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

[whole diary]

[dog box]

Track Defect at Avonmouth Dock Level Crossing which requires basically the Complete Crossing to be replaced

[JayMac]

Just having a look at the emergency timetable for tomorrow. Seems a bit silly to have two Rail Replacement vehicles just to keep to the timetabled SVB departure. Seeing as how the return trip can't be done to make the connection at Avonmouth at 0956, why not have had the departure from Severn Beach leave a little later, thus needing just one vehicle at also reducing the 52 minute wait at Avonmouth. For the passenger survey, I was going to go out to Severn Beach to see if anyone was going to be travelling, but if I did I'd be stuck out there until late afternoon!

Instead I'll just take the outward Rail Replacement vehicle to St Andrew's Road, have a quick nosey at the work on the Dock's level crossing and walk back to Avonmouth in time for the 0956.



Finally. Not quite sure how FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are going to run three trains at the same time from Weston-super-Mare. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Finally. Not quite sure how FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are going to run three trains at the same time from Weston-super-Mare. 

Three 153s, running very close together?  

[JayMac]

All rather academic. Didn't get to the SVB line today. 

[Bristolboy]

The new greater bristol rail group (set up by various interested parties including councillors last week) are claiming that fgw will run an extra train on the sever beach line from this autumn at no extra cost to taxpayers:

greaterbristolrail.com/2012/02/28/people-power-rail-improvements-coming-in-already/



Edited to fix link. bignosemac.

[JayMac]

Welcome news. Another little improvement from FGW^▸ (First Great Western). There appear to be a fair few of these (planned, confirmed, or rumoured) improvements going on across the FGW network recently.

Charm offensive for the franchise renewal?

I'll let The Rt. Hon. Francis Urquhart MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) answer that..... 

[JayMac]

The additional evening service on the Severn Beach Line is starting 17th September 2012 and is in online journey planners and has been for a few weeks. Can't believe I've missed that!

Mon-Fri:
2137 Bristol TM^‡(resolve) - Avonmouth 2205
2216 Avonmouth - Bristol TM 2253

Sat
2140 Bristol TM - Avonmouth 2208
2216 Avonmouth - Bristol TM 2250

Amended timetable .pdf available from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website: http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/~/media/PDF/Tickets%20and%20train%20times/Planned%20Changes/TT29_Sept%20Normal.ashx

A most welcome addition to the timetable, plugging the 1h42min gap between trains in the current timetable.

[JayMac]

From The Post (Bristol):

Popular Severn Beach line gets new late service

A NEW night-time train service has been added to the Severn Beach line.

The extra service was launched by First Great Western last night with a train leaving Temple Meads at 9.37pm.

Its introduction follows the significant increase in passenger numbers using the line since improvements were made to the service in 2008.

The new late service out of Temple Meads was sent on its way by singers from the North Bristol Wellbeing Choir, members of the Friends of Suburban Railway and representatives from First Great Western, the city council and the West of England Partnership.

The return service from Avonmouth was then due back into the station at 10.48pm.

The extra service is now running on weeknights and Saturdays.

Julie Boston, co-ordinator for Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways, said the introduction of the new service was "very significant" but said it was still not good enough for a city.

"Considering this is a city it is pathetic, but considering it is an improvement we have to celebrate.

"The Severn Beach line has gone from strength to strength and this can only help. Our members have told us for some time that they needed later trains and it is great to see they are now being added to the timetable.

"We are delighted that First Great Western has brought out a new timetable showing this improved service."

Councillor Tim Kent, who is responsible for transport in the city, said improvements to the line were a sign of things to come.

He said: "The new service will fill a gap in what is one of the west's most popular lines.

"Growth of over 100 per cent just over the last few years demonstrates the potential for rail to deliver and expand in this region with latent demand waiting to be unlocked. With frequent services, acceptable fares and investment in stations we have seen rapid growth.

