NEW HEATHROW HUB

[whole diary]

[devon_metro]

Not that there is anywhere appropriate to place the station, without numerous overbridges over the A38 which would probably foul the flight of aircrafts.

[simonw]

I agree that Bristol airport is one of the best airports in the country!

However, unless passenger numbers increase considerably a fixed tram or bus link is unlikely to be justified! Until then, regular bus services should link with Bristol, and arguably Bath/WSM.

For many people, getting to Temple Meads is bad enough anyway. Before a link to Bristol airport is considered, a local transport plan needs to be implemented.

 

[Chris from Nailsea]

There is already a regular bus link from Bristol International Airport into Bristol (including BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI))) - cost single ^6, journey time 30 minutes: see http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/getting_to_bia/by_airport_express_link.aspx

[John R]

And it runs every 15 mins, and (I believe - can anyone confirm) has a cute device to turn traffic lights it's approaching to green, so it's not too badly held up in the rush hour.

So, not a bad alternative given that BIA is unlikely ever to have a rail link given its position.

[Lee]

The link below may also be of interest.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3588.msg27809#msg27809

[bemmy]

I think the gradient up from the main line at Yatton would be much too steep.  The airport is quite high up compared with the rail-line.

I'm sure that if there had been a reason to build a line up to Lulsgate in the 19th Century, Brunel would have managed it. However there will never be a rail link to the Airport -- I believe it's actually illegal to lay a new railway track in the Westcountry.

The bus service is excellent nowadays, although ^6 single is a bit of a rip off for a journey of around 7 miles. The reason it exists is because it was made a planning condition when the airport expanded. What is interesting is that originally it was hourly and was known as the "ghost bus" because it was always empty. But since it became every 20 minutes usage has soared and the frequency was increased to 15 minutes with every other bus also going up to Clifton.

I imagine First find it a profitable operation these days, and they didn't even have to take any risk to build it because the airport subsidised it. It must be great to be in a business where someone else takes all the financial risk for you and you get to keep the profits. 

[Phil]

I believe it's actually illegal to lay a new railway track in the Westcountry.

That's an interesting statement - I'd love to hear some more on that if anyone's "in the know"?

[bemmy]

I believe it's actually illegal to lay a new railway track in the Westcountry.

That's an interesting statement - I'd love to hear some more on that if anyone's "in the know"?

Sorry, my attempt at humour. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

And it runs every 15 mins, and (I believe - can anyone confirm) has a cute device to turn traffic lights it's approaching to green, so it's not too badly held up in the rush hour.

I'm not convinced on that one, John: my understanding is that even the local emergency services have decided against using such technology, so it's not been installed.  Apparently, because most adjoining sequences of traffic lights in the city are now inter-linked by computer, it would muck it up if individual sets of lights were to be over-ridden in this way. 

I think the gradient up from the main line at Yatton would be much too steep.  The airport is quite high up compared with the rail-line.

Agreed on that one, though, John: Yatton is about 8 metres above sea level, while BIA, only some 8 km away, is at least 180! 

[grahame]

I think the gradient up from the main line at Yatton would be much too steep.  The airport is quite high up compared with the rail-line.

Agreed on that one, though, John: Yatton is about 8 metres above sea level, while BIA, only some 8 km away, is at least 180! 

That's a gradient of the order of 1 in 45. Steep, agreed, but here's an example of a branch to an international arrival / departure point that's 1 in 30:

http://www.craigrailpics.fotopic.net/c1628947.html

[Lee]

Ministers have set up four more high-speed rail companies similar to the one created last week to develop a new link to Heathrow (link below.)
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article5537004.ece

Companies House documents show High Speed 2 was formed last week, and has two senior civil servants, Robert Linnard and Timothy Well-burn, as directors. They are also directors of four more High Speed companies, numbers 3 to 6, set up at the same time.

Related Scotsman letter (link below.)
http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Fast-forward-on-rail.4888390.jp

Lib Dems back high speed rail alternatives to internal and short-haul continental flights (link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5467

Leeds North West MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Greg Mulholland has put down a Parliamentary motion calling for the new high speed line to be built in a Y shape, splitting at Birmingham with branches to Manchester and to Leeds via Sheffield (link below.)
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Splitline-plea-for-highspeed-rail.4887125.jp

Calls for a stop at Coventry to be included (link below.)
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2009/01/17/call-for-coventrty-to-be-added-to-high-speed-rail-link-92746-22715171/

[simonw]

I thought the idea of HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)), and other routes was not to add multiple stops on the line.

Surely Coventry is to close to Birmingham for this to be valid?

[John R]

I think the gradient up from the main line at Yatton would be much too steep.  The airport is quite high up compared with the rail-line.

Agreed on that one, though, John: Yatton is about 8 metres above sea level, while BIA, only some 8 km away, is at least 180! 

That's a gradient of the order of 1 in 45. Steep, agreed, but here's an example of a branch to an international arrival / departure point that's 1 in 30:

http://www.craigrailpics.fotopic.net/c1628947.html

Though in practice the line would diverge a mile or so after Nailsea, and would be only 5km long =  1 in 29 average. Also the first stretch would have to be on an viaduct that would get rather high before the line then bored deep into the hillside. So I think we're stuck with the buses.   

[paul7575]

I thought the idea of HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)), and other routes was not to add multiple stops on the line.

Surely Coventry is to close to Birmingham for this to be valid?

Most of the theoretical routes for HS2 go nowhere near Coventry anyway, the most likely idea is that it follows the M40 corridor from north of Banbury somewhere, heading towards then past Birmingham International...

Unlucky Coventry...

Paul

[Btline]

Call for a stop at Coventry to be included (link below.)

Those 9 words sum up the problems of HSR in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom).

Who next after Coventry? Milton Keynes? Royal Leamington Spa?

Coventry is less than an hour from London already. Does it need a HSL? (Does B'ham? It's only 1.15 at the mo)