Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[froome]

Redouble the whole route from Narroways Junction to Holesmouth Junction and bring the Henbury Loop back into passenger use without further delays. Some hope.

(genuine question): If the Henbury loop was opened, would redoubling of the track on the Severn Beach line actually be needed? (obviously it might be desirable). Presumably a circular service could have enough passing places to run fairly frequently in both directions.

[ellendune]

...there will be a shuttle bus service from the new Campus to Clifton

If only you could get to Clifton by train from Temple Meads!

But that would mean building a branch line from Clifton Down over 1/2 mile long.

Rather less than that distance from CFN^▸ (Clifton Down station) to the Library on Tyndalls Park Road, which is generally considered the 'centre' of the UoB (maybe you were thinking of the Wills Memorial?). That quibble aside, I expect it'll also run a little more frequently than the Severn Riviera Express, though given 20 years for the GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects) process - and half a billion quid - it may be possible to redouble the branch up to Clifton Down and get a 15-minute service.

No 0.6 miles to the Library and 0.7 miles to the Wills Memorial.

[TonyK]

A more frequent running on the whole of the route might be achieved by only redoubling 1 or 2 of the stations, Sea Mills for example. This would give more passing loops. Problem is that this would need more rolling stock and points/signalling costs too.

Bringing the junction between Redland and Clifton Down back to Montpelier by double tracking that section, and doing similar work to achieve double tracking from just past the bridge over the Trym to Avonmouth would double capacity without needing extra signalling.

(genuine question): If the Henbury loop was opened, would redoubling of the track on the Severn Beach line actually be needed? (obviously it might be desirable). Presumably a circular service could have enough passing places to run fairly frequently in both directions.

Hm, good question. The answer would depend on what level of service you wanted to achieve. Assume for a moment that MetroRail West manages to achieve half-hourly services from Severn Beach. From Avonmouth to Severn Beach takes 11 minutes, so that is achievable - just. The next train would need to arrive at Avonmouth just as the train from Severn Beach arrived. It takes 12 minutes for the Bristol-bound train to clear the single line section between there and Clifton Down, where it would need to pass the next outbound train. So as things stand, there would not be room enough for another train from Henbury fitting in with the 30-minute frequency. Nor do I think it would fit in with hourly from Severn Beach and half-hourly from Avonmouth as things stand. Passing places are fine, but leave little room for manoeuvre. I think the only way to make services resilient at anything more than the current frequency on the SVB line is to make those passing loops very long - Avonmouth to Sea Mills and Clifton Down to Montpelier - as I described above. That isn't far short of redoubling the line completely, but does avoid replacing the bridge at Sea Mills and doing work on Montpelier tunnel.

[martyjon]

Was there a problem at Temple Meads this morning. A mate of mine texted me that he had to drive to Gloucester this morning as his train was about an hour late and that he, his wife, daughter and daughters boyfriend had arrived at station well in time to catch the first service to Gloucester to attend the christening of their first grandchild.

On arrival at station the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) wasn't working so he sought help from the help point and was told there was a delay on the service and it hadn't left Bristol yet.

Looking at RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) it would appear that services north were initially working TM^‡(resolve) to North Somerset Junction then reversing round the rhubarb curve to Dr. Days junction.

In fact I did notice that one Cross Country service was cancelled between TM and New Street having to leave Barton Hill depot by the east, work to Lawrence Hill, reverse to North Somerset Junction then again reverse to Temple Meads. Presumably after loading the catering trolley and on board staff it then left TM via the reverse of the inbound movement to TM and ran ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) to New Street.

My mates reaction, he'll never plan to attend an important family function by rail again.

[grahame]

My mates reaction, he'll never plan to attend an important family function by rail again.

Sad.  We had problems today too ... "we decided to hop in a taxi" says a message from someone we had hoped was making her first of many journeys.   How will the railways cope with all these extra passengers encouraged to travel on their 26 - 30 railcards?
 

[Red Squirrel]

No 0.6 miles to the Library and 0.7 miles to the Wills Memorial.

My bad - I was measuring to Tyndalls Park Road - but the Library's on Tyndall Ave, which is, as you say, rather further.

[chuffed]

Passenger capacity improvements from Dec 17 Network rail newsletter

Following the trials in July 2016, we have been working up the detail on the additional ticket barriers that will be introduced at Bristol Temple Meads in Autumn 2018.
In the spring we will start work on installing these at Queen Anne Gate (near the cycle racks) and at Bonapartes bar. The aim of the project is to ease congestion for passengers but also provides additional choices for exiting the station depending on your destination. More detail to follow in next Newsletter.

Cannot help thinking that the message 'more barriers than usual needing repair and maintenance at the same time' is already being prepared !

[Red Squirrel]

Bristol City Council listed building consent application ref: 17/05690/LA - if you're interested! Approved on 21st December 2017.

Note that this application includes re-siting the bike racks from Platform 4 to a new location immediately outside the new gate - where they will, one assumes, be less secure and more exposed to wind and weather.

_{Edit: clarification}

[Phantom]

Interesting to read about the new gates after the two trials which seem like an age ago now
Does anyone have any timescales for these works?

Of interest was talking at WSM station this morning, they are having gatelines (finally) put in, in October 2018
Haven't seen any plans for this - does anyone have a link to them?
(I assume they will be similar to what is at Hereford station??)

[Chris from Nailsea]

Edit Note:

Subsequent posts relating specifically to Weston super Mare Station have been split off into a separate topic.

See http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=10640.msg233004#msg233004

[johnneyw]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) local radio report that Network Rail have announced a refurbishment of Temple Meads roof. Haven't seen any written details about it yet but I guess the leaky bit on Platform 5 has it's days numbered (unless it's a Grade 1 listed leak). 😀

[Western Pathfinder]

Points west segment during BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Breakfast News this morning
Saying the sum of £40 million to be spent on repairs to the roof and re wiring of the station and also two new entrance and exits .

[chuffed]

And just how many times has this been announced, and nothing ever seems to happen?

[Red Squirrel]

So they're finally getting round to doing some long-overdue maintenance! It is shocking that it has been allowed to get into such a state.

It would be better news to hear that they have found a way to fund ongoing maintenance so that we don't find ourselves in this position again in 30 years - but that's just not the way state-owned infrastructure's done, sadly.

[johnneyw]

Evening Post has this on new entry gates for Temple Meads:

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/two-new-entrances-being-built-1575030