"This is why we will be delivering the first part of the Greater Bristol Metro here on the Severn Beach Line next year. Our plans for the Portway Park and Ride are now turning into reality. The new facility is due to open in just over six months. This will be the first of the ten new stations, two new lines and significant increase in frequency that is planned over the next ten years as part of the Greater Bristol Metro investment plan."

Mark Hopwood, managing director of First Great Western, said: "First Great Western has worked hard with Bristol City Council and the Severnside Community Rail Partnership to improve and promote services on this popular route through Bristol. The huge increase in passenger numbers has encouraged us to put on this additional return train, providing a more frequent evening service."

The new service leaves Temple Meads at 9.37pm, calling at all stations to Avonmouth, arriving at 10.03pm. The return journey leaves Avonmouth at 10.17pm, arriving at Temple Meads at 10.48pm.

[Red Squirrel]

By way of redressing the balance slightly, for those who may feel left out by all the activity at the right hand end of the Great Western: I bumped into a chap with a bucket of paint and a sheet of medium grit sandpaper at Montpelier Station on Thursday. Seemed to be painting just about everything, including the handrail of the steps up to Cromwell Road which, at a guess, haven't seen any maintenance since the Old King died.

So how d'ya like THEM apples, Reading fans?

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Gazette Series:

'Please let us pay our train fares' Severn Beach campaigners beg First Great Western


Cllr Robert Griffin and Chris Smith

^Let us pay our train fares,^ Severn Beach commuters are pleading First Great Western amid growing fears that the Bristol line may be falsely perceived as unprofitable and scrapped.

Many would consider themselves lucky to encounter no conductor on their way to work and save a few pounds, but for Chris Smith, a software developer, and scores of other villagers, being unable to pay for their journey could lead to the only direct service from Severn Beach to Temple Meads being cancelled.

As there is no ticket machine at the village railway station, passengers hop on a train where their ^2 or ^3 round fare is supposed to be collected. Yet, seeing a conductor on the line is a rare occasion and a majority of travellers go free most days.

This state of affairs has sparked concern among locals that the service will appear unprofitable to provider First Great Western and that it could eventually be scrapped, as has recently happened with some bus services in the region.

Mr Smith, 40, has therefore launched a petition asking First Great Western for better checks and is hoping to gather at least 100 signatures from fellow commuters. The father-of-one told the Gazette: ^I take the Severn Beach line every day to Temple Meads. That's a completely unmanned station with no way to get tickets. If you get off at another unmanned station, there is no way for you to pay. Because it is a relatively isolated community people are concerned that if the line appears unprofitable we will lose the service. We are asking for facilities to pay, however it would work, whether it is a machine or having more ticket collectors. The idea is to get signatures to show that there's public concern. That's the first step."

The Severn Beach line saw a significant increase in passenger numbers since improvements were made to the service in 2008. The extent of the increase is difficult to measure however as the financial evidence simply is not available, according to Pilning and Severn Beach Cllr Robert Griffin. ^Rail services are incredibly important in Severn Beach and so Chris is to be congratulated for his petition," he said. ^If First Great Western think that rail services to and from Severn Beach are not well-used because they fail to collect the fares that users are willing to pay, then that puts those services at risk of being cut. We need to do what we can to make the train company realise how popular local rail services are, which is why Chris has my staunch support.^

A First Great Western spokesman said the company was already in the process of recruiting new ticket inspector staff. "It's not for me to comment on profitability," he said. "We have introduced a Scholar ticket for students so that they can buy a season ticket. There are already season tickets available for commuters. We undertook inspections on the line in September and we hope we can undertake inspections on a regular basis. We are also looking to recruit additional assistant ticket examiners. Any fear that the services are going to be reduced is completely unfounded."

To view the petition visit http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/first-great-western-trains-provide-more-ticket-collectors-on-trains-on-the-severn-beach-line-2

[JayMac]

Seeing a Conductor is NOT rare, every train has one. All services in the peaks inbound have an Assistant Ticket Examiner, meaning there are two members of staff selling tickets at peak times.

