Great Western Coffee Shop

The latest report on MetroWest to the West of England's Joint Transport Board on 13 January 2017 flags up significant cost increases are expected for Phase 1 (re-opening the line to Portishead with new stations at Pill and Portishead and half hourly services on the Severn Beach Line and local stations to Bath Spa).  The report can be found at: 

http://www.westofenglandlep.co.uk/meetings/joint-transport-board

Current cost of Phase 1 is £58m.  Revised costs from Network Rail are expected at the end of January 2017 and will be reported to the Joint Transport Board on 17 March 2017.  Regrettably timescales have changed with Phase 1 now planned to open in December 2020 (formerly May 2019).

Good news is the four tracking of Filton Bank is happening and is due to be completed by December 2018 at a reported cost of £91m.  Four tracking is essential to provide the additional capacity needed to run the new MetroWest Phase 1 and 2 services. 

Similarly remodelling Bristol East Junction is required for both MetroWest Phase 1 and 2.  The news there is positive with Network Rail re-allocating £15m from the electrification budget to developing design work in Control Period 5 (2014 to 2019).  Full funding, however, is yet to be confirmed although Network Rail appears confident Bristol East Junction will be complete by December 2019.

MetroWest assumes the cascade of Class 165/6 "Thames Turbos" from the Thames Valley area as lines there are electrified.  Delays to electrification delay the cascade and the full rolling stock picture is still unclear.  The first units of the cascade have, however, started with two trains due to go into service on the Severn Beach Line on 3 July 2017.  A further 8 units will be in service by December 2017. 

So whilst there are major concerns about costs MetroWest is far from dead and work on both MetroWest Phase 1 and 2 continues.

... although longer trains may be possible soon.

Three car max at Severn Beach has already been metioned in another thread?

Suggestions have been made that the focus could change to upgrading the Severn Beach line and reopening the Henbury line instead. 

I don't think it's fair to call them an "Independent Republic". I think they're more closely modelled on Liechtenstein...  ;)

That would serve IRNS (Independent Republic of North Somerset) right!  :P ;) ;D

An area whose politicians seem to want to ignore the fact they are right next to a big city.

Not sure what you mean? Severn Beach and Henbury lines are mostly Bristol with a teeny bit of South Gloucestershire. My point is that with south Bristol resignalling being deferred and North Somerset not joining in on the regional deal, it's easy to see how the focus could move north of Temple Meads, leaving North Somerset sidelined and Portishead on ice. 

As for North Somerset - the irony is of course that by not joining in, the population balance is roughly 50/50 between Bristol and SG/BANES, whereas if North Somerset joined in, the balance would be far more in their favour. Perhaps they are holding out to join Devon and Cornwall in some kind of West of England superstate?

As for North Somerset - the irony is of course that by not joining in, the population balance is roughly 50/50 between Bristol and SG/BANES, whereas if North Somerset joined in, the balance would be far more in their favour. Perhaps they are holding out to join Devon and Cornwall in some kind of West of England superstate?

In terms of the Portishead line specifically or more generally commuting to Bristol, it wouldn't. It might be that a large number of N.Som residents do commute or otherwise travel regularly to Taunton, though. But I don't think their reasons for rejecting the "metro mayor" idea were anything to do with transport.

In terms of the Portishead line specifically or more generally commuting to Bristol, it wouldn't. It might be that a large number of N.Som residents do commute or otherwise travel regularly to Taunton, though. But I don't think their reasons for rejecting the "metro mayor" idea were anything to do with transport.

But I don't think their reasons for rejecting the "metro mayor" idea were anything to do with transport.

I wrote to MEPs the other day (nothing to do with railways, transport or regional government) and as a result discovered that "the South West of England" includes... Gibraltar! I look forward to a different sort of Avon-Rock Railway!

North Somerset is effectively Weston-Super-Mare, which is a fairly major population centre with a lot of recently built housing, large industrial sheds etc., and it seems to me that the council is very keen to preserve its independence. 

Of course it it also includes Portishead, Pill and the south Bristol commuter belt, who in many ways might get a better deal if they were in Bristol, particularly on transport, but I suspect that it comes down to schools and preferring more suburban-minded local-government.

On schools, I know someone who lives in south Bristol – in fact a stone's throw from Bedminster station – and chose to send her daughter to a secondary school somewhere along the Pill-Portishead corridor (I can't remember exactly where) despite it meaning an hour or so bus journey, because she'd heard dreadful things about the local schools. Now, two years in, it turns out she might have made a bad choice, and not (only) because of the long journey.

Could be in Ham Green, in which case it has recently become an academy.

...they [North Somerset Council] remember with horror the Bristocentric nature of the county formerly known as Avon. That is understandable - it was a dog's breakfast of the worst order.

Could be in Ham Green, in which case it has recently become an academy. If it was that one, it was rated "Good" in its pre-conversion report by OFSTED. The secondary school 5 minutes walk from her front door has been assessed as "Outstanding"

Earlier mentions on this thread referring to cascaded Turbos reaching the Severn Beach line gave a possible May 2017 date (or so I seem to recall). That was admittedly, an early estimate. Has there been any new date issued? Are they possibly going to be introduced with the start of the smart ticketing facilities on the line?

