Four track for Filton Bank - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[SandTEngineer]

As promised above here is the diagram.

Just a minor point, isn't the current line from North Somerset Junction to Dr. Days Junction (neither shown on diagram) a two way line to allow access to SPM^▸ (St Philip's Marsh (Bristol depot)) from the Lawrence Hill direction. Issue 3 beckons ?

Yes. I can't update the drawing again just yet as I'm still standing in the corner of the room wearing my Dunces hat after the last error...

[metalrail]

As promised above here is the diagram.  If you have any questions please ask. Apologies, but I can't seem to get it to fit to the screen width

Excellent stuff, thanks SandTEngineer!

Tho it does back up my original concerns about the FIT to BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) bottleneck only getting worse than currently...

They've kept all of the crossovers from the S Wales lines at Filton Junction, meaning all 4 platforms at FIT can be accessed by trains between BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) and S Wales, but still leaving only platforms 1 and 2 for all BPW traffic

At the moment the off peak service is 2 tph^▸ (trains per hour) each way between BRI and S Wales, whereas there are 2 'local' tph each way between BRI and BPW plus 2 mainline XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) tph each way between BRI and BPW, thereby doubling the amount needing platforms 1 and 2 at FIT compared to those at platforms 3 and 4

Also with the introduction of the new BRI - BPW - PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) 2 tph IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project - replacement for HSTs.) services scheduled to run that will make a total of 6 tph each way going thru platforms 1 and 2 at FIT, with still just 2 each way thru platforms 3 and 4

I take it the new 'flagship' IEP services and XC services will always be given priority over local services between BPW and the new Horfield Junction where the new main to relief crossovers are being put in, which will surely only mean further delays and even more of a bottleneck?

And that's before they add any future additional local services that have always been mooted following the completion of the upgrade works

Surely it would make more sense to have the crossovers the other way around at Filton Junction allowing all BPW services to access all 4 FIT platforms?

[Bmblbzzz]

Thanks for that, SandTengineer! One question: what exactly is "recovered track"?

[rogerw]

Existing track to be removed

[Red Squirrel]

For my two pennorth, I'm confused as to why there's passive provision for a 4-platform station at Ashley Hill but not at Stapleton Rd...

[metalrail]

For my two pennorth, I'm confused as to why there's passive provision for a 4-platform station at Ashley Hill but not at Stapleton Rd...

Does seem weird...  FIT makes sense as it's where the line splits, and it was rebuilt there specifically for the MOD

But seeing as SRD already has 4 platforms (albeit currently half buried), and LWH still has it's island platform with plenty of room to reinstate the 4th if they cut the vegetation back to the boundary, Ashley Hill having 4 is confusing

Could understand it if the new Horfield Junction on the map with the crossovers between relief and main lines was between SRD and Ashley Hill in case they had to re-route trains if the relief lines were out of action due to track circuit failure / broken down train etc., but Ashley Hill is obviously before that junction

Obviously only the current platforms at SRD and LWH can serve the Severn Beach line with Narroways junction as it is, but any problem with the relief lines in that area would leave no platform provision at either of those stations

[SandTEngineer]

Thanks for that, SandTengineer! One question: what exactly is "recovered track"?

In (mainline) railway signalling design practice the colours used are:

BLACK - Equipment/track to be retained unaltered
GREEN - Equipment/track to be removed/recovered (Green for GO)
RED - New Equipment/track (Red for STOP or ADD^▸ (Automatic Dropping Device))

Other colours are used to show options (e.g. BLUE, PURPLE or ORANGE)

Hope that is of interest?

[SandTEngineer]

For my two pennorth, I'm confused as to why there's passive provision for a 4-platform station at Ashley Hill but not at Stapleton Rd...

Unfortunately there is no explanation on the signalling scheme drawing, it will be in the supporting paperwork somewhere, but I don't have access to that.

[Bmblbzzz]

Thanks for that, SandTengineer! One question: what exactly is "recovered track"?

In railway signalling design the colours used are:

BLACK - Equipment/track to be retained unaltered
GREEN - Equipment/track to be removed/recovered (Green for GO)
RED - New Equipment/track (Red for STOP or ADD^▸ (Automatic Dropping Device))

Other colours are used to show options (e.g. BLUE, PURPLE or ORANGE)

Hope that is of interest?

I should have been clearer in my question: Track to be retained unaltered is obvious, as is new track, but what does it mean that track is to be recovered? Does it mean it's already on site but will be taken from Position A and reused in Position B; so it's not actually new, but it is being altered?

[Bmblbzzz]

For my two pennorth, I'm confused as to why there's passive provision for a 4-platform station at Ashley Hill but not at Stapleton Rd...

<cynically>It's so they can not build/restore platforms at SRD, by saying there is provision for 4 platforms at Ashley Hill, but not build those either because (reason to be inserted).</cynically>

[SandTEngineer]

Thanks for that, SandTengineer! One question: what exactly is "recovered track"?

In railway signalling design the colours used are:

BLACK - Equipment/track to be retained unaltered
GREEN - Equipment/track to be removed/recovered (Green for GO)
RED - New Equipment/track (Red for STOP or ADD^▸ (Automatic Dropping Device))

Other colours are used to show options (e.g. BLUE, PURPLE or ORANGE)

Hope that is of interest?

I should have been clearer in my question: Track to be retained unaltered is obvious, as is new track, but what does it mean that track is to be recovered? Does it mean it's already on site but will be taken from Position A and reused in Position B; so it's not actually new, but it is being altered?

It means its there today but will be taken away completely when the RED work is commissioned.  In the case of the drawing for example, a set of points shown in GREEN will be taken away when the scheme is commissioned (or in some cases, as part of stagework prior to that).

[Bmblbzzz]

That's not what I had thought at all, so I'm glad I asked. Thanks for the explanation.

[johnneyw]

Has anyone had a look at the Filton Bank recently to see if there is any developments with the new sleepers paid between the two bridges? Not had a look since mid April.

[metalrail]

Has anyone had a look at the Filton Bank recently to see if there is any developments with the new sleepers paid between the two bridges? Not had a look since mid April.

Yeah I saw on Monday that there's rails on most of those sleepers that had been laid before, plus a lot more sleepers and more track laid further down towards where the track slews over by Muller Road bridge.  I thought I was filming it again coming up Filton Bank, only to find when I got home i'd pressed the photo button instead of video and just had a crap blurry pic!  DOH!  Taking another one later today or tomorrow so will load it up then

[metalrail]

We have Four Tracks, Now!  Well, in a couple of places anyway! 

Lots more progress on todays trip since a few weeks ago...  loads more sleepers in place, plus rails laid onto the sleepers that had been laid before...  there's actually 4 tracks again in old Horfield station!  Would appear from where the new sleepers and rails are now in position that will be between where the new crossovers are to be installed from the new relief to the main lines.  Also a lot more work around FIT

Here's the journey up showing all the new sleeper and track work...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgAHZ1k0U9o

And back down from FIT to LWH showing more trackbed work, and more work on the new SRD viaduct piers...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFAms61u0aE

Be very interesting to visit again next week after this weekends possession to see what progress has been made then