Bridgwater station - services, facilities, improvements, events and incidents (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the First Great Western press release:

^800,000 to improve Bridgwater Station

Train operator First Great Western has welcomed the announcement of ^800,000 funds to improve Bridgwater Station.

Transport links in Bridgwater and Taunton will be upgraded with funding from the Department for Transport to ensure proper infrastructure is in place before the construction of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)^s first nuclear power plant in over 20 years.

Responding to the announcement First Great Western Regional Development Manager West Dan Okey said: "First Great Western are delighted that the Department for Transport has approved additional funding for improvements at Bridgwater. The growth in rail travel across Somerset has been significant and this will only grow further with additional investment in the area. The scheme will help integration with buses, which is important for onward travel to the town as well as for travel to Hinkley Point C.

^We have a strong partnership here with the council, the community and our industry partners and were pleased to support their bid.  We now look forward to working with them to develop the new station, and to secure further improvements for our customers.^

The transport schemes have been agreed by the Department for Transport and the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP^» (Local Enterprise Partnership - about)), which is made up of local councils and representatives from the private sector.

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said: ^The improved transport infrastructure for Somerset will support the area^s long term economic growth by providing public transport and cycle access to a nationally-important construction project. The Hinkley Point C power station will employ at least 5000 people, generate business for local suppliers, and comes with significant investment in training and skills for local people. Transport to the power plant will be easier, safer and more environmentally friendly following these improvements.^

The DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) has approved four schemes:
^        ^295,000 for a cycle route linking Bridgwater to Hinkley Point - this will see improved cycle facilities from Bridgwater to the site, it will include a cycle route separated from the road
^        ^150,000 for a scheme linking Taunton^s new DfT-funded inner distributor road to the rail station, improving connections between the railway and power station, helping the workforce that is expected to travel by rail - the Taunton Northern Inner Distributor Road is due to be completed in 2014 to 2015
^        ^800,000 for rail station improvements at Bridgwater, with the emphasis on linking trains with local bus services to allow the Hinkley workforce to get to and from the power station - the funding will ensure that the critical first phase improvements to the station and access are in place in good time
^        ^1.6 million for roads maintenance - this early funding will allow existing roads to be improved in advance, reducing disruption and avoiding costs to the taxpayer for preventative work further down the line

[JayMac]

Times that figure by a thousand and it still wouldn't be enough to improve the rest of the town! 

It's a place I lived in for a number of years, and whilst the locals, by and large, are a great bunch of folk, the town itself... well, the less said about that the better.

Best things to come out of Bridgwater? The A38 and the Bristol & Exeter Railway.

[Chris from Nailsea]

When I posted that item, I did so in the firm belief that it would rattle bignosemac's cage - and it has! 

[SDS]

Times that figure by a thousand and it still wouldn't be enough to improve the rest of the town! 

It's a place I lived in for a number of years, and whilst the locals, by and large, are a great bunch of folk, the town itself... well, the less said about that the better.

Best things to come out of Bridgwater? The A38 and the Bristol & Exeter Railway.

You still have the bridgie carnival?

[grahame]

From the Bridgewater Mercury

http://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/11539967.Proposal_to_improve_Bridgwater_Rail_Station/?ref=rss

Proposal to improve Bridgwater Rail Station



THE Friends of Bridgwater Station have announced a series of proposals to improve the town^s train station.

In a group document it was concluded that Bridgwater people will come to rely more heavily on public transport as the town grows.

The group argues for improved facilities and services and called for better integrated public transport to increase use.

Wasn't sure whether to post under "inappropriate pictures" in Lighter Side as that ain't Bridgewater ... but rather posting here as "Friends of Bridgwater Station" is a new one one me, and quick research online find a few references but no home page.   Anyone able to add a better link to them than

https://sites.google.com/site/bridgwaterwestoverweb/news/friendsofbridgwaterstationcampaignlaunched

[grahame]

http://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/13894193.Bridgwater_railway_station_to_be_given_expensive_new_make_over_and_better_links_to_the_town/?

Bridgwater railway station to be given expensive new make-over and better links to the town

As the Chinese Premier Xi Jinping confirmed the Hinkley deal last week with David Cameron one of the spin-offs linked to the investment is to do with Bridgwater Railway Station.

Speaking at a press launch for construction work to begin on a new hotel in the town last month Sedgemoor^s Phil Adams said the station was to get a make-over.

