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

[whole diary]

[anthony215]

This is good. I have travelled on this line and it does seem to be well used.

The trip is certainly interesting as well

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Bristol Evening Post:

A Clifton pub has been ordered to keep a lid on noise from its customers after residents complained of drinkers shouting, singing and swearing.

Residents in Whatley Road and Imperial Road complained that noisy customers drinking outside the Roo Bar, next to Clifton Down railway station, were repeatedly driving them to distraction.

The premises has now been served with a noise abatement order after city council officers visited the bar and ruled that too much of a din was being generated from customers congregating outside. If the Punch Pub Company-owned bar fails to keep its customers quiet, it could face having its licence reviewed.

City councillor Neil Harrison, who represents Cotham ward, said residents had been complaining about noise from the pub for a long time. He said people complained when football matches were screened on a television outside the pub, with customers singing and chanting next to a block of flats.

The Liberal Democrat said: "It's now up to the pub to make sure they keep to the notice. The noise is from people singing, shouting and, often, swearing. I get lots of complaints from the same people. The number of complaints is well into the dozens - in particular from two sets of residents. The problems tend to be in the evenings when the football is on until half 10.

Councillor Harrison added: "It's been recommended they hire door staff so they can make sure people are being reasonable. The noise abatement order is like a final warning. If they break it, the council has the scope to take them to court and have them fined for a breach."

The bar's licensee, Fred Aylett, believes the order was unfairly served on the venue because the noise levels were assessed by the council on a Saturday night. He said: "It had nothing to do with sport on TV. It was a Saturday night and you can imagine what Saturday nights are like on Whiteladies Road. The councillor has never come in to speak to us about the noise and neither have the residents. I can count the number of times the police have been out here on one hand ^ it's a nice pub in a nice environment and we don't have any trouble. I appreciate the neighbours don't like the noise and we try to keep it down as much as we can. We have signs up and do our bit to limit the noise."

James Easey, spokesman for Bristol City Council, said: "We are now working with the landlord and the brewery owner to reduce the problem of noise from customers congregating outside the bar."

[Mookiemoo]

I have to admit to partaking of a glass of wine there after my exam in october when I had 45 minutes until the next train to temple meads (I had contemplated a bus from the downs but seemed to take just as long).

Not an inviting atmosphere - one of the few station pubs where I have felt out of place as a woman alone and certainly - I can see how it could become OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot))

[JayMac]

....it's a nice pub in a nice environment....

Can we also get the Advertising Standards Agency involved for that statement? It's a grotty pub with a terrible 'environment'. Essentially in a car park in a cutting so nearly always in the shade. You can't even watch the trains go by as all the windows are blocked up on the station side. Owned by Punch Taverns, which says it all.

If you want a nice pub with a nice environment near Clifton Down Station then cross Whiteladies Road and pop in to the Penny Farthing.

[Mookiemoo]

....it's a nice pub in a nice environment....

Can we also get the Advertising Standards Agency involved for that statement? It's a grotty pub with a terrible 'environment'. Essentially in a car park in a cutting so nearly always in the shade. You can't even watch the trains go by as all the windows are blocked up on the station side. Owned by Punch Taverns, which says it all.

If you want a nice pub with a nice environment near Clifton Down Station then cross Whiteladies Road and pop in to the Penny Farthing.

I agree with your comments

Can't vouch for the alternative but my glass killing time was not good

[Brucey]

Roo Bar is a common haunt for students on Whiteladies Road pub crawls.  The groups that visit are always larger than the pub's capacity, so end up spilling into the car park.  The large crowds can make a horrendous noise and I really do feel for the residents, having myself lived for nine months just a few doors down from Lizard Lounge.

Penny Farthing also comes highly recommended by me too - best pub on Whiteladies by far.  If you don't mind a 5 minute walk, the Highbury Vaults on St Michaels Hill is perfect for any real ale drinkers.

[JayMac]

And Highbury Vaults comes highly recommended by me too! 

[Brucey]

Passing through these two stations today and noticed the help points had been replaced and a parking meter style machine fitted next to them.  Didn't see this other machine at either Clifton or Stapleton Road.

Took this photo later at Montpelier


Has the Bristol City Council logo on the side.  Machine was on, but didn't have any instructions/details of what it was for.  Neither station has a car park.

[JayMac]

An interesting development..... Not been on the SVB Line for a while, but I'll take a look at other stations on the line next week.

[Chris from Nailsea]

These machines have been installed as part of a joint project between Bristol City Council and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to protect revenue on the Severn Beach line.

They will accept cash only (due to the small amounts involved) and will sell tickets for journeys in to Bristol Temple Meads.

The machines are indeed basically car park machines, which have been converted to sell rail tickets. Indeed, the one at Montpelier was initially installed with 'P' stickers on each side! Those have now been replaced with the Bristol City Council logos.

Full instructions will be affixed to the machines when they go live on Tuesday (25 January).

CfN. 

[JayMac]

So, cash only TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) at locations that have seen the help points vandalised and/or stolen.

Only a matter of time before these new TVMs receive attention form the local scrotes I fear.

[Chris from Nailsea]

They will be emptied frequently, and covered by new CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision), but there is always that risk, yes.

[Brucey]

Is it going to become compulsory to buy a ticket before boarding the train or are these machines just for people travelling into Temple Meads?

[JayMac]

An interesting point, brucey.

If ticket retailing facilities are available (and in working order/accepting a payment method that you can use) at your departure station then I believe the 'rule' is that you should buy a ticket that covers part of your journey and then, at the earliest opportunity, buy a ticket for your whole journey minus what you have already paid.

So, going to Bath from Redland? Buy a single/return to Temple Meads then excess this onboard to your Bath fare. If the 'rule' that you must purchase a ticket for at least part of your journey is enforced then I see little time being saved by Conductors selling tickets onboard SVB Line services. Conductors will, instead of selling a through ticket, be fiddling around on Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) doing excesses.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I'll check with my source and post further details shortly.

CfN