Why does GWR have to release stock to other railway companies, when the stock allocated to it has not arrived on time?

I appreciate that other companies have major issues as well, but why should GWR and its customers suffer alone?

There are many local journeys that could do with longer or more frequent services, sooner rather than later.

Good question Simon.

A regular Severn Riviera Express user friend of mine said she was on one of the new swanky stock today. Can this be true?

July 3rd was the last I heard, (how accurate this is I don't know) which should also be the date a handful more turbos become available as a result of an increase in electric services to Maidenhead.

Tried to find an online link to it , but failed.

WHY ;-

£500,000 for pedestrian and cycling routes through the centre of Weston-super-Mare

when North Somerset opted out of the Metro Mayor set-up ????

I'm sure there's a good reason ... but I don't fully (!) understand how the "West of England" and MetroWest areas interact.  Isn't Portishead in North Somerset too?    Perhaps North Somerset is buying in to bits it wants like the UK might buy in to bits of Brexit?   Of course, it would be logical for the main area to accept that buy-in only if it results in mutual advantage.

The question raises an interesting one for wider areas too.  The Bristol / Bath travel-to-work area goes beyond the "West of England" - into Mendip at Frome, into Wiltshire at Trowbridge and indeed at towns like Corsham which have a vey heavy flow into Bath.  Transport is needed for those flows and public transport (from Corsham at least, which is the closest to me) is pathetically slow, taking 45 minutes from the centre of Corsham at Newlands Road to Bath bus station, where a train would take 12 minutes.

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) is made up of three of the local authorities in the region – Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Working with our partners including the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, North Somerset Council and other local service providers, our aim is to deliver economic growth for the region and address some of the challenges, such as productivity and skills, housing and transport.
...
WECA will also provide support to the West of England LEP Board and to the Joint West of England Committee, which includes North Somerset Council.

Some rather grand and very long term future plans in today's Evening Post:

I don't think they're seriously suggesting sub-surface all the way to the airport. But then, I don't think they're seriously suggesting much of it...

Just imagine what would be possible, though, if your town had a pro-rated equivalent of London's transport budget...

A little boost for Metrowest just announced:

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/five-new-stations-funded.html

Hopefully this can get started soon.

£2.2 million for a platform? Don't be silly. I know everything is expensive nowadays but come on. A few blocks, a bit of concrete and a gang of workmen doesn't equate to that ridiculous amount. As someone mentioned previously when this article came up. It would of made more sense to build the park and ride next to the existing station at Shirehampton.

I don't remember what debate took place when the decision was made to build the Park and Ride on derelict industrial land in the shadow of a motorway flyover instead of on local beauty spot The Daisy Field, which is the only obvious site adjoining Shirehampton Station but, on balance and in my humble opinion, I think they got it about right. And while it does mean we'll have three stations within 2.5 km of each other, I'm not going to volunteer that either Shirehampton or Avonmouth should be closed - on the grounds that some bright spark might point out that Montpelier, my local station, is even closer to Redland.

There comes a point when you say 'enough consultation= lets get on and DO IT .....

I feel the same about the Portishead line !

Its only diesel and petrol cars that will be banned! Not buses. They say that electric cars will be cheaper to run, but I suspect that they will still be more expensive to buy and (unless battery life is extended) maintain.  The cynic in me wonders whether they hope poorer people may be priced out of owning cars while the rich get more road space as a result.   

Its only diesel and petrol cars that will be banned! Not buses. They say that electric cars will be cheaper to run, but I suspect that they will still be more expensive to buy and (unless battery life is extended) maintain.  The cynic in me wonders whether they hope poorer people may be priced out of owning cars while the rich get more road space as a result.   

Whatever happened to the much cheaper prefabricated type of platform that was being mooted a few years back? I recall it was portrayed as a game changer in terms of affordability for Portway Station.

Indeed. I recall Councillor Tim Kent announcing that it would cost £400,000, and open in 2013.

Either this is the cheaper, sorry, more cost effective option being wastefully overlooked or else the original estimates themselves overlooked associated costs (signalling, for example).

Five new rail stations to 'boost' regional economies
28 July 2017

The Department For Transport will invest more than £16m in the new stations
Five new rail stations should be completed by March 2020 after funding was confirmed, officials have said.
The Department For Transport (DFT) said it will invest more than £16m in four stations in England and one in Wales.
The stations will be at Horden in County Durham, Warrington West in Cheshire, Reading Green Park, Portway Parkway in Bristol and Bow Street in Ceredigion.
Durham County Council said the Horden stop would be a big employment boost.
Leader Simon Henig said: "The station will greatly enhance commuters' ability to reach employment sites across the region and will be served by more than 20 trains a day heading north and south.
"It will also act as a park and ride, with spaces for more than 100 commuters."

