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

[whole diary]

[Phantom]

On the plus side, with the bike parking being on that side of the station.
Hopefully I won't have to consistently dodge the bikes speeding up the pavements now around the station

[Red Squirrel]

Well... for a while you may find that problem gets worse, as people realise they can't park their bikes where they thought they could, and panic.

If some of the principles of Gear Change are applied here, which we can hope for, then conflicts between people on foot and people on bikes could be greatly reduced.

[johnneyw]

Another milestone?  NR^» (Network Rail - home page) purchase the old Brunel Shed from Bristol City Council.  A few more details below but although NR say they want to things with it, they don't really say what this is.


https://www.business-live.co.uk/commercial-property/historic-station-designed-isambard-kingdom-18935477?fbclid=IwAR2c1QjTDnAzBwcrVLRKGPa08ZhtcUEUwOf6A6Dsy0pIlR-mPCS-zyS-Vj8

[Red Squirrel]

Just spotted a planning application, for new signalling equipment on Platforms 9 and 11 at Temple Meads, which appears to show the new junction layout for Bristol East jct... go to https://pa.bristol.gov.uk/online-applications/ and search for 20/04736/LA

[TonyK]

Just spotted a planning application, for new signalling equipment on Platforms 9 and 11 at Temple Meads, which appears to show the new junction layout for Bristol East jct... go to https://pa.bristol.gov.uk/online-applications/ and search for 20/04736/LA

So it does - well spotted!

[Red Squirrel]

It's at times like this we could do with S&TE's wisdom; I can't make much sense of it. Seems like the main enhancement is that Severn Beach trains can be washed on their way out, but there must be more to it than that...

I do like the fact that the BGL2 lines have their mileages measured from Derby...

[stuving]

It's at times like this we could do with S&TE's wisdom; I can't make much sense of it. Seems like the main enhancement is that Severn Beach trains can be washed on their way out, but there must be more to it than that...

I do like the fact that the BGL2 lines have their mileages measured from Derby...

You do realise that's the existing - or rather the preexisting - layout, used (as the text says) to show the renewal area? In fact, it's copied straight out of Trackmaps book 3 (2010), and ought to have their copyright credited! (Unless NR^» (Network Rail - home page) think of the track as their copyright, of which the diagram is a copy ...)

[Red Squirrel]

Ah. Oh. I was comparing it with TrackIT, which shows 5 lines at Bristol East Gantry; I make it 6 on this diagram. But as I hinted, I am utterly hopeless at reading these things so apologies if I've led anyone up the garden path.

[stuving]

Ah. Oh. I was comparing it with TrackIT, which shows 5 lines at Bristol East Gantry; I make it 6 on this diagram. But as I hinted, I am utterly hopeless at reading these things so apologies if I've led anyone up the garden path.

The sixth line on the printed diagram leads to Barton Hill depot, which has been demonetised since 2010. The start of it was kept as a headshunt, and may still be in use. But obviously something else is intended for the track around the Floating Harbour anyway. The various online diagrams have differing versions of what is still left, as understandably their minders don't give a lot of priority to removing bits as they go out of use. And of course at times even Network Rail are not that sure which lines are in use, but haven't actually been used for ages.

[TonyK]

The sixth line on the printed diagram leads to Barton Hill depot, which has been demonetised since 2010. The start of it was kept as a headshunt, and may still be in use. But obviously something else is intended for the track around the Floating Harbour anyway. The various online diagrams have differing versions of what is still left, as understandably their minders don't give a lot of priority to removing bits as they go out of use. And of course at times even Network Rail are not that sure which lines are in use, but haven't actually been used for ages.

That's "demonised", surely? 

The track around the Floating Harbour left to the west of Platform , parallel with Friary, and is probably what is shown as the High Level Siding. The bridge over the river has a nice turnout for it. Also of interest to the Taunton end are the lines into what I think was the old fish dock? That, and the line parallel to P1, would make a good route out for tram-train if it ever comes around.

[Pavement]

This council video has 3 illustrations of a redeveloped Temple Meads at 0:53. https://youtu.be/XIk9bVXN2JM

Interestingly they all show the reinstatement of the spire. Artistic licence, or a real aspiration, do you reckon?

[Red Squirrel]

Interesting film!

The Temple Meads spire been shown in a few illustrations, but I've not seen any formal commitment to restore it. The cupola at the old General Hospital was recreated a few years ago though, which shows that it can be done fairly cheaply using modern materials, so I see no reason why they wouldn't.

Edit: My FoSBR^» (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways - site) chums spotted this oddity:

     2030 New Portbury Avonmouth Severnside rail link and cycling routes open - 3,360 new jobs, GVA GBP215m

Seems cheap for a tunnel or bridge across the Avon, and we're sure we'd have heard..!

[TonyK]

Edit: My FoSBR^» (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways - site) chums spotted this oddity:

     2030 New Portbury Avonmouth Severnside rail link and cycling routes open - 3,360 new jobs, GVA GBP215m

Seems cheap for a tunnel or bridge across the Avon, and we're sure we'd have heard..!

Ah - so it is a joke, after all!

[grahame]

Edit: My FoSBR^» (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways - site) chums spotted this oddity:

     2030 New Portbury Avonmouth Severnside rail link and cycling routes open - 3,360 new jobs, GVA GBP215m

Seems cheap for a tunnel or bridge across the Avon, and we're sure we'd have heard..!

Ah - so it is a joke, after all!

Many a true word ... Portishead, Portbury, Avonmouth, Stan Drew's Road, Severn Beach, Cross Hands, and Pilning, change for South Wales, Aztec West, Filton Abbey Wood, Horfield, Ashton Road, Stapleton Road ... but, sure, that's not going to happen ... nor the southward extension to Clevedon.


Edited to correct my error in the quoted text - TonyK

[Red Squirrel]

...

Interestingly they all show the reinstatement of the spire. Artistic licence, or a real aspiration, do you reckon?

I make no apologies for quoting this a second time:

Firstly because I feel the need to draw attention to Pavement's pun, which I missed first time. A-spir-ation -brilliant!

Secondly because it crossed my mind that Bristolians have form when it comes to repairing broken spires. The spire of St Mary Redcliffe was struck by lightning in 1446. The rebuilding project got to GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects) 3 in about 1843, and the spire had been rebuilt by 1872. Seems almost indecently hasty.