Stapleton Road station - various events, incidents and developments (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[Lee]

Message from Cotswold Rail :

We may not operate a very frequent service (maybe only every month) but when we do, we go to good and enjoyable destinations, in a superbly appointed train, with luxury service.

Therefore, I am pleased to announce that in line with FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways)'s aspirations for more trains to call at Beach Line stations, the Blue Pullman will be calling additionally at Stapleton Road during 2008. We'll call at Stapleton Road when we are not starting from Bristol Temple Meads and are coming direct from Bath to Bristol Parkway or vice versa. If it proves popular, I can put in stops for more trains that start from Temple Meads. This is doing our little bit to help restore Stapleton Road to the important interchange status it once enjoyed in the 40's and 50's.

Dates so far are:

Saturday 23rd February - To Liverpool, Capital of Culture, optionally including The Beatles Trail.

Bank Holiday Monday 26th May - The Kursaal Flyer to Southend-on-Sea, for the world famous Southend Air Show.

See www.heartlandrail.co.uk for more details. The stops for Stapleton Road are not yet shown, but they will happen.

In addition, we are happy to offer bona-fide FOSBR members a 10% discount on any booking. Just mention your FOSBR membership when you call to book.

I hope you'll join us from Stapleton Road for an enjoyable day out in 2008 and help support your local railway station. I'll do my best to time the trains to connect with regular Beach Line services if I possibly can.

[Jim]

Hope FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) take advantage of this!

[Lee]

More on this from Cotswold Rail source :

I am currently working on the plans for next year, so the dates may change as yet whilst I check engineering works etc. But I am determined we shall call at Stapleton Road because it also saves me the nightmare of going into Temple Meads and running two locos round and gives me the opportunity to run from Swindon / Bath etc.

Prices are ^149 per person for full Pullman Class Silver Service dining (full English breakfast, lunch and four course dinner), ^89 first class (free coffee etc.) and ^59 standard class. Cheaper than a first class or standard open ticket!

We generally aim for five hours at our destination and not to depart earlier than 06:30. All trains are on a Saturday.

[Lee]

Forum rumour from elsewhere has it that all future Heartland Rail tours until further notice have been cancelled.

Their website is "currently under maintenance and review" (link below.)
http://www.heartlandrail.co.uk/

[Lee]

From Friends Of Suburban Bristol Railways :

Eastside Roots, 31st October : Friday 6-8.30pm: Halloween Special, Community Garden Hub - Stapleton Rd Station.  Organic pumpkin soup, apple bobbing, scary stories, fancy dress, pumpkin recipes, prize for the best carved pumpkin and more. Huddle around a fire, drink hot toddies and see if we are joined by any friendly ghosts.

[TonyK]

Sadly, from Twitter, I learn of an incident within Bristol:

First Great Western @FGW^▸ (First Great Western)

For information. Owing to a person being hit by a train between Lawrence Hill and Filton Abbey Wood all lines are affected.^John R

[Chris from Nailsea]

From First Great Western JourneyCheck:

Line problem: between Lawrence Hill and Filton Abbey Wood.
Owing to a person hit by a train between Lawrence Hill and Filton Abbey Wood all lines are affected.
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 60 mins at short notice. An estimate for the resumption of normal services will be provided as soon as the problem has been fully assessed.
Message Received: 09/02/2013 19:04

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from First Great Western JourneyCheck:

Line problem: between Lawrence Hill and Filton Abbey Wood
Following a person hit by a train between Lawrence Hill and Filton Abbey Wood all lines are now open.
Train services running through these stations are returning to normal. Normal services will be provided as soon as possible.
Message Received: 09/02/2013 20:18

Train Cancellations

19:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton due 20:59
This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a person hit by a train.
Message Received: 09/02/2013 19:45

19:47 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads due 20:26
This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a person hit by a train.
Message Received: 09/02/2013 19:30

[bobm]

Internal sources say the person struck by the train was alive when taken to hospital.

[TonyK]

Elsewhere on this site:

Internal sources say the person struck by the train was alive when taken to hospital.

[Chris from Nailsea]

That is not confirmed, at this stage, and is only being discussed in our 'frequent posters' area accordingly.

I'll move those topics and merge them here if appropriate in due course.

Chris. 

[Brucey]

The incident occurred at Stapleton Road.

Whilst waiting at the station in the past, it is commonplace to see people wondering across the railway line at that station.  I have no idea why they do this, especially considering the speed of non-stop trains through the station.

[cakes]

wondering if there is any news on the person hit....

my journey from bpw to exd was very scary, was herded on a train at bpw, told that this was the only thing i could do to get home. alighted on btm, and ran for train, to see it departing. waited for the next, i find btm scarey and i can never seem to find my way round, but there was barely any staff to help. i know that railway staff and station staff must get very upset over stuff like this but i was lost and not knowing where to go!!! was glad to get home, but the poor person has been on my mind all night, cos passengers too get upset by this stuff

[Chris from Nailsea]

Welcome to the Coffee Shop forum, cakes, and I'm sorry you had a worrying experience on your journey home last night.

I've now merged all the posts on this subject here on the wider forum, where they can be read by everyone, not just our established members in 'frequent posters'.

I haven't been able to find any further information about the incident itself, so if anyone else knows more, please do post it here.

[cakes]

thanks, a friend recommended here to me.

it just makes me so sad that this happens so frequently, a lot of times when i'm travelling, a fatality is announced. it must be awful for the people and staff on the train it happens on. but yesterday was definatly the worst experience i have had travelling during one of those times, and i do travel that route at least twice a week.