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

[whole diary]

[plymothian]

But at least there is provision that it could be used as both and entrance and an exit, even if in general practice it's exit only.  So, if there is a problem with the concourse or Bonapartes, the station still has potential access and egress.

[Dispatch Box]

But at least there is provision that it could be used as both and entrance and an exit, even if in general practice it's exit only.  So, if there is a problem with the concourse or Bonapartes, the station still has potential access and egress.

So really, For extra capacity or if the the others break down, They at least have that one.

[plymothian]

Pretty much.  Imagine the concourse having to close for some reason, you'd either push people arriving at the front through the car park and round to Bonapartes, or open up St Anne's as an entrance.

[Red Squirrel]

In the absence of anything else much happening at Auld Leakie (aka Temple Meads), I am thrilled to hear that the Pumpkin (Platform 10/12) is to be refurbished and re-branded as a 'Coffee Room'. Full details at https://www.bristol.gov.uk/planning-and-building-regulations/look-at-and-track-planning-applications, search for 19/01075/LA.

[SandTEngineer]

How is the PO building demolition going?  Haven't been that way recently to be able to have a look.

[Red Squirrel]

How is the PO building demolition going?  Haven't been that way recently to be able to have a look.

It is very much happening!

Meanwhile, Bristol City Council have applied (to themselves, of course) for planning permission to install a new 4m wide shared cycle path and pedestrian walkway running for about 450m south-eastwards from the ferry landing stage towards Not Arena Island. Plans are at https://www.bristol.gov.uk/planning-and-building-regulations/look-at-and-track-planning-applications ref 19/01051/LA.

The walkway will consist of pontoons floating in the Floating Harbour, and will pass under the northern end of Temple Meads Station.

[johnneyw]

Yes, a lot of the old building is now rubble and vanishing fast. It'll be too dark to see it tonight when I pass through the station but last Monday if looked about half gone.
On thing I wondered about though. They could dispose of the rubble by road, river or rail from where they are. I wonder what they chose?

[ellendune]

Yes, a lot of the old building is now rubble and vanishing fast. It'll be too dark to see it tonight when I pass through the station but last Monday if looked about half gone.
On thing I wondered about though. They could dispose of the rubble by road, river or rail from where they are. I wonder what they chose?

These days they usually crush it up and leave it on site for the new developers to use.

[Red Squirrel]

How is the PO building demolition going?  Haven't been that way recently to be able to have a look.

Not a great photo, but my train was in the way! Here's how it looked on 16th March; you can see that not much remains.

[SandTEngineer]

Thanks for posting that RS.  Looks as though it might be all gone by the next time I'm likely to pass by at the begining of May.

[TonyK]

Yes, a lot of the old building is now rubble and vanishing fast. It'll be too dark to see it tonight when I pass through the station but last Monday if looked about half gone.
On thing I wondered about though. They could dispose of the rubble by road, river or rail from where they are. I wonder what they chose?

These days they usually crush it up and leave it on site for the new developers to use.

They did that with the former police HQ^▸ (Headquarters) at New Bridewell. The rebar was taken away, the concrete crushed down.

[Red Squirrel]

Here's a better angle, taken today from Platform 1 - you can see that most of the central 'hall' of the old sorting office has gone, but one side of this and a wing remain.

[TonyK]

You would think the antenna would have come in handy at the new place.

[Noggin]

How is the PO building demolition going?  Haven't been that way recently to be able to have a look.

It is very much happening!

Meanwhile, Bristol City Council have applied (to themselves, of course) for planning permission to install a new 4m wide shared cycle path and pedestrian walkway running for about 450m south-eastwards from the ferry landing stage towards Not Arena Island. Plans are at https://www.bristol.gov.uk/planning-and-building-regulations/look-at-and-track-planning-applications ref 19/01051/LA.

The walkway will consist of pontoons floating in the Floating Harbour, and will pass under the northern end of Temple Meads Station.

I work for a company which has offices in a Belgian city called Mechelen which has a very nice example, which is very pretty indeed when lit up at night - http://www.eltis.org/discover/case-studies/pedestrians-walk-water-mechelen-belgium. It acts as a kind of express walking route and is quite nice as its cycle free, so you don't have to keep looking out for cyclists!

It's not without it's issues though, it ices up badly in the winter, the local kids like to hang out on it under the bridges and smoke, and I'd be a bit nervous about walking on it at night as it's a bit quiet and I you could be a bit vulnerable to being trapped in a way that you wouldn't on the street.

[johnneyw]

Yes, it's the equivalent of the urban underpass and all the associated antisocial activities.
Likewise the bridge under Temple Meads at the northern end would not be my cup of tea at night either.
Are there architectural solutions? For example, but not really workable in this case, spaces under some of the bridges in London over the Thames are big enough to have cafes/restaurants next to the walkway. These stay open into the night making for a busier environment.
I'm no architect but I wonder if anyone could come up with workable solutions to the issue?