Rail minister Paul Maynard said the stations would create employment opportunities
The DFT is providing £4.4m towards the £10.55m station with the rest coming from the county council and North East Combined Authority.
The £17.2m Warrington West station, which is getting £4.23 from the DFT, should reduce congestion on the M62 and support new houses in the area, the department said.
Reading Green Park will receive £2.3m towards a total project cost of £16.5m with the DFT saying it "has the potential to unlock 7,500 new jobs and 1,500 homes".
The £2.23m Portway Parkway, which is getting £1.672m from the DFT, will serve an existing park and ride site and aims to reduce congestion on inner Bristol roads.
Rail minister Paul Maynard said: "The stations will improve access to the rail network and create new leisure, training, employment and business opportunities, as well as supporting new housing developments.
"All of the stations will be completed by March 2020."

Maybe the extra four years of delay has had an inflationary effect.

You mean they're now considering something like a bouncy castle?

The £550,000-odd not being met by DfT will presumably be picked up by Bristol City Council alone - I shall look at the report for the next council meeting. It looks as if the original idea of a simple platform may have been slightly upgraded - Portway Parkway sounds a little grand.

Roman remains of a sort are closer to SML  Sea Mills just down the road a bit !.

Long Cross in nearby Lawrence Weston follows the route of a Roman road from Sea Mills to Gloucester. It was found during building work for the council estate, and quickly concreted over.

You mean they're now considering something like a bouncy castle?

...at least thought of a footbridge would possibly save a few quid when the day comes.

Yes, let's hope the Western Super Mayor has the clout and desire to revive Henbury Loop plans.

Can anyone tell me if the Vivarail Dtrain has a narrow enough gauge to negate the problems of the tunnels on the Portishead line reopening?

The Evening Post headline rather gives the impression of greater activity than it transpires there actually is but it is progress all the same:


http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/portway-park-ride-train-station-326954

Given the size of the freight traffic through those tunnels, and the lowering of the floor in 2000-2001, I am not sure that gauge is the issue.

Interesting interview on the John Darvall Show, BBC Radio Bristol today (Tuesday) with the Deputy Metro Mayor Tim Warren. About 40 mins in the discussion reaches Metrowest. He states here that Severn Beach to Westbury is currently being discussed between Tim Bowles, the Metro Mayor and the government and would take presidence over the Portishead line. At about 50 mins the discussion covers the Bristol and Bath tram/ underground options. Worth a listen and is on iPlayer for quite a few days.

... I thought it was just to delay making a decision so that the new service wouldn't happen before MetroBust and make it look rubbish. I might still be right.

Surely there was never any intention to make any changes to the Severn Beach line until they had finished that bit of gardening on Ashley Hill?

I'm sure Severn Beach to Westbury was under discussion way back in the days when the LEP held the pursestrings and kicked cans down roads. IIRC, MetroWest had a planned route from Severn Beach to Bath, but some difficulty in working out how to turn it around. Westbury was mentioned as a logical extension to get around that issue ...

.... Without a loop south of Chetnole you can't extend the :46 every hour past Yeovil.

Maiden Newton  ???

7 minutes too far south (quarter of an hour round trip).   Real Heart of Wessex problem on going hourly is the spacing of the loops.  Don't get me writing here - this would end up being a really long post; comes in as part of the learning about hourly capacity for everything that uses the Westbury hub.

6 paths out of Temple Meads per hour
:00 to London via Bath Spa
:10 to Portsmouth Harbour
:16 to Westbury (or Frome)
:30 to London via Bath Spa
:40 to Swindon and Oxford
:46 to Yeovil, alternate extensions to Weymouth
No problem turning on the main line and service increase from Bath (where they're putting more businesses than residences) and Wiltshire (where they're putting more residences than businesses).  Turn the :16 at Frome to avoid platform blocking at Westbury, and take the :46 local down to Yeovil - a town of 60,000.  Without a loop south of Chetnole you can't extend the :46 every hour past Yeovil.

...shanty town...

Simples! Why didn't the boffins at MetroWest come up with that instead of wringing their hands over where to put a turnback signal? I suppose that turning back on the mainline at Bath is problematic because the tight timescale would upset late-running intercity trains, but what you suggest could be done now with a bit of effort.

That's no shanty town! That's Pete Chapman's 'Ennywevvers' glamping site, just there behind the pig farm.

Funny old place, Bristol.

As m'colleague FT, N! sort of half-alluded, it used to be a lot nicer before they cut down all the trees on the embankment. I think the sheet piles are temporary, so it may not be quite so stark when the soil nailing is finished.

Is that the place you're talking about! I wonder if anyone has ever actually 'glamped' there?

Has anyone on the forum got an "info fix" for me?

(https://dmscdn.vuelio.co.uk/publicitem/feaa78a6-984c-4ad3-8340-cb9e9c2b9d14/webversion)
Portway new railway station works underway
15 Aug 2017

Work is underway to help design the first new railway station in the Bristol area in over 20 years. The station will serve the existing Portway Park & Ride site near Avonmouth.

Over the next month rail engineers will survey the development site next to the Portway Park & Ride to assess ground conditions to inform the design of the new £2.23m station, which is due to be completed by 2019.

Bristol City Council secured £1.67m from the government’s New Stations Fund to make the project possible after working with Network Rail on developing the project.

The newly formed West of England Combined Authority and the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is supporting the project by providing some of the additional funding required to deliver the station, as well as wider investment to better link the new station to the Park & Ride site.

