New plans for the Gloucester railway triangle

[whole diary]

[Lee]

The future of the Railway Triangle in Gloucester is under discussion - with plans for a new city railway station at the forefront once more (links below.)
http://thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=231771&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231754&home=yes&more_nodeId1=231776&contentPK=20832947

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/gloucester.html/Talks-reopen-plans-Railway-Triangle/article-185403-detail/article.html

[Shazz]

I give it a few months before it gets scrapped again.

[12hoursunday]

There was not so long talks about the building of a new stadium for Gloucester Rugby in this area. What happened about that?

[Btline]

I give it a few months before it gets scrapped again.

The other point is that Cheltenham station will get a reduced service by expresses if some sort of "joint" station is built.

[Shazz]

...no it won't

The station proposed by the above is still firmly in gloucester.

[Graz]

I remember reading somewhere Virgin would not call every service at Chelt Spa and the Gloucester new station should that be built, but I'm not sure what Arriva's stance would be...

[eightf48544]

Things come round in circles, wasn't it the Gloucester T staion that helped hasten the end of Brunel's Broad Gauge? With the problems of changing from the Midland to the Great Western and the famous cartoon.

Now it seems Gloucester is still causing problems due to the location of its station.

Perhaps Estgate should not have been shut, which I believe was a case of the motorist not being inconvinienced by the level crossings on the line.

[Btline]

XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) will not want to call at both stations, with or without the reversal.

They are seeking to slash journey times not adding to them.

That is why they want "Gloucestershire Parkway" - will would be built nearish the triangle - so they get passengers from both cities.

[John R]

Yes, interesting that 125mph running between Barnt Green and Westerleigh is back on the Agenda. Although in my view you could save a couple of minutes by grade-separating Westerleigh and moving the junction half a mile west to permit a fast diverge and avoid the 30mph restriction. Would also improve train regulation at this point as more services are planned for Yate.

But it'll never happen..... 

[Chris from Nailsea]

"Ambitious plans to transform Gloucester's Railway Triangle have gone on show.  The proposals for the 86-acre wasteland site off Metz Way were officially unveiled by developers LxB in partnership with Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company and the city council."

For full details, see http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/latestnews/Plans-Railway-Triangle/article-303120-detail/article.html

[Graz]

Interesting that the article didn't focus too much on the plans for a new station. There's no doubt at all Gloucester needs better rail services (especially to/from Bristol), but I still have reservations on the impact on services to Cheltenham Spa if that station was built.

[G.Uard]

I share the concerns of Graz, (above).


Increased line speeds may not gel with two stops within less than 8 miles.  If the triangle station is ever built, XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) could well take a long hard look at both Cheltenham and the new station before deciding which to serve.  An alternate service may be the answer, but I can't see that being well received in Cheltenham, nor justifying the expense of a new station in Gloucester.

The cynic in me suggests that this is an exercise in publicity for the as yet under subscribed regeneration project at Gloucester Docks.

[Graz]

^ That's exactly right.

In my view, in regards to Gloucester's current station, it would be best to leave things as they are but look into increasing fast trains from Bristol to Gloucester. Gloucester as it is now has a great service to Cardiff (2 tph), an adequate service to Swindon (and Paddington - 1tph), soon to have 1tph to Worcester and the XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) services provide an OK service to Birmingham (1tph) for the time being. However services to Bristol aren't so good, being fairly slow and with small trains. I'm certainly not suggesting trains to Cam & Dursley and Yate be cut, rather that there should be another train the opposite half hour that is fast and will stop people taking the car down the M5. This train is definitely needed in peak times as morning trains from Bristol to Gloucester are grossly inadequate.

Another thing I will add (And I won't stop! ) is Cheltenham Spa needs a 3rd bay platform to cope with the amount of trains which terminate there now.

[John R]

^ That's exactly right.


Another thing I will add (And I won't stop! ) is Cheltenham Spa needs a 3rd bay platform to cope with the amount of trains which terminate there now.

Agree. And if the third platform were built on the trackbed of the Broadway line, then what would be to stop it being extended into the centre as a second stage.

[bemmy]

Agree. And if the third platform were built on the trackbed of the Broadway line, then what would be to stop it being extended into the centre as a second stage.

The taxi drivers?