I find it hard to believe that 'the majority' of passengers from Severn Beach are going free most days. From stations further up the line, maybe. But even then only a handful of people who are boarding and alighting at the inner stations excluding Temple Meads. Those commuting to Temple Meads will encounter barriers and have to buy their ticket before exiting.

Revenue collection on this line is excellent, bearing in mind the closely spaced stations. If anyone boarding at Severn Beach is not being sold a ticket (which I find barely believable) and is concerned about it, they can quite easily ask the Conductor or ATE to sell them one. Boarding at, say, Redland and alighting at Stapleton Road I can well believe there is no opportunity to buy a ticket, but not Severn Beach to Temple Meads.

In the past three years I have always had the opportunity to buy a ticket on inbound AM peak services. And that's from further up the line at either Avonmouth or Shirehampton.

Finally, if Mr Smith is commuting every day then I'd respectfully suggest he buys a Season Ticket. At worst that only requires a purchase once a week.

[bobm]

As for the line being "perceived as unprofitable and scrapped" - what about the extra evening round trip introduced recently?

[TonyK]

I agree with bobm's point. The subsidy to run services on the line has been cut year on year. I am convinced that if everyone paid a fare, it would not need subsidy at all. Bignosemac is right about peak services from Clifton Down onwards. The time between stops means that one member of staff is effectively employed in working the doors most of the time. The ticket machines seem time-consuming, especially with purchases involving a plastic card, and I have often made it from Redland to BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) without being approached, frustrating when my final destination is not usually Temple Meads. And I have once ridden all the way from Severn Beach to Temple Meads without being asked for a ticket.

Additional opportunities to buy tickets off the train are needed. Conductors can then concentrate on checking, not selling. Weekly tickets are great, but we have now seen a picture of the Travelwest smart card:



courtesy of the Bristol Post. This should be rolled out across bus services by next year, starting now on the Bath Park and Ride. If we are to have a truly integrated Greater Bristol Metro, then this should be made available on local rail journeys too, with a maximum daily price cap across all modes.

[JayMac]

From the Bristol Post

Call for Sunday operation as Portway Park and Ride station date confirmed.

The planned Portway Park and Ride train station, which should be open by April 2016, should run services on Sundays, campaigners say.

The new stop on the Severn Beach Line would enable commuters to park their car and then take a rail service to places like Clifton and Redland or on to Temple Meads.

As the Severn Beach line is single track, only one platform is needed and a footbridge is not required.

It has been reported that a kit-type platform has also reduced the cost of the project from ^3m to ^750,000.

Campaigners say there is a desire for Sunday services and also called on the city council to expand the current bus park and ride service to include Sundays.

Local councillor Wayne Harvey said: "We have been waiting quite a while now for this but I am pleased there is now a date in the diary."However we have to be sure that it operates as effectively as possible and this means Sunday opening. In fact, I will be pushing to have the current bus park and ride extended to Sundays."

Bristol north West MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Charlotte Leslie, who is campaigning for a Henbury Loop as part of the MetroWest rail infrastructure, said that opening the park and ride to users of the Severn Beach Line was another essential component in getting cars off Bristol's congested streets.

She said: "I would have been happier if this had happened sooner as we cannot do enough to reduce the chronic congestion in the northern parts of the city."Network Raid told Ms Leslie: "Network Rail's programme of delivery is to achieve an April/May 2016 opening date (for the Portway station). 

Network Rail is to procure consultants for the GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects) Stage 3 report. The second Value Management workshop was put back to June 2014 due to Network Rail's commitments on electrification, Filton Bank four tracking and Bristol East Junction, however sufficient time has been built into the programme of delivery to achieve the proposed April/May 2016 opening date."

GRIP ( Governance for Railway Investment Projects) is the process which helps decide if major rail projects get the go-ahead.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From First Great Western JourneyCheck:

20:03 Avonmouth to Bristol Temple Meads due 20:34
Will be formed of 1 coach instead of 2 between Avonmouth and Bristol Temple Meads.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
Last Updated: 24/12/2014 19:03

What's all that about, then?