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

[whole diary]

[SandTEngineer]

I expect they were referring to Bristol East Junction (just London side of Temple Meads station) which is scheduled to be remodelled and relaid in the next couple of years.  It was supposed to be done before electrification, so there is a clue there.....

[Red Squirrel]

According to FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways):

Bristol East Junction is the complex of railway lines to the east of Temple Meads station. This end of the station has eight platform tracks, two through lines and three sidings; at the far end of the junction the routes become two tracks towards Bath (the Great Western Main Line) and four tracks towards Bristol Parkway. There was a third route, the Midland Railway line to Gloucester, but this now only gives access to Barton Hill Traction and Rolling Stock Depot.

The Network Rail scope of works is as follows:

• remodel and rationalise within the existing geographical constraints
• recovery 57 point ends and replacing with 47 including Kingsland Road sidings
• replace the Bristol East Signal Gantry for electrical clearances
• junction lighting
• waterproof Avon Street bridge and replace decking
• install all overhead electrification (OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE")) structures conventionally across the junction.

Network Rail states that the re-modelling will provide:

• operational flexibility (all lines can reach all platforms)
• increased line speed on the east side of the Gantry
• capacity requirements for the 2018 Intercity Express Programme (IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.)) timetable and all capacity requirements up to year 2043.

Remodelling of the junction also provides the capacity and flexibility to incorporate the MetroWest timetable; it is vital for MetroWest Phase 2 and desirable for Phase 1.

There is currently no funding for this capacity improvement. However the National Audit Office’s recent report on electrification suggests that Bristol East Junction could usefully be funded and put in place now before the delayed electrification works resume. The Mayor, Marvin Rees, has written to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to ask for Bristol East Junction as compensation for the delay in electrification; apparently the Department for Transport (DfT) are offering £10m from the savings of electrification for the development study for Bristol East Junction, but are not (at present) offering to pay for the engineering works themselves. The Mayor has said that he would welcome FOSBR support for this campaign. It is likely that FOSBR and other rail campaign groups will be asking DfT for FULL funding for these vital improvement works.

Although  Over-Head Line Equipment (OHLE) structures presumably won't be installed, you might be forgiven for hoping that any new work includes passive provision for them.


Edit: VickiS - clarifying acronym

[ellendune]

Although OHLE structures presumably won't be installed, you might be forgiven for hoping that any new work includes passive provision for them.

It would be really good to put the foundations in so that the new cabling is not damaged when they are put in.

[CMRail]

Although OHLE structures presumably won't be installed, you might be forgiven for hoping that any new work includes passive provision for them.

It would be really good to put the foundations in so that the new cabling is not damaged when they are put in.

if ever*

[Dispatch Box]

According to FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways):

Bristol East Junction is the complex of railway lines to the east of Temple Meads station. This end of the station has eight platform tracks, two through lines and three sidings; at the far end of the junction the routes become two tracks towards Bath (the Great Western Main Line) and four tracks towards Bristol Parkway. There was a third route, the Midland Railway line to Gloucester, but this now only gives access to Barton Hill Traction and Rolling Stock Depot.

The Network Rail scope of works is as follows:

• remodel and rationalise within the existing geographical constraints
• recovery 57 point ends and replacing with 47 including Kingsland Road sidings
• replace the Bristol East Signal Gantry for electrical clearances
• junction lighting
• waterproof Avon Street bridge and replace decking
• install all overhead electrification (OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE")) structures conventionally across the junction.

Network Rail states that the re-modelling will provide:

• operational flexibility (all lines can reach all platforms)
• increased line speed on the east side of the Gantry
• capacity requirements for the 2018 Intercity Express Programme (IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.)) timetable and all capacity requirements up to year 2043.

Remodelling of the junction also provides the capacity and flexibility to incorporate the MetroWest timetable; it is vital for MetroWest Phase 2 and desirable for Phase 1.

There is currently no funding for this capacity improvement. However the National Audit Office’s recent report on electrification suggests that Bristol East Junction could usefully be funded and put in place now before the delayed electrification works resume. The Mayor, Marvin Rees, has written to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to ask for Bristol East Junction as compensation for the delay in electrification; apparently the Department for Transport (DfT) are offering £10m from the savings of electrification for the development study for Bristol East Junction, but are not (at present) offering to pay for the engineering works themselves. The Mayor has said that he would welcome FOSBR support for this campaign. It is likely that FOSBR and other rail campaign groups will be asking DfT for FULL funding for these vital improvement works.

Although OHLE structures presumably won't be installed, you might be forgiven for hoping that any new work includes passive provision for them.

This is why I thought they were doing it at xmas, But did not think it would take that long though.

[Bmblbzzz]

On a train in to work this morning two chaps in National Rail coats were talking, and I overheard them say something that I was wondering if someone on here would know the answer to?

At Easter 2021, "Bristol East" will be closed for six weeks for improvement works

I am curious as to where this "Bristol East" actually is and what it will affect?