He said: "We have committed ^400,000 with the Transport Ministry committing ^400,000 to the railway station scheme to improve the frontage and to change the layout. It will have additional space for taxis, improve the outlook and it will improve the linkages into the college and a few other things."

[John R]

We're thinking of going tomorrow, but looking online there doesn't appear to be much in the way of services back after the procession, other than one additional stop on a TAU^» (Taunton - next trains) to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) service.  Does anyone know if there is any contingency planned for other services to operate, else we shall probably drive and take the park and ride, as we don't fancy being stranded.

[ChrisB]

That's the only extra I've had notification of via the Customer Panel

[John R]

Thanks ChrisB.

That's somewhat disappointing though.

[TonyK]

There are delays tonight for services coming from Taunton. Bristol Post reports that a man was hit by a train, suffering serious leg injuries.

Man rushed to Southmead Hospital after hit by train on Bristol to Taunton line

By EmmaGrimshaw  |  Posted: August 04, 2016

   



A man has been rushed to Southmead Hospital with serious leg injuries after being hit by a train between Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads.

Paramedics from South Western Ambulance Services rushed to Bridgewater Station after being called at 9:08pm.

The man was then rushed to Southmead Hospital after being given pain relief at the scene.

A critical care team from Great Western Air Ambulance also assisted.

Train passengers face delays of up to 60 minutes following the incident

Network Rail said it expected the disruption to continue until the end of the day.

I hope it ends as well as possible for the gentleman concerned.

I must let the reporter know the correct spelling of "Bridgwater".

[grahame]

Meetings  .. 23rd July (a Monday) and Thursday 18th October 2018, 7 p.m., GWRSA^» (Great Western Railway Staff Association - website) Club, Wellington Road, Bridgwater - very close to the station.  "Find us on Facebook" says the flyer I have

[grahame]

From this is the West Country

TWO Bridgwater councillors say much more needs to be done to make the town's railway station more user-friendly.

On Thursday, March 12,  Bridgwater town councillors Glen Burrows and Mick Lerry visited Bridgwater Station with the aim of looking at the facilities from the perspective of a first-time visitor and seeing what could be improved.

The pair came away feeling that a number of measures need to be taken, and concluding that 'very little attention has been given to the need to develop the rail station in Bridgwater as part of a vital, integrated transport network for an expanding town and district'.

Article goes on to list a whole shopping cart full of issues (a big cart too) many of which sound far too familiar from other stations. 

I suspect that attention is paid to the need, but working out what needs to be done and actually doing it are, far too often, different things.

[grahame]

From the Somerset County Gazette

TECH entrepreneur Elon Musk is rumoured to have visited Britain this week amid a government search for a site to build a huge electric car factory.

One of the possible sites is rumoured to be the 650-acre Gravity industrial park in Bridgwater, Somerset.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is on the hunt for a location for a vehicle research, development and manufacturing gigafactory, it is understood.

Officials are looking to secure around four million sq ft of industrial space for a mammoth plant, according to Property Week.

As we hear of folks like Honda and Nissan looking at the viability of their UK^▸ (United Kingdom) operations after Brexit, after Coronavirus, and perhaps after we realise we can no longer go on burning fossil fuel in private transport in the way we have, is this the first ... are we seeing a new acorn starting to grow into a mighty tree?

How much longer before Bridgwater deserves more stopping there that just an hourly train to Taunton and to Bristol with half a dozen stops and a dawdle via Weston on the way?

[Celestial]

I thought it rather curious that he flew in and out of Luton airport (unless of course he was visiting more sites than Bridgwater, though I didn't read of any).  I hope he doesn't go away thinking that Somerset would be a fine place to site the plant if it wasn't for the fact that the nearest airport is nearly 3 hours away.

[Noggin]

I thought it rather curious that he flew in and out of Luton airport (unless of course he was visiting more sites than Bridgwater, though I didn't read of any).  I hope he doesn't go away thinking that Somerset would be a fine place to site the plant if it wasn't for the fact that the nearest airport is nearly 3 hours away.

Luton airport has a top-notch VIP terminal and it's possible that his security team were more comfortable going into there than Bristol and he flew out by helicopter?

Also, perhaps the lockdown means that Bristol and Exeter aren't open to international private jets?

Can't see Elon stumping up money for a railway station if he can help it. More likely that like Dyson, Tesla would run an employee coach service from Bristol, Taunton and Exeter.