Severn Beach line - timetables, engineering work, closures, incidents (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[Lee]

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website :

13:15 Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach due 13:52
This train will run short formed with 1 carriages.This is due to an earlier train fault.

13:54 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads due 14:32
This train will run short formed with 1 carriages.This is due to an earlier train fault.

[Timmer]

From FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Website:

Line problem between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach.
Train services between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach are being disrupted due to vandalism.Short notice cancellations can be expected.

Replacement road transport will operate between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach in both directions.

Quite a list of cancellations appearing on the live updates page so best to check before travelling.

[John R]

Though all the replacement buses are shown in the OLDBs which is helpful.

Major problems in South Wales as well with the main line closed at Ponyclun due to flooding.

[Graz]

The NR^» (Network Rail - home page) site says it was down to signalling problems...looks like some desperate lowlifes stealing cables again.

[Lee]

From FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) :

Severnside Community Rail Partnership
Severn Beach Line Working Group
 
Notes of Meeting held at Temple Quay House on 21 July 2008
Present;
Keith Walton                Chairman
Mike Carroll                 First Great Western
Mike Holmes                First Great Western
Anne-Marie Delrosa     First Great Western
Jerry Swift                    Network Rail
Mike Franklin               Network Rail
Cllr Peter Abraham       Bristol City Council
Cllr Alex Woodman      Bristol City Council
Pete Woodhouse          Bristol City Council
Cllr Peter Tyzack          South Gloucestershire Council
Helen Young                South Gloucestershire Council
Bernard Lane               Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways
Joe Patrick                   Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways
Terry Miller                  FOSBR;CTC
 
1.       Apologies for Absence
Julian Crow, James White, Mike Greedy, Robin Lapworth, Sarah Collins, David Hibbs
 
2.  Chairmans introduction
The Chairman explained that the prime aim of the Group was to oversee the implementation of the Severn Beach Line Development plan, which was produced in March 2007 and set out a three year timescale for improvements.  Since the Groups last meeting there had been considerable progress;-
 
a new more frequent train service on weekdays, and a new Sunday service;
stations are now much improved, and more friendly, safer places;
the service is much more reliable; the trains run, and generally run to time;
major improvements to the infrastructure are in progress;  we look forward this year to;-
 
a new customer information system
the introduction of CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision)
a range of small station improvements eg seats, better lighting, community notice boards
a turn-back facility at Clifton Down
the line has been designated as a community rail service;  this recognises community involvement, facilitates more local influence on train services, and a more flexible approach to the way the line is run; eg zonal fares;
considerable improvements are being delivered - with strong support from Bristol and South Gloucestershire Councils, FGW^▸ (First Great Western), Network Rail, FOSBR and the community - and it is now very important that we deliver a positive message to attract new passengers.
 
3.  Minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2008
These were approved
 
4.  Current train performance
Mike Carroll explained that performance had much improved since the start of the summer timetable; new drivers were in training, with the aim of having by autumn sufficient drivers without resorting to rest day overtime. Avoidance of cancellations was now a key FGW objective - improving fleet performance was essential element in this.   In response to points raised, MC confirmed that the refurbishment of the cl 143s would start in September; it was suggested the work should include a facility for the driver to operate the doors as this would enable the conductor to concentrate on fare collection, and would speed up the service. Action MC.
Members commented about conductors not issuing tickets.  There had been a shortage of ticket machines, but more were on order. It was suggested that conductors hold stocks of emergency tickets;.  Action MC
 
5.  Passenger journeys
The latest passenger data had been circulated, and Members noted the encouraging growth since the start of the new timetable.  Although the overall numbers were accurate, the introduction of zonal fares meant that there were problems about station to station figures.  It was agreed that there needed to be a review of the fare collection passenger number data, which in future would probably be more useful if split by zone.  MC would review this.  Members also asked for data on the use of the Saturday bus and the Sunday train services. It was agreed this would be circulated.  The need for more information on why passengers were using the line was stressed. Action MC

6.  Progress on implementation of the Line Development Plan
Infrastructure issues
It was confirmed that FGW hoped to start commissioning the new free-standing platform customer information system display units by the end of the year.  There would be additional units at Clifton Down and Lawrence Hill to cater for bus interchange.  Bristol City Council anticipated procuring the CCTV system early in 2009; South Gloucestershire confirmed that they would also like this to cover Severn Beach station. The principle being adopted for stations was to create a safe haven around the area where passengers waited, with this area, the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) display, the seats and cycle storage all being covered by CCTV;
The contract for the Clifton Down turn-back was about to be signed.  When this was implemented, FGW was be examining the feasibility of an additional late evening service from Temple Meads as far as Clifton Down
The visibility problems at Shirehampton still needed to be addressed and the mirror installed.  Action FGW
Station community work
Further cleaning and clearance had been undertaken at Avonmouth and other stations. The Probation Service would be helping to repaint Redland station.
Members were concerned about the weed growth in the track and asked that Network Rail action this. Network Rail advised that they had been reviewing trackbed litter-clearing frequencies at FGW stations including Avonmouth. They have put proposals to FGW, who meet the larger proportion of costs for litter-clearing within station limits. Weed killing is not part of this arrangement, and MF^▸ ((in timetables) Monday to Friday) will advise when this is scheduled
The improvements at stations had led to a reduction in reported station crime.
Integration
Bristol confirmed that it was still their intention to introduce inter-availability of rail and bus tickets for the 903 bus serving Sea Mills and Shirehampton;  Members hoped that this could now go ahead quickly. Action PW^▸ (Permanent Way)
Marketing
Anne-Marie Delrosa outlined the recent marketing, which had included door drops of leaflets, posters, off station advertising, newspaper advertisements and e-mails to FGW customers. FGW would be analysing the vouchers from the free Sunday travel offer. The Chairman confirmed that the new dedicated web-site for the line had been well received, and thanked Joe Patrick for his work on this.
 