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said:

“Securing this much-needed rail funding from the government is great news for Bristol and it will help meet a long held aspiration to build a new station to serve the Portway Park & Ride site. It will complement the existing bus services which will continue to serve the city centre and encourage more people from a wider area to use these routes, reducing congestion and improving our air quality.

“Council colleagues have already been working with Network Rail over the last few years to develop the scheme and detailed development work is underway. We are working towards completing the station during 2019/20.”

The scheme forms part of a long-term rail strategy for the city region through the MetroWest programme, including improved frequencies on the Severn Beach Line which will serve the station by 2020.

The funding from government announced last month will help the scheme move forward with credibility after being endorsed by the Department for Transport (DfT) and the rail industry.

Cllr Mhairi Threlfall, Cabinet Member for Transport at Bristol City Council, added:

“To improve the flow of people across the city and connect them to jobs, education and healthcare, we need the right transport infrastructure - and rail improvements like this are an important part of our travel planning. The Portway scheme will also play a critical role in improving access to both the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone and the Avonmouth Enterprise Area, which are anticipated to accommodate up to 31,000 new jobs over the next 25 years.”

Malcolm Parsons, Director Route Business Development at Network Rail, said:

“This is great news and will significantly improve journeys for passengers in Bristol at a time when more people are using the railway than ever before.

“Securing the funding is the culmination of years of hard work and supports the wider upgrades being delivered in Bristol which includes the biggest signalling modernisation anywhere in the country, Filton Four Tracking and improvements to the Severn Beach Line. These upgrades will provide greater capacity, more frequent services and a more reliable railway with the new Portway Station further enhancing Bristol’s rail network.”

The current estimated cost of the project is £2.63m which includes £2.23m for delivering the rail infrastructure plus funding to make improvements to the Park & Ride site to accommodate the station, including a new amenity building to benefit both rail and bus passengers.

The West of England LEP Joint Committee awarded funding from the Local Growth Fund (LGF) for this scheme in June, subject to further development work and planning permission being secured, in the knowledge that a bid to government for part of the New Stations Fund was pending. This was to ensure the scheme could continue to progress in case the bid wasn’t successful.

The money from the New Stations Fund will reduce the call on the LGF by £1.67m and means this funding back go back into the regional programme to support other key projects.

FTN, It looks a long walk from the station to the bus stop.

Not to mention Sea Mills.

Isn't it always the same? Big local headlines heralding Portway Parkway going ahead some considerable time back for good PR, now nowt. I guess the engineer's ground surveys must be finished but try to find out where things are now and it's a black hole.
I say this because a successful P&R there (which I take as a given) could really convince everyone of the value of Metrowest, hence my perhaps unreasonable impatience but I find the lack of a my more information disappointing.
Has anyone on the forum got an "info fix" for me?

- The government funding that we have secured for the project via the New Stations Fund requires that the rail infrastructure must be completed by the end of February 2020.

- The ground surveys demonstrated that the construction of the station is feasible and informed its design.

- Although Network Rail has experienced some minor delays in completing the required surveys and follow up design work, they are confident that this will not impact on the overall completion date.

- The planning application was submitted in July, which is currently being assessed.

- We are currently awaiting the outcome of Network Rail’s ‘GRIP4’ study which has developed the proposal in detail and updated the scheme costs. Once we have received this information and assessed it, we will update the public on the progress and viability of the project. This should be in the next couple of weeks.

- The planning application was submitted in July, which is currently being assessed.

BBC Radio Bristol news have added a story from late afternoon today that lighter trains or even trams are to be looked at as a means of making the reopening of the Portishead line more affordable. That's all I could find for now, online BBC local news has nowt and I'm not even going to bother with the online Evening Post as they probably won't find out about this before November.

Let's not be too hard on the Evening Bristol for not knowing about this; Portishead Railway Group don't seem to have heard either. Maybe some journo just overheard some friends and I fantasising after 5 pints in the front bar of the Highbury Vaults...

BBC Radio Bristol news have added a story from late afternoon today that lighter trains or even trams are to be looked at as a means of making the reopening of the Portishead line more affordable. That's all I could find for now, online BBC local news has nowt and I'm not even going to bother with the online Evening Post as they probably won't find out about this before November.

I've long believed in just getting from Portishead to Temple Meads to start with before anything else. The notion of extending out of the station however is new one to me. It would be a very tight turn from platform 2 to go down the ramp (and then onwards somewhere). That, if at all possible, would really be a "phase two" proposal. Platform 2 was the old Motorail vehicle entrance though so maybe, just maybe.

Let's not be too hard on the Evening Bristol for not knowing about this; Portishead Railway Group don't seem to have heard either. Maybe some journo just overheard some friends and I fantasising after 5 pints in the front bar of the Highbury Vaults...

I have been in touch today with Mhairi Threlfall, Bristol City Council Cabinet Member for Transport, and she has provided the following update for the benefit of forum members:

Looked back at Lee's very interesting update (above) that he obtained from Mhairi Threlfall last month regarding progress with the Portway P&R Station. The last line of the response indicated that more information would be forthcoming in "the next couple of weeks" so I was wondering if there has been anything recently released .

The GRIP4 study has been completed and we are currently considering the emerging outputs from this. We hope to be in a position to provide an update on the scheme over the coming weeks. In the meantime, Bristol City Council is currently determining the planning application for the project.

