Pilning - the station, services, viability and closure of down platform - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

This subject has been discussed out on the Coffee Shop forum, in more than one topic, in the past: I'd be happy to move and merge such discussions into one definitive topic (without it needing to reach any particular conclusion, obviously!), if we're all happy with that?

Yes, please Chris - now that we've established that there are very real issues with continining to provide a (usable) train service at Pilning.   You're the merge expert - I'll leave it to you as I often struggle to do it.

Well, I really did walk into that one, didn't I? 

Now done: I've moved and merged three topics into this one here.  I've chosen to put this combined topic in our 'campaigns' board, simply because many of the previous posts show some clear feeling that the train service(s) at Pilning should be 'improved'.

However, we can now continue to debate that here, in this ongoing discussion. 

For whatever my opinion is worth, though: I rather reluctantly have to agree with John R in his post above. 

[grahame]

Thanks, Chris.

Comment I hear is of development encroaching around the area and possibilities - but whether that is pious hope or realistic looking forward I'm uninformed on and cannot express a valid opinion.   But I do look to options and, yes, question the spending of millions on ramps / lifts for a bridge that would only be required apart from people going out of there way to use it a handful of times per year if that.

Thinking out of the box.

a) Are either of the platform lines reversible - especially the up?
Noting crossover (but maybe gone?) - http://bristol-rail.co.uk/wiki/File:Pilning_Track_Plan_1988.jpg

b) Is there access possible other than by bridge to the second platform (I fear the answer is 'no / no practical without - horror - a level footway crossing')

c) Polesworth solution - or is that to be regarded as an effective and hard to reverse closure by 'the team'?

d) Moving the station "a bit" up the line to where it might be effective. http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=14751.msg167185#msg167185

[ellendune]

Comment I hear is of development encroaching around the area and possibilities - but whether that is pious hope or realistic looking forward I'm uninformed on and cannot express a valid opinion.   

Virtually all this area is in flood zone 3 - the highest risk - with a presumption against further development. So I would be surprised.  There is, however a small area south of the station which is only zone 2. 

[Rhydgaled]

Polesworth solution - or is that to be regarded as an effective and hard to reverse closure by 'the team'?

Had to look that up. Given that one train each way a week (as Pilning has apparently) is an effective closure anyway, the 'Polesworth solution' (a parlimentary service in one direction only, meaning the other platform can be closed) doesn't sound like much of a change from the current suituation. Of course, it would be better if both platforms can be kept running, but with just a parlimentary service an accessibility-regulations-compliant footbridge is not worthwhile.

I know rolling stock has to be compliant by 2020, but is there actually a legal requirement for stations to become accessible by a certain date (or be closed), or is it just a case of the government making a certain amount of money available each year to make more-and-more stations accessible? In the latter case, Pilning can simply be left at the back of the queue for said funds; by the time all other stations are accessible things might have changed considerably, somebody may even have invented teleportation and the whole railway might be redundant.

[Red Squirrel]

Doesn't Pilning's proximity to the vibrant hub of activity that is (Aloha!) Severn Beach make this a non-starter?

[ellendune]

Given that one train each way a week (as Pilning has apparently) is an effective closure anyway, the 'Polesworth solution' (a parlimentary service in one direction only, meaning the other platform can be closed) doesn't sound like much of a change from the current suituation. Of course, it would be better if both platforms can be kept running, but with just a parlimentary service an accessibility-regulations-compliant footbridge is not worthwhile.

I know rolling stock has to be compliant by 2020, but is there actually a legal requirement for stations to become accessible by a certain date (or be closed), or is it just a case of the government making a certain amount of money available each year to make more-and-more stations accessible? In the latter case, Pilning can simply be left at the back of the queue for said funds; by the time all other stations are accessible things might have changed considerably, somebody may even have invented teleportation and the whole railway might be redundant.

Of course if there was only one platform the footbridge would comply! assuming the entrance is on the remaining platform. 

[Puffing Billy]

The band "One Direction" are said to have been inspired by a visit to Polesworth.

[Bmblbzzz]

Would a new footbridge actually have to be accessible? It's my understanding of the EA, mostly via a disabled friend, that infrastructure which is a straight replacement for what's already there does not have to be DDA^» (Disability Discrimination Act - about)-compliant.

[Stroud Valleys]

it seems ridiculous that a silly station like pilning can remain open and cause problems such as the footbridge as electrification approaches. It's in the middle of nowhere and has less than 100 people visiting it. Seems stupid that its easier to keep it open with a parliamentary train than to close the station completely.

[ellendune]

But what if a station with such a limited service did have the potential to be another Melksham.  How do you tell the difference from just the 100 people which is all the railway really sees.  Be careful what you ask for.

[Noggin]

Whilst there might not be much prospect of residential development in the area given the potential for flooding, there is an awful lot of industrial development going into the Distribution Park, so much so that an additional junction for the M49 is planned. The Range are building a big centre, and Lidl have just signed up.
 
There are a *lot* of people going to be working on that estate, much of it in labour-intensive warehousing type jobs. Perhaps it might not be a daft idea to rebuild Pilning Station as a station for the estate with a new link road? Employers could then run shuttle buses to the station at shift changes and other times.

It obviously wouldn't be a cheap project, but it would make the estate much more accessible to job seekers across Gloucestershire, Bristol and South Wales, so it would be in the employer's interests, plus very eco and good PR^▸ (Public Relations).   

[ellendune]

In that case could developers contribute to the improvements to the station.

[JayMac]

Employers could then run shuttle buses to the station at shift changes and other times. 

A shuttle bus service already exists for the Avonmouth industrial area. An extension to the SevernNet Flyer service would be all that is required.

http://severnnet.org/workareas/transport/bus-services/severnnet-flyer/

[Noggin]

Employers could then run shuttle buses to the station at shift changes and other times. 

A shuttle bus service already exists for the Avonmouth industrial area. An extension to the SevernNet Flyer service would be all that is required.

http://severnnet.org/workareas/transport/bus-services/severnnet-flyer/

But to use it you have to get to Avonmouth station along the Severn Beach line, which isn't massively attractive for many people.

With Pilning you can have the Cardiff to Bristol stoppers calling in, which would make it very attractive for a lot of South Wales and north Bristol. 

I suspect though the problem is that calling at Pilning would mess up the train pathing through the tunnel.

[Oliver]

Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster.....

This is something seemingly not very many people were aware of, i think it is a travesty that they are going to close the down platform. Pilning is a undervalued asset.

The copies of NR^» (Network Rail - home page)'s letters are included in the below publication.

FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) are most unimpressed and are writing to Office of Rail and Road ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) and Western Enterprise Partnership WEP regarding this.

http://www.fosbr.org.uk/files/20160615_pilningpr.pdf