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

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Far better to put that sort of money,towards the scheme for SEWWEB ,and the replacement station at Pilning Westgate.😁

The money talked about looks like a virtually complete rebuild of the platforms and station to modern standards.  And if you have been to Pilning station, you'll probably appreciate that it's not really suitable in current form to handle traffic several orders of magnitude more than use it today this Saturday.   

For the same money, you could rebuild the station a couple of hundred yards down the track at a suitable over bridge, with slopes down to new platforms.  With the existing over bridge on the road (the B4055 springs to mind) eliminating the  need for that extra Network Rail £2 million pound thing.  The platforms and approaches at Oldfield Park make a suitable comparison.

[grahame]

As a follow up ... I note that Denton, which has had a one way service on one day of the week only only for a number of years has had its service doubled in the new Northern timetable with trains in both directions on Saturdays.

08:46 Stockport to Stalybridge calls at Platform 1 at 08:55
09:45 Stalybridge to Stockport calls at Platform 2 (brought back into use) at 09:55.

Reddish South also has an extra train - one in each direction again now - though that's a single platform that's used in both directions.

[ellendune]

It seems crazy that it would cost £2m to build a footbridge. And stupid that full GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects) could more than double that cost.

I am not sure that is what is being said in the quote.  The wording implies it includes works costs.

[Western Pathfinder]

Just to wake this thread up Today is the 2nd Anniversary of Pilning having its Footbridge removed !
So With that in Mind , https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=asfMseyPCOI.
Hope you enjoy.

[grahame]

Just to wake this thread up Today is the 2nd Anniversary of Pilning having its Footbridge removed !
So With that in Mind , https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=asfMseyPCOI.
Hope you enjoy.

Just this morning, I've received an email containing the new FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) newsletter - not seeing it online yet, so I guess it may be at the early members-only release stage - which includes some good discussions on Pilning and how a station at Pilning could play a major part in daily passenger transport in the area once again.

I will add a link once available

[Western Pathfinder]

Saturday December the first  is the One Hundred and Thirty Second Anniversary of the opening of Pilning Station what's left of it .

[johnneyw]

Saturday December the first  is the One Hundred and Thirty Second Anniversary of the opening of Pilning Station what's left of it .

Which raises the question, would a possibly relocated Pilning station in the future be seen as continuity or a different station? Many stations have changed dramatically over the years. Would a small shift in the site be seen as just another change over time or do we have to look at it as something new?

[grahame]

Saturday December the first  is the One Hundred and Thirty Second Anniversary of the opening of Pilning Station what's left of it .

Which raises the question, would a possibly relocated Pilning station in the future be seen as continuity or a different station? Many stations have changed dramatically over the years. Would a small shift in the site be seen as just another change over time or do we have to look at it as something new?

You have an excellent question.  From a business case viewpoint, a new site proposal a few hundred yards up the track will attract a new look at the case for build and service calls from the experts who have already laughed off the idea of doing more than legally needed at the current site.  There are the precedents such as station moves from Filton Junction to Filton Abbey Wood ... also Abercynon North and South combined in Abercynon. 

[Dispatch Box]

I Think I have sorted it?, No need to spend loads of money on new bridges or platforms, Make it nice and tidy like Melksham Then just fit a position 4 junction indicators to signals BL1533 And BL1566 Then trains can just cross back over via NT1613. Sorted and up to 7 trains each way could then stop Mondays to Saturdays, with 4 each way on Sundays. these would be timed as to not block the lines for other trains needing the line.

Note. These trains would also call at Patchway on the other Platform also.

[grahame]

I Think I have sorted it?, No need to spend loads of money on new bridges or platforms, Make it nice and tidy like Melksham Then just fit a position 4 junction indicators to signals BL1533 And BL1566 Then trains can just cross back over via NT1613. Sorted and up to 7 trains each way could then stop Mondays to Saturdays, with 4 each way on Sundays. these would be timed as to not block the lines for other trains needing the line.

Note. These trains would also call at Patchway on the other Platform also.

I have taken a look at that idea over recent months, and the conclusion has been that using the bidirectional line for services stopping at Pilning would put a significant strain on capacity.   You might be able to timetable it for a handful of trains each day, but trains are nothing like as reliable in running to timetable as you might like - especially freight ones - and the whole thing could go pear shaped far too often and easily.   Sadly, don't think it flies. 

[grahame]

Saturday December the first  is the One Hundred and Thirty Second Anniversary of the opening of Pilning Station what's left of it .

Indeed ... I was there and it's a sad shadow of what it used to be.  Quite a flurry of activity for that short period that the train called there at 15:24 - multiple passengers off and on, including a long distance "meet and greet" with heavy luggage; genuine traffic there in amongst those of us who were there because of the transport / stations issues.

I have written up - separate thread at  http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=20784.0 - an update concerning the whole line from the Parkway area until it dives down under the Severn.  Much of what's there regulars will know; the new thread is intended to start looking at all the possibilities under the same ground rules.

[Dispatch Box]

Noticed today one last train at 15:34 to Taunton, What a shame.

[dhassell]

Noticed today one last train at 15:34 to Taunton, What a shame.

I'm slightly confused with that statement. There are no trains next week due to the engineering works, so rail replacement taxi, but the week after its back to the 08:34 and 15:34?

[grahame]

Noticed today one last train at 15:34 to Taunton, What a shame.

I'm slightly confused with that statement. There are no trains next week due to the engineering works, so rail replacement taxi, but the week after its back to the 08:34 and 15:34?

Last train of 2018 ... there are only a few other stations across the whole of GB^▸ (Great Britain) who's services have already ceased for the year.

There should be a rail replacement service available at Pilning next Saturday, right?

[dhassell]

Noticed today one last train at 15:34 to Taunton, What a shame.

I'm slightly confused with that statement. There are no trains next week due to the engineering works, so rail replacement taxi, but the week after its back to the 08:34 and 15:34?

There should be a rail replacement service available at Pilning next Saturday, right?

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) send a return taxi from Bristol Parkway to Pilning in the morning and afternoon.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/PIL/2018/12/29/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=GW^▸ (Great Western)