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[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

Portway Parkway is silly, inaccurate and will inevitably get called Porkway Partway.

You read it here first, folks! http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=18835.msg222812#msg222812

[jamestheredengine]

Surprised no-one's offered Briton Ferry Road yet as the height of the "Road" absurdity. Only about two miles from Briton Ferry, but on the wrong side of the Neath estuary and involving a boat back when it existed (perhaps unsurprisingly, it closed in 1936). I can't imagine any case in which a passenger would ever have chosen to use that station to get to Briton Ferry. Even from the Brecon direction, it would have made more sense to get off at Neath Riverside and either walk over to General station for the South Wales Main Line or get on a bus or (before 1920) tram.

[Lee]

Portway Parkway is silly, inaccurate and will inevitably get called Porkway Partway.

You read it here first, folks! http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=18835.msg222812#msg222812

And with these potential sponsors a mere 5-10 minutes drive away...

https://www.towers-thompson.co.uk/avonmouth.html

http://www.bmfoods.co.uk

[Bmblbzzz]

Ha! I'll have to remember to call it Partway Porkway instead!

[johnneyw]

I had a conversation with a senior member of the Portishead Railway Group earlier this week, who assures me the timescale is unduly pessimistic. He thinks it will be up and running by 2022.

Today's news about the funding makes this even more interesting!
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/all-about/portishead

Edit to add relevant link.

[TonyK]

Today's news about the funding makes this even more interesting!
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/all-about/portishead

Somebody at the Post had to be the first to confuse Portway with Portbury, I suppose. The article provides further ambiguity by the simple omission of a hyphen:

The platform will be long enough for five car trains and Network Rail also plans to install a ticket machine at the station - something which is not available on some of the other stations along the Severn Beach line.

"Whoopee - Motorail is back!".

[Bmblbzzz]

I can see it now: Severn Beach line to be extended to Portishead on new Avonmouth Bridge!

[grahame]

I can see it now: Severn Beach line to be extended to Portishead on new Avonmouth Bridge!

Branch off Severn Beach line.  430 metres of track needed ... see attachment.  Saves massive expense in Avon Gorge.  But probably adds massive expense and an operational swing or lift bridge for occasional use.  May result in need to redouble the Severn Beach line out as far as Sea Mills.  Paves way for high frequency (15 minute) service Temple Meads to Clifton Down inclusive, with alternate trains extended to Avonmouth & Severn Beach, and to Pill and Portishead. Silly idea.

[Western Pathfinder]

I was wondering when the Bridge would make a reappearance 😉

[grahame]

I was wondering when the Bridge would make a reappearance 😉

Comments keep cropping up that keep making me wonder.  I look at other bridge work - the Barmouth Bridge (twice as long) and Pont Brewit (length of bridge itself very similar; no need for road) and I do find myself wondering ... but as I say, silly idea.   Just would like someone to confirm that it really is silly 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-33512539/new-20m-pont-briwet-bridge-officially-opens-to-cars

http://historypoints.org/index.php?page=pont-briwet-penrhyndeudraeth

[Bmblbzzz]

I had in mind some sort of addition to the M5 bridge, rails tacked on to the side. I think that beats your idea, Graham, for silliness!

[Red Squirrel]

I had in mind some sort of addition to the M5 bridge, rails tacked on to the side. I think that beats your idea, Graham, for silliness!

Certainly beats it for hilliness...

[chuffed]

When widening of the bridge, was first mooted, many moons ago, one solution suggested by the Japanese, became known as the Nippon Clipon !

[chopper1944]

Why is a bridge to Portishead from the Severn Beach Line a silly idea?

[stuving]

Why is a bridge to Portishead from the Severn Beach Line a silly idea?

The Avon is part of the Port of Bristol, and large ships have a right of navigation as far as the harbour entrance. The current "air draught" under Avonmouth bridge is about 30 m at high tide, so any new bridge would need to be as high, movable, or its lower height agreed by the port company.