Bear in mind that Marvin Rees is taking over Mhairi Threlfall's Transport remit...

Oh bugger, I had forgotten that. He is probably going to build the station miles from the Portway Park and Ride, isn't he? Probably Filton.

But with an underground tunnel connection to somewhere half a mile from the Park and Ride!

The new station buildings were completed by 1850, and also included a goods shed, although the railway tracks were not added until later.  Opened 1857.

The new station buildings were completed by 1850, and also included a goods shed, although the railway tracks were not added until later.  Opened 1857.

But with an underground tunnel connection to somewhere half a mile from the Park and Ride!

Do enlighten me,where ?

The Canadian owners of Bristol airport have been discussing a rail link of sorts. They seem to know what they are doing there, having expanded both business and buildings there substantially since carrying on the grand job done by the late Les Wilson, "Mr Bristol Airport". Those Canadians don't just watch from a distance - I use the airport fairly regularly, and earlier this year witnessed a group of obvious VIPs being shown around airside. From a snatch of overheard conversation, I realised that they were trustees of the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund being given a tour of the most recent improvements.

My guess is that if they find that it is feasible, they will build it and operate it a bit like the original Heathrow Express model, maybe up and running before the Portway P&R station. Definitely before the Henbury loop.

Interesting.

I'd suggest that it would be more like Luton Airport - with a light rail link that cuts Network Rail out of the loop entirely. The question is where you run it from, there are a number of options, including perhaps a new NR Station at Long Ashton, but there's no natural choice.

It would be interesting to see a breakdown of airport users by origin/destination postcode. Building for the long-term, could it be worthwhile to build it pointing westward, perhaps connecting to NR at Yatton? After all there are something like 2m people living in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.

My own back-of-envelope design would involve connection to the main line somewhere around Parson Street, although there's a couple of big hills to circumnavigate or burrow through. It's a climb of 620 feet to the airport in about 5 miles. The LEP looked at this not long before transport was handed to the Metro Mayor. The three main options were a line from around Long Ashton, a line from Yatton using the trackbed of the Strawberry line, and conversion of MetroBust to light rail, with the line then following the A38. Because of ther height problem, the last option looks like the most flexible. Taylor Wimpey suggested it when proposing the Vale project.

The line of the former route to the docks and beyond is still very evident, even if the bridge isn't. With foresight, clever engineering, and a will to succeed, trams or tram-trains could yet snake across the road and into the station.

So no, then.

...do I see...some sort of passive provision?

Is the old harbour line along Cumberland Rd still there or have they pulled it up now that Ashton Swing Bridge has been 'Metrobussed'?  Obviously it became completely redundant following it's disconnection at Ashton Gate, but haven't driven along there for a while now

T'aint redundant at all - it's still very much connected to the historic dockside railway at M Shed. The rather makeshift platform at the Cumberland Basin end, used on high days and holy days, is currently a kit of parts pushed aside by MetroBus work, but one has to presume that it will be reinstated at some point.

Sorry I meant the fact it's now been disconnected from the rest of the network after they ripped it up over the swing bridge.  You reckon there'll be plans to reconnect it somehow?

Is the old harbour line along Cumberland Rd still there or have they pulled it up now that Ashton Swing Bridge has been 'Metrobussed'?  Obviously it became completely redundant following it's disconnection at Ashton Gate, but haven't driven along there for a while now

I kind of got the impression the Chocolate Path was not going to reopen, probably ever. If true that would imply the Harbour Railway along there also being closed.

Significant repair work for highway structures around Bristol’s waterways approved at Cabinet

The future of a ... popular cycle route and footpath has been secured following last night’s cabinet meeting (4 September).

At the meeting funding was approved to begin ... the structural stabilisation of the river wall which supports the Chocolate Path and historic railway.

...

The Chocolate Path, which is a popular walking and cycling route, has been partially closed since 2016 as it is currently slowly subsiding into the river. In order to reopen it and make the path safe to use, a budget of £5million worth of capital funding has been allocated to stabilise the wall and stop any further subsidence of the path and historic railway.

Cllr Mhairi Threlfall, Cabinet Member for Transport said: “We need to take action now so that we can protect these important historical landmarks around our city’s famous waterways.  This work is essential for looking after these important structural elements of our highway network, keeping them working and stopping parts completely slipping away in to the river.

“If we do not act now these costs are likely to rise substantially.  We expect that work will start next year and we will keep commuters updated for any road closures that may happen as a result of this work.”

Up to £3million funding was agreed for the refurbishment of the Redcliffe Bridge and up to £5million for the stabilisation of the river retaining wall supporting the Chocolate Footpath and historic railway. The work is due to begin within the next financial year.

BBC Radio Bristol news bulletins today have Banes Council and our Marv talking about tram/train or light rail options between Severn Beach and Westbury. Probably a bit more of their occasional headline attention grabbing stuff or equally possibly an excuse for further inaction but worth mentioning I thought.

Given that BaNES are involved, I presume we're talking about Westbury, Wilts rather than Westbury-on-Trym... in which case, unless my rail atlas is out-of-date, isn't there already a heavy rail connection?

