17th December 2018 - the start of toll free Severn Bridges

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Just seen that tolls are being removed from the Severn Bridges earlier than previously planned.

What do members expect to see in effects?

[NickB]

My parents. More often.

(They live in wales)

[Adrian]

M4 traffic jams more often

[Bmblbzzz]

M32 traffic jams more often. And similar in Cardiff.

[welshman]

Quite so.  The toll booths mean that the traffic on from there is spaced out to a degree.  The likely effect is that the westbound Brynglas Tunnel peak time queues will be back almost to Junction 23 instead of 24.   

[Bmblbzzz]

In addition to which, it will mean more road traffic across the Severn generally, as some people switch from train or bus to car and some start making journeys they would otherwise have deemed not worthwhile.

[martyjon]

Don't worry.

When the Welsh who have never visited Bristol belore and those paying a return visit have found they have to pick their way past open air dormitories of the street sleepers hostel, past occupied concrete bedrolls alongside concrete bedside cabinets the tops are which are cluttered with empty cans of what was the dormitories occupants last refreshment in a restricted area in which consumption of certain refreshments as those contained in the empty cans is prohibited demonstrates the bye-law is clearly not being monitored plus having to walk past further street dwellers requesting 'any change' for their next 4-pack purchase  and street buskers playing out of tune instruments those visitors from tother side of the Severn will say, "Visit Bristol, never again".

[simonw]

Its odd that one of the reasons for cancelling the expansion to the Mall@Cribbs was lack of traffic infrastructure, whilst this change should have been synchronised with a Park and Ride, with train access, in North Bristol.

[Celestial]

I wonder whether commuters from Severn Tunnel Junction might switch to Severn Beach. It's probably a bit slower, but much much cheaper.  (It costs £42 a week from STJ^▸ (Severn Tunnel Junction railway station) plus £16 for parking), but only £9 from Severn Beach. (That seems very cheap - is it correct?). Especially once the new junction opens on the M49 next year.

Apart from being slower the services aren't as frequent, which might be a bit of a pain, but still, £47 a week is a lot to save.

[martyjon]

I wonder whether commuters from Severn Tunnel Junction might switch to Severn Beach. It's probably a bit slower, but much much cheaper.  (It costs £42 a week from STJ^▸ (Severn Tunnel Junction railway station) plus £16 for parking), but only £9 from Severn Beach. (That seems very cheap - is it correct?). Especially once the new junction opens on the M49 next year.

Apart from being slower the services aren't as frequent, which might be a bit of a pain, but still, £47 a week is a lot to save.

But not much parking space at Severn Beach if any if I recall, have to look at google earth.

[Celestial]

That's a good point, but there seems to be enough on street parking in the vicinity. There also seems to be a lot of space to put a car park if needed, although I suppose that would then need to be paid for, so would reduce the savings a bit.

[grahame]

That's a good point, but there seems to be enough on street parking in the vicinity. There also seems to be a lot of space to put a car park if needed, although I suppose that would then need to be paid for, so would reduce the savings a bit.

I saw on the TV last night that "they"'re predicting a 23% growth in vehicle numbers over the bridge(s).  I wonder where this vehicles will come from / go to on each side of the river.

Porkway Parkway would have seemed like a possibility ... had it been open ... as it is, I expect quite a number will drive into Bristol, where the road system has plenty of spare capacity and the air is clean  ... or will head for places like Bath, where again I'm sure they'll be looking forward to the extra business.

[Red Squirrel]

...That seems very cheap - is it correct?

Yup, or £360 per year. Quite a bargain: https://travelwest.info/rail/severn-beach-line ...and, starting as you would be at the end of the line, you'd stand a fair chance of getting a seat in declassified First.

[Celestial]

The Park and Ride bus from Portway is another option, although it costs more, and probably takes longer to get to, so makes the option less attractive, as the savings will be less and the over all journey time longer.

[TaplowGreen]

Don't worry.

When the Welsh who have never visited Bristol belore and those paying a return visit have found they have to pick their way past open air dormitories of the street sleepers hostel, past occupied concrete bedrolls alongside concrete bedside cabinets the tops are which are cluttered with empty cans of what was the dormitories occupants last refreshment in a restricted area in which consumption of certain refreshments as those contained in the empty cans is prohibited demonstrates the bye-law is clearly not being monitored plus having to walk past further street dwellers requesting 'any change' for their next 4-pack purchase  and street buskers playing out of tune instruments those visitors from tother side of the Severn will say, "Visit Bristol, never again".

I think there's a little more to Bristol than that (and I speak as a Plymothian!). Unless you live in a bubble, you'll find similar scenes in all large cities (and not so large towns). People tend to understand that.