Another Bristol Parkway Closure - for three weeks

[whole diary]

[simonw]

https://www.gwr.com/travel-updates/planned-engineering/electrification2018

Is this the second or third full multi week closure this year (can't remember if one closure was partial)?, apart from every weekend this year and quite a few Mondays when nothing works!

What is going on that they have to fully close a main line station again? Why could they not have laid the extra track during one of the other shutdowns, or used one of their track laying trains over the weekend?

The bus replacement service will probably be a joke again. Insufficient buses, drivers who get lost from FAW to BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) and a bus timetable that is an aspiration but never delivered!

[grahame]

Is this the second or third full multi week closure this year (can't remember if one closure was partial)?, apart from every weekend this year and quite a few Mondays when nothing works!

What is going on that they have to fully close a main line station again? Why could they not have laid the extra track during one of the other shutdowns, or used one of their track laying trains over the weekend?

It often feels that what used to be able to be done overnight or between trains now takes a week's closure.   Mind, there is a positive aspect and the risk of something like The Staplehurst Accident has been reduced to virtually zero.

[Timmer]

It often feels that what used to be able to be done overnight or between trains now takes a week's closure.   

Simple reason is that they are so far behind they've gone for the nuclear option of long continual closures to get the work done, yet it's just been revealed the line to Cardiff won't be complete until around this time next year and not at the end of this year as planned.

[simonw]

With this three-week closure approaching, I have now looked into my travel options.

The train I currently use is the 0624, Bristol Parkay to Penzance, (for Temple Meads) which for these three weeks will start at 0628 from Filton Abbey Wood. Sonds good, but how do I get to Filton Abbey Wood for 0625?

The bus services from Bristol Parkway start at 0640, so not good.

No cycle access weith the current building of Platform 4 and four tracking.

No bus service to Filton Abbey Wood, but a 10 minute walk from Abbey Wood retail park park.

So, it looks as if I'll have to get a bus ticket each day.

It's a real shame, Bristol Parkway, whilst shut, will still have excellent Cycle racks and 1900 parking spaces, probably more than all other rail stations in Bristol area put together!

Why couldn't GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) run an earlier bus to Filton Abbey Wood in the morning, and allow more people to easily get to Temple Meads for work and connections.

[CMRail]

With this three-week closure approaching, I have now looked into my travel options.

The train I currently use is the 0624, Bristol Parkay to Penzance, (for Temple Meads) which for these three weeks will start at 0628 from Filton Abbey Wood. Sonds good, but how do I get to Filton Abbey Wood for 0625?

The bus services from Bristol Parkway start at 0640, so not good.

No cycle access weith the current building of Platform 4 and four tracking.

No bus service to Filton Abbey Wood, but a 10 minute walk from Abbey Wood retail park park.

So, it looks as if I'll have to get a bus ticket each day.

It's a real shame, Bristol Parkway, whilst shut, will still have excellent Cycle racks and 1900 parking spaces, probably more than all other rail stations in Bristol area put together!

Why couldn't GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) run an earlier bus to Filton Abbey Wood in the morning, and allow more people to easily get to Temple Meads for work and connections.

Oh well, it’s not for that long.
Oh wait, have fun during Four Track Filton!

[froome]

Can Patchway station really cope with the numbers that would normally use Bristol Parkway?

[grahame]

Can Patchway station really cope with the numbers that would normally use Bristol Parkway?

There is probably a reliance on some of the traffic being lost to rail in the immediate area, and some going via bus to Filton Abbey Wood or Yate.   

The question that the planner ask themselves is not "how do we cope with normal traffic" but rather "how do we cope with the number who offer".  The number who offer can be influenced by the quality and quantity of the (replacement) service offered, and sadly at times decisions are taken that turn off all but the most determined travellers to save on the cost of rail replacement.

[froome]

Can Patchway station really cope with the numbers that would normally use Bristol Parkway?

There is probably a reliance on some of the traffic being lost to rail in the immediate area, and some going via bus to Filton Abbey Wood or Yate.   

The question that the planner ask themselves is not "how do we cope with normal traffic" but rather "how do we cope with the number who offer".  The number who offer can be influenced by the quality and quantity of the (replacement) service offered, and sadly at times decisions are taken that turn off all but the most determined travellers to save on the cost of rail replacement.

Depressingly I'm sure this is all true.

[grahame]

Noting (see attachment) that the London to Bristol Parkway works will be finished after these sets of engineering - this is from a letter from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and NR^» (Network Rail - home page).

I don't understand how these works will enable the new trains to be brought in though - I though they were able to run already - though I do agree it will be better to have them running on electricity.

[Noggin]

Noting (see attachment) that the London to Bristol Parkway works will be finished after these sets of engineering - this is from a letter from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and NR^» (Network Rail - home page).

I don't understand how these works will enable the new trains to be brought in though - I though they were able to run already - though I do agree it will be better to have them running on electricity.

I'm nit picking, but I see no such promise in that image - it's just work towards it being finished.

I suppose it is true that they will enable 387's to be introduced, but indeed, the 80x's are quite happy to run on their diesel engines, so it does seem a little sloppy/economical with the truth. 

[TonyK]

No pain, no gain. There are a number of jobs being carried out simultaneously  - electrification, plus parts of remodelling of Days junction, fourth platform at FIT, and electrification. Rails have to be slewed, crossovers connected, and the whole stretch between BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) and BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) tidied up and tested etc. Probably even more to it than I imagine.

It will soon be in the past and forgotten. I, for one, can't wait to see four track soon.

[SandTEngineer]

No pain, no gain. There are a number of jobs being carried out simultaneously  - electrification, remodelling of Days junction, fourth platform at FIT, and electrification. Rails have to be slewed, crossovers connected, and the whole stretch between BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) and BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) tidied up and tested etc. Probably even more to it than I imagine.

It will soon be in the past and forgotten. I, for one, can't wait to see four track soon.

What user name are you going to have in January 2019, FTN?.....

[Western Pathfinder]

Four Tracked Now might be an ideal.😁

[grahame]

Four Tracked Now might be an ideal.😁

Six Track, Now!  ??

[SandTEngineer]

Actually, when the work is finished, there will be seven tracks that converge from the North end at Filton.....