R.S,     Joint SP was not mentioned in the article but it wasn't at all in depth.

Westbury on Trym, I am sure, was not the Westbury mentioned. Isn't W-O-T the intended terminus for the underground rapid transport link to the future Steepholm International Airport?*

Looks like perhaps like the whole of Metrowest is becoming tram/light rail as that was also an earlier proposal for the Portishead Line.


*That bit might just have been just made up by me.

Like it but you got the wrong 'Holm', Steep Holm would be like St. Kilda, too much cross wind, but Flat Holm would be ideal as the location of Flat Holm International Airport as the main runway could be constructed to run East to West.

Were they talking about the JSP? It is worth looking at the infrastructure statement as updated in April 2018 (here (https://www.jointplanningwofe.org.uk/gf2.ti/f/845730/35834469.1/PDF/-/SD12A_Infrastructure_Position_Statement_April_2018_Updated_for_Submission.pdf)), if you haven't already; the map in Figure 3 gives some indication of what is on the table - stations at St Anne's, Saltford, Ashley Hill, Ashton and Charfield, 'rapid transit' (not MetroBus) to the Airport, north-west Bristol, along Bath Road and - oh, along the Bristol-Bath cycle path by the look of it... lucky old Thornbury might get MetroBus and a cycle path (they must have upset someone!).

_{Edit: Oops! No points for proofreading}

Looks like the Bristol Bath Cycle path is doomed to a Metrobustrocity. Haven't they learnt yet?

Whether they've learnt or not, the cycle path is indicated as non-MetroBus rapid transit.

Like it but you got the wrong 'Holm', Steep Holm would be like St. Kilda, too much cross wind, but Flat Holm would be ideal as the location of Flat Holm International Airport as the main runway could be constructed to run East to West.

[snip]

To complicate calculations, a significant number of residences that were built in Melksham Without can only be reached by road from the Town, and the whole thing got so absurd that a number of chunks of the without were moved within a couple of years back.

Correct, but they are talking about a Light Rail vehicle using that route. Can you imagine a Light Rail vehicle alone interspersed with heavy rail traffic on the busy Bristol to Bath main line, I can't.

I'm no electrical expert but I would have thought that to install a transformer to supply the required power to propel a light rail vehicle in that light rail vehicle from 'a future 25Kv OHL supply' would be so heavy as to make it a, err, heavy rail vehicle anyway. I wish people like Marv and Tim would engage their brains before taking the brakes off their mouths.

A element of the Joint Spatial Plan seems to already have some doubts being raised about it's future. BBC reports that MPs are questioning the safety of "smart motorways" with calls for their abandonment. The JSP includes smart motorways as part of the mix.
Here's the article:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46553654

Unless they have seen the Siemens S70 Avanto in service in Mulhouse. That runs on 25 KV AC on the mainline railway, and 750V DC in town on the ordinary tram tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZwcsJyZ9Z8

Bristol Live reports on possible progress with Charfield Station along with road based schemes. The surprise for me though was mention of a "road to nowhere" in Yate which I had never heard of. Apparently a dual carriageway built and abandoned in the 1970 which has occasional film location uses but that is about all. Anyway, here's the link:
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/could-two-new-bypasses-railway-2575767

I probably will be providing food for the worms before regular traffic traverses the Road To Nowhere and judging by the current state of this stretch of 'highway' will require it to be re-constructed before it can be opened as part of the local everyday road network, after all its seen no regular traffic for 45 years so far.

Charfield station's been talked about for at least as long as Portishead, hasn't it?

It was put to a vote of residents about 20 years ago. They said no, because they didn't want people from Wotton under Edge using it.

Charfield. A local village for local people.

Charfield Station is very much 'there', in black ink, in JLTP3 and JLTP4. Did they put it to another vote, reflecting the fact that some of the older, more xenophobic residents have moved on to a better place?

It was put to a vote of residents about 20 years ago. They said no, because they didn't want people from Wotton under Edge using it.

Charfield. A local village for local people.

...Wottonians

...aren't they Wottingers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8lMh1R4n5A)?

It was put to a vote of residents about 20 years ago. They said no, because they didn't want people from Wotton under Edge using it.

Charfield. A local village for local people.

Lifted from FOSBR's Facebook page:

https://www.northsomersettimes.co.uk/news/portishead-rail-metrowest-project-could-begin-phase-one-soon-1-5911967?fbclid=IwAR1NYkC6Z9oD3uffXuVC_tx-SREuwjPXYKWXSD9MPr9nOkjrwLeWdmsGlfE

North Somerset Times article "Councillors confident trains to Bristol from Portishead will run ‘by 2023’"

I had a conversation with a senior member of the Portishead Railway Group earlier this week, who assures me the timescale is unduly pessimistic. He thinks it will be up and running by 2022.

I had a conversation with a senior member of the Portishead Railway Group earlier this week, who assures me the timescale is unduly pessimistic. He thinks it will be up and running by 2022.

Confidence growing that ambitious MetroWest railway will expand
Phase one, which is currently under way, will see the reopening of the Portishead line to passenger trains and improving services on the Severn Beach and Bath to Bristol lines.

