach line and reduced cancellations.

Contact us at 17, Belmont Road, Bristol, BS6 5AW or email severnbeach@hotmail.com. www.fosbr.org.uk

More on the forthcoming MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) meeting in the link below.
http://thisisbath.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=180730&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232315&home=yes&more_nodeId1=163047&contentPK=19486802

[Lee]

Can be found in the link below.
http://www.fosbr.org.uk/newsletter/64.doc

[Lee]

Great Western Staff Club, Temple Meads Station down Approach Rd. Meeting starts 18.00 (or arrival of the 17.03 dep from Severn Beach) ends for 20.13 train.

[Lee]

Temple Meads Station/Great Western Staff Club at 6pm.

Andrew Griffiths, Regional Manager, Severn & Solent, First Great Western will include these topics in his talk :-

- lessons from improving the rail service on the Cornish branch lines

- the relevance for the Portishead passenger line

- aspirations for Bristol network

- current law & regulations on heavy and light rail running Bristol^s tracks

- areas where Mr Griffiths feels FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) can help with e.g. capacity issues

- Ticket sales ^ promotion of monthly season tickets, school student season tickets, Zone 1 & 2 sales

- Prospect for house building and re-opening of local stations

- There will be a Q&A at the end of the talk

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks, Lee!

Saturday 12 July - yes, I'd like to be there for that meeting: sounds like some very relevant topics for us Bristol Commuters!

 

[Lee]

Can be found in the link below.
http://www.fosbr.org.uk/newsletter/65.doc

[Lee]

FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) call for the extension of Avonmouth/Severn Beach trains to a reopened Ashton Gate calling at Bedminster and Parson Street (link below.)
http://www.fosbr.org.uk/Unite.htm

[Graz]

I'm in total agreement here. Great idea from FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways).

What they didn't mention though is the station would also be handy for going to events in Ashton Court

And thinking about it, Long Ashton is only a stroll away too!

[swlines]

Quick thing...

A reopened Ashton Gate will also improve capacity in Temple Meads by allowing local trains to continue through and turn back at Ashton Gate. Laying the foundations for reopening the Portishead Line to passengers.

It would increase capacity for turning back trains there maybe, but it'd reduce overall pathing in the area towards Taunton as more trains would be going that way!

[John R]

Several comments here:-

Firstly, would it require an additional diagram? If so, can't see it is justified when compared with other uses you might put a set to. (Cue Graham....)

Secondly, it's not close enough to either Ashton Court or Long Ashton.

Thirdly, the traffic from Bed'r and P St don't justify any additional trains, and I can't quite see what demand there would be for Ashton Gate, except maybe on match days (until of course the new stadium is built).

Finally, I'm sure some sort of signalling/track changes would be involved, if it wasn't to completely screw up the freight service, as unless I'm mistaken, once past Ashton Jn a train will completely block the section all the way down to Portbury.   

So, nice try, FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) but I can't see this one working.     
   

[swlines]

Several comments here:-

Firstly, would it require an additional diagram? If so, can't see it is justified when compared with other uses you might put a set to. (Cue Graham....)

Fairly certain it would - turnarounds at Bristol TM^‡(resolve) are 15-25 minutes and I can't see a unit doing the trip to Parson Street at least and back within that timeframe including the minimum turnaround time.

Secondly, it's not close enough to either Ashton Court or Long Ashton.

Finally, I'm sure some sort of signalling/track changes would be involved, if it wasn't to completely screw up the freight service, as unless I'm mistaken, once past Ashton Jn a train will completely block the section all the way down to Portbury.   

So, nice try, FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) but I can't see this one working.

Your thought on the signalling is correct. It's OTW down there.

[Graz]

I'm not saying it would be right on the doorstep, but not more than a 20 min walk to Ashton Court surely? (I don't know the area too well and am just assuming where the station would go so forgive me !)