7.  Future timetable issues
Weekdays. MC confirmed that it was hoped to operate an additional evening peak service at 18.34 from Temple Meads to Avonmouth from December, thus filling a long gap;  this was welcomed.  Through trains to;from Bath were also suggested for a future timetable revision.
Sundays. The meeting considered the note produced by the Chairman on suggested revisions to the pattern of Summer Sunday services; the suggestion of altering timings to produce better connections at Temple Meads was welcomed, as was the prospect of some through journeys to;from Weston-super-Mare. FGW were investigating the feasibility and costs of the latter.
 
8.  Date of next meeting
To be advised.

[Lee]

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website :

07:05 Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach due 07:42

This train will be terminated at Avonmouth.It will no longer call at: St Andrews Road and Severn Beach.This is due to signalling problems.

07:20 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads due 07:58

This train will be started from Avonmouth.It will no longer call at: Severn Beach and St Andrews Road.This is due to signalling problems.

07:54 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads due 08:32

This train will be started from Avonmouth.It will no longer call at: Severn Beach and St Andrews Road.This is due to signalling problems.

UPDATE - The 0754 now shows as reinstated.

[Lee]

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website :

06:31 Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach due 07:08

This train has been cancelled.This is due to a train fault.

07:20 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads due 07:58

This train has been cancelled.This is due to an earlier train fault.

That's the second day in a row that Severn Beach-Avonmouth passengers have had no 0720 service (link below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3535.msg27477#msg27477

[Lee]

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website :

12:03 Bristol Temple Meads to Avonmouth due 12:30

This train has been cancelled.This is due to a train fault.

12:35 Avonmouth to Bristol Temple Meads due 13:05

This train has been cancelled.This is due to an earlier train fault.

13:15 Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach due 13:52

This train will be terminated at Avonmouth.It will no longer call at: St Andrews Road and Severn Beach.This is due to an earlier train fault. Road transport in operation between Avonmouth and Severn Beach.

13:54 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads due 14:32

This train will be started from Avonmouth.It will no longer call at: Severn Beach and St Andrews Road.This is due to an earlier train fault. Road transport in operation between Severn Beach and Avonmouth.

[grahame]

Poor start to the month, in fact ...

20081003   16:03   Bristol Temple Meads   16:30   Avonmouth   shorter train, rolling stock issues
20081003   13:54   Severn Beach   14:32   Bristol Temple Meads   short working, rolling stock issues
20081003   13:15   Bristol Temple Meads   13:52   Severn Beach   short working, rolling stock issues
20081003   12:35   Avonmouth   13:05   Bristol Temple Meads   complete cancellation, rolling stock issues
20081003   12:03   Bristol Temple Meads   12:30   Avonmouth   complete cancellation, rolling stock issues
20081002   07:20   Severn Beach   07:58   Bristol Temple Meads   complete cancellation, rolling stock issues
20081002   06:31   Bristol Temple Meads   07:08   Severn Beach   complete cancellation, rolling stock issues
20081001   07:20   Severn Beach   07:58   Bristol Temple Meads   short working, infrastructure issues
20081001   07:05   Bristol Temple Meads   07:42   Severn Beach   short working, infrastructure issues

[Lee]

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website :

05:25 Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach due 06:02

This train will be terminated at Avonmouth.It will no longer call at: St Andrews Road and Severn Beach.This is due to a train fault.

06:03 Severn Beach to Weston-Super-Mare due 07:25

This train will be started from Avonmouth.It will no longer call at: Severn Beach and St Andrews Road.This is due to a train fault.

[Lee]

A poem from Friends Of Suburban Bristol Railways (link below.)
http://www.fosbr.org.uk/magazine.php?magid=0000000144

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks, Lee - and FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways)! 

In a welcome acknowledgement that the price of copper is perhaps encouraging such incidents, it's interesting that, elsewhere,

The old copper power line is being replaced by an aluminium one.

For full details, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/7674059.stm

[John R]

Price of copper is down by about 40% in the last few months, but I guess those in the habit of stealing cable will still find it worth doing. I do wonder where they find a market for it, as I would have hoped any reputable scrap merchant would not touch it with a barge pole. But that's probably me being naive. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Well, it's apparently still a national problem, John: see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/surrey/7657679.stm 

[Lee]

This can be found in the link below, along with other useful graphs, maps and tables.
http://www.fosbr.org.uk/magazine.php?magid=0000000147