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

[whole diary]

[ReWind]

The 09.15 BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative)) - Severn Beach and 09.54 Severn Beach - BTM were cancelled this morning due to a train fault.

I wonder if the passengers at Severn Beach & St. Andrews Road were informed, as there was a 2 hour wait til the next service.

This must of affected services throughout the day, as the same units are used all day on this line.

[Chris from Nailsea]

See http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/galleries/Severn-Beach-Line-gallery-581748-detail/gallery.html

[bemmy]

Gone are the days when the Eveling Post always referred to it as the "Loss-making Severn Beach Line". They probably thought proper commuter lines, like what they have in London, are profitable. 

[inspector_blakey]

See http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/galleries/Severn-Beach-Line-gallery-581748-detail/gallery.html

Ooh, there's fancy. I didn't realize the Beach line was getting worked with 150s these days. Whenever I've travelled on it it's been a bouncy castle.

Seriously though, nice to see the Post giving the line some free promotion. It's a valuable asset that seems to be widely unappreciated!

[Timmer]

Ooh, there's fancy. I didn't realize the Beach line was getting worked with 150s these days. Whenever I've travelled on it it's been a bouncy castle.

Seriously though, nice to see the Post giving the line some free promotion. It's a valuable asset that seems to be widely unappreciated!

Wow not one but two 150s! Must have been a special Christmas treat for the line as it's usually worked by two 143s. I noticed the pics were taken on December 30th where a Saturday timetable was running the week after Christmas so there was probably some spare 150s at SPM^▸ (St Philip's Marsh (Bristol depot)) to run the Severn Beach services that week.

It should be appreciated as its a great line, and worth doing if you are ever in the Bristol area.

[inspector_blakey]

Definitely worth a journey just for the scenery. And you can't argue with an anytime return fare of ^3.00!

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

Bristol Temple Meads to Avonmouth/Severn Beach
The branch line will be suspended all day.
Customers are advised that there is currently no planned road replacement service due to the expected conditions of roads in the area.

[bemmy]

It didn't take much for them to decide to suspend it all day. Despite the fact that most local services appear to be running normally (for which Network Rail/FGW^▸ (First Great Western) deserve credit).

I appreciate the line will be the lowest possible priority in the FGW area, but if the current forecast is correct, the snow will turn to rain and there would be no reason not to run a service by the afternoon.

Or maybe with all their buses cancelled, FGW thought there would be too many passengers and they wouldn't be able to collect the fares. 

[autotank]

Seems a lot over the top - personally I struggle to accept all these delays cancellations are 100% necessary. Safety is important, but it seems to me they are going over the top.

[Brucey]

"Customers are advised that there is currently no planned road replacement service due to the expected conditions of roads in the area."

Is that why the number 8 and 9 buses (operated by First) have been going past my flat all day?  They serve both Clifton and Redland stations - couldn't First just allow train tickets to be used on their buses for the same route?

[moonrakerz]

Am I correct in saying that if a service is cancelled it doesn't count against, in the "on time" targets ? That was certainly the trick pulled a great deal on the Gatwick Express to give it such high "on time" figures.

I fear that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were more worried about their "targets" than passenger safety, or what ever other reason they dreamt up !

[devon_metro]

Its possible that the number of staff was reduced, so seemed easier to cancel Severn Beach.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site, under the heading "Severe Weather Conditions Friday 06 February 2009 (Thursday 05 February 2009 Time: 21:10)":

Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach
The Severn Beach line will operate a normal weekday train service.   

See http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=3682

[Brucey]

Line problem between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach.
Train services are being disrupted due to poor weather conditions between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach.Short notice cancellations can be expected.
Replacement road transport will currently not be provided due to poor road conditions.
Last Updated: 06/02/2009 08:54

There aren't any local buses running at the moment either.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I have it on very good authority that, while one Avonmouth service did run first thing this morning, the Severn Beach line was then closed, at the request (insistence?) of Network Rail.

This evening, an arrival from Avonmouth at 17:10 was shown on the screens at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative)) as 'on time', so I can only assume the line was then reopened sometime during the day.