(https://i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article2546643.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_View-1-2019-02-14-143553.jpg)
Confidence is growing among transport chiefs that the MetroWest railway will be expanded all the way to Gloucester and Westbury in Wiltshire.

A report to the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) overview and scrutiny committee revealed train operator Great Western Railway and Network Rail, which manages the lines, are both keen on the plans.

The “phase three” extension to the ambitious project, which aims to improve suburban train services into Bristol, received a boost last year when the Government announced it would back the idea.

(https://i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article1802280.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_BM_BRI_190718MetroWest_03JPG.jpg)
The railway line has been plagued by uncertainty (Image: Michael Lloyd)
Phase one, which is currently under way, will see the reopening of the Portishead line to passenger trains and improving services on the Severn Beach and Bath to Bristol lines.

Work is also ongoing for phase two which would reopen the Henbury Line to an hourly spur service, as well as providing increased, half-hourly trains to Yate.

Expanding MetroWest 30 miles beyond Yate to Gloucester in the north, with possible extra stops in between, and 15 miles from Bath to Westbury in the east is now under serious discussion, which is set to conclude by the summer.

Weca director of infrastructure David Carter told combined authority councillors: “In the autumn we asked for MetroWest 1 to be extended to Westbury and MetroWest 2 to be extended to Gloucester.

“That’s up to the Department for Transport to negotiate with the franchisee, which is Great Western Railway, to determine whether they will or won’t accept that.

“So we have to make sure we keep, in both MetroWest 1 and 2, the cost of the turnback at Bath and the cost of the turnback at Yate until such time as the department confirms Gloucester and Westbury are in the franchise, and we won’t know that until June or July.”

(https://i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article1128451.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/The-former-Henbury-railway-station.jpg)
The former Henbury railway station
Mr Carter said at the meeting on Wednesday, February 27, that Weca was working with Network Rail on the necessary infrastructure to extend to Westbury.

He said: “All the suggestions are that Great Western Railway and Network Rail would like to extend to Westbury and Gloucester and that the capital cost saving will be a benefit to the scheme.

“To go to Westbury they need to update three level crossings down the Avon Valley.

“We need to make sure they don’t need land or planning permission to do that and that it’s all done by permitted development.

“If they did, we’d have to make the decision that to run the MetroWest service, you may have to have a turnback.

“So until they can tell us categorically in June or July that you don’t need to do that and can go all the way to Westbury then we can’t make that decision, and the same is true of Yate.

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“Network Rail and Great Western Railway would rather there weren’t turnbacks because it adds to operational resilience issues but technically there’s space within the timetable to have that turnback and operate the service.”

Mr Carter said a funding gap remained for phase one and that negotiations were ongoing with the Government.

Last month, North Somerset Council allocated £15million to the Portishead-line section of the project and approved £11.7million over two years to develop a full business case.

But it still faces a £31million shortfall.

The plans also include building new rail stations at Henbury, North Filton and Ashley Down.

It is rather upbeat.

Maybe a few quid can be had from Gloucester and Wiltshire towards the cost.

[
I could perhaps be persuaded that turn backs on existing tracks at Bath Spa are not going to be possible every hour - though there are already a couple of service that turn back there each day off pattern.  But on that same basis, I would need to be persuaded that there's sufficient capacity across Bathampton Junction, across Bradford Junction, and at Westbury to reverse the trains.   Westbury really needs the 4th platform re-instating even before 'they' try and turn an extra train around each hour - lost opportunity at Christmas I'm sad to say.  And I'm sad to say it will be very, very hard to persuade me otherwise.

Last Monday's timetabling meeting told us how difficult it is to schedule TransWilts trains / slot them in with the faster and more frequent services on the main line section from Chippenham to Swindon, along the single track sections with a 15 minute-ish transit time (and perhaps pathing time), and then to a platform to reverse at Westbury.   Which is why the Southampton and Portsmouth train leaves just before the train from Swindon (currently carrying passengers want to change for Southampton and Portsmouth gets there).  And in reverse the Swindon train has a habit of leaving just before the train from .... you  guessed it!

I don't see how Westbury will robustly support turning back another train every hour on 3 platforms, unless there is utter disregard to connections.   Or perhaps the MetroWest trains are already in the 2020 draft timetable to "run when required" but the version shared for consulting contained only the trains that will be required?

There is a solution - run all (yes, all) the MetroWest stoppers - every half hour - on to Frome. Alternate trains to reverse there and to carry on to Yeovil Pen Mill.  Bring the Three Rivers train that sits in the bay as Salisbury for nearly an hour on to Westbury, with alternate trains (all at peak times) extended to Swindon and Oxford.  Timetable to provide two-way cross-platform interchanges between one of the MetroWest trains (preferably the Yeovil one) and the Three Rivers to Swindon / Oxford.

Maybe a few quid can be had from Gloucester and Wiltshire towards the cost.

Interesting suggestion.  "I know you've already got two trains per hour - but we've got trouble dealing with an issue with another train on our patch - can it come onto yours for operations reasons please?".  Then "Oh, thank your for helping us a out of a hole and providing us with a way to save spending our money - would you like to pay for helping is out of the hole?"