I know this! But only because I asked the same question in a different context a couple of days ago... So to complement Red Squirrel's answer above, it's the junction without a pin on the map at this post: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=20829.msg254343#msg254343

But my new question (yes!) is

The Network Rail scope of works is as follows:

• remodel and rationalise within the existing geographical constraints
• recovery 57 point ends and replacing with 47 including Kingsland Road sidings
• replace the Bristol East Signal Gantry for electrical clearances

• junction lighting

[/b]

• waterproof Avon Street bridge and replace decking
• install all overhead electrification (OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE")) structures conventionally across the junction.

What purpose does the junction lighting serve? At sidings and maintenance depots it presumably serves for security and to allow staff to move around safely at night, but a junction?

[TonyK]

Although OHLE structures presumably won't be installed, you might be forgiven for hoping that any new work includes passive provision for them.

It would be really good to put the foundations in so that the new cabling is not damaged when they are put in.

if ever*

It would have been very sensible to have done the same along Filton Bank during the recent virtual rebuild, but it wasn't done. Part of the problem with the electrification was the presence of all sorts of uncharted cabling alongside the tracks, meaning that the High Output kit couldn't be used as efficiently as expected. As a proportion of the total cost of the requadrification, foundations for the gantrys that will happen one day would have been modest. All the bridges along the Bank have been adapted or completely rebuilt to take the cables, but the absence of the foundations is one of those economy measures that is certain to cost a lot more in the long run.

[Red Squirrel]

It would have been very sensible to have done the same along Filton Bank during the recent virtual rebuild, but it wasn't done. Part of the problem with the electrification was the presence of all sorts of uncharted cabling alongside the tracks, meaning that the High Output kit couldn't be used as efficiently as expected. As a proportion of the total cost of the requadrification, foundations for the gantrys that will happen one day would have been modest. All the bridges along the Bank have been adapted or completely rebuilt to take the cables, but the absence of the foundations is one of those economy measures that is certain to cost a lot more in the long run.

On one of NR^» (Network Rail - home page)'s twitter vids someone dressed in orange said that they were carefully recording where they were hiding all their cables, so maybe it'll be alright... except that it'll be 25 years before they get round to electrifying Bristol... and I don't know about you, but if I follow the family tradition then I will be well and truly away with the fairies by then and won't care!

[paul7575]

Re “junction lighting” mentioned above - it is permanent low level lighting in the vicinity of S&C^▸ (Settle and Carlisle ) units to allow regular maintenance overnight without having to worry about taking portable lighting to the site.

IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) the first major installations were at some junctions on the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line).

Paul

[TonyK]

At a large and complex junction like Bristol East will be, that makes so much sense.

[stuving]

Re “junction lighting” mentioned above - it is permanent low level lighting in the vicinity of S&C^▸ (Settle and Carlisle ) units to allow regular maintenance overnight without having to worry about taking portable lighting to the site.

IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) the first major installations were at some junctions on the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line).

Paul

There's words and pictures of some here, from Railway Electrical Services Ltd:

Hillmorton
Client: Birse Rail
Type of Project: Junction Lighting
Value: £55k

The West Coast Main Line (WCML). The purpose of the lighting was to provide an appropriate level of illumination that would permit maintenance activities currently undertaken in daylight to be done during the night, when access is more readily available. “Flat Beam” Technology lights were used, set at 1.5m above rail level on posts and high level on existing structures.

Works comprised of:

    Installation of light fittings onto the pre-installed columns
    Installation of connection boxes onto the base of the columns
    Installation of lighting control equipment
    Electrical supply alterations
    Installation of cables into the existing troughing routes/ UTX
    Testing & Commissioning

I guess (but it doesn't say) that there's a switch, so it's only on when needed.

[Bmblbzzz]

That makes sense, a lot of sense. Thanks!

[martyjon]

Re “junction lighting” mentioned above - it is permanent low level lighting in the vicinity of S&C^▸ (Settle and Carlisle ) units to allow regular maintenance overnight without having to worry about taking portable lighting to the site.

Mine is so small I can carry it around in my tollbag, its called 'A TORCH'.

[Clan Line]

Re “junction lighting” mentioned above - it is permanent low level lighting in the vicinity of S&C^▸ (Settle and Carlisle ) units to allow regular maintenance overnight without having to worry about taking portable lighting to the site.

Mine is so small I can carry it around in my tollbag, its called 'A TORCH'.

Of course, everyone knows the dictionary definition of a torch..........

"a metal or plastic container used for the storage of flat batteries"

[martyjon]

Re “junction lighting” mentioned above - it is permanent low level lighting in the vicinity of S&C^▸ (Settle and Carlisle ) units to allow regular maintenance overnight without having to worry about taking portable lighting to the site.

Mine is so small I can carry it around in my tollbag, its called 'A TORCH'.

Of course, everyone knows the dictionary definition of a torch..........

"a metal or plastic container used for the storage of flat batteries"

But mine is one of these new fangled ones that don't need batteries, you wind it up and it always 'dies' at the most inconvenient moment.