There has been some delay in Bristol City Council determining the planning application whilst some follow up ecological issues were addressed. All outstanding issues have now been addressed and we are expecting to get an update on determination by the end of this week.

The current cost estimate for the scheme includes provision for some minor signalling works connected to the operation of the level crossing just north of the site on West Town Road. This is because the sighting of the current signal which operates the crossing for trains heading towards Avonmouth would mean that additional barrier downtime at the level crossing would be incurred whilst trains stopped at the new station. This signal mitigation will mean that the level crossing can be operated once the train is ready to leave the new station thereby removing any potential for additional delay.

Lee's previous post refers to the cost including "minor signalling works" which might translate as "inexpensive signalling works", or is there no such thing?

Also (perhaps) sensors to know when the train arrives / leaves for train monitoring purposes.  Giving data for operation use, but also the feeds that station displays and industry feeds from which things like Rail Time Trains pick up their information.

Other than Sea Mills!!....

Latest update received:


I will ask again early next week.

Any local residents, commuters etc. wishing to access and use the new platform and bus services will be able to access Portway Park and Ride via the existing entrances as they will remain unchanged as part of this proposal.

Although there are new facilities being provided for the platform, the existing cycle parking, electric vehicle charge points, disabled parking and public car parking will be available for rail passengers.

The Objectives of the Project
3.6 As part of the funding bid to the DfT the project has outlined a number of objectives which
the scheme should deliver;
xTo provide an alternative mode of transport for car users entering the centre of Bristol;
xTo improve connectivity to other stations in north and inner Bristol;
xTo provide direct connections to the wider rail network via Bristol Temple Meads;
xTo improve connectivity to the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone and the planned new
Bristol Arena at Bristol Temple Meads, as well as the Avonmouth Severnside
Enterprise Area;
xTo enhance the carrying capacity of the local rail network;
xTo complement the existing bus based Park & Ride service which primarily serves the
city centre;
xTo reduce road congestion, airborne pollution and car parking demand in inner Bristol,
particularly at peak times;
xTo make a positive contribution to social well-being, life opportunities and improving
quality of life (along the affected corridors in particular);
xTo reduce the adverse environmental impacts of the local transport network as a
whole;
xTo deliver a new single platform, located adjacent to the existing local authority
operated Portway Park & Ride facility;
xSufficient passenger capacity should meet the forecast usage demands of the P&R
facility;
xAccess from the P&R facility to the Station which ensures access for all users; and
xA new station which provides broadly a 40 minute passenger service frequency until
MetroWest Phase 1 is delivered and then a half hourly service frequency.

Pedestrian/ Cycle Access
3.14 This will remain as the existing existing car park access points to the pavement and public roads from the side of the Portway which is adjacent to the entrance point for the park and ride buses. Access through the car park will use existing paths/ ramp and steps. The only minor construction works required are infill around two of the existing tree pits to be capped with permeable resin bound gravel to essentially increase the width of walkway around two trees (which in itself would not require planning permission) to improve the width of the pavement for wheelchair/ pram users without having to remove the two affected trees.

Anyone want to add to the list?

Hmm... quite a few of the stations on Lee's list don't meet my definition of a 'Parkway'; I've obviously fallen into the trap of trying to prescribe (rather than describe) a usage..!

Still think Portway Parkway is a silly name though.

...Stapelton Road

But, really, what else would you call the new park and ride station on the parkway? 

Isn't "Parkway" the modern word for "Road" on the end of a station name?  Means "as near as we'll get you" in many cases.

Beaulieu Road, Builth Road, Llanbister Road, Stapelton Road.  Confused by a duplicate use where the "Road" is the road name in the town, such as Gainsborough Lea Road, Blackhorse Road, Angel Road, etc.

Castle Cary -> Shepton Mallet Road ... no - I had better not suggest that.

But, really, what else would you call the new park and ride station on the parkway?  It's all very well us being critical but ... what alternative?  Looking at a map - but just a quick look - no new name shouts out.   Sponsored name? Public competition - "Station McStation Face"?  Some sort of commemorative name?  Perhaps we have too many "Brunel"s ... but we could do worse; name it after anyone more recent and I suspect you'll have arguments.  "Beeching's End" to celebrate railways making a comeback?

I think the Parkway name has been devalued over the years. Originally X Parkway meant a station that is close to X but not in it, ...   

Any idea what 'X' Road Station was furthest from its 'X'? Genuine question - I have no idea.

A bit like the original GWR use of the handle "Road". Wallingford Road station was some three miles from its erstwhile destination.

Any idea what 'X' Road Station was furthest from its 'X'? Genuine question - I have no idea.

A visitor new to Bristol, wishing to travel to the St Andrews Park locale would be ill advised to get off the Severn Beach Line at St Andrews Road!

OK I'll bite.  Why is that then?......

OK I'll bite.  Why is that then?......

A bit like the original GWR use of the handle "Road". Wallingford Road station was some three miles from its erstwhile destination.

Any idea what 'X' Road Station was furthest from its 'X'? Genuine question - I have no idea.

Portway Parkway is silly, inaccurate and will inevitably get called Porkway Partway.

You read it here first, folks! http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=18835.msg222812#msg222812

I had a conversation with a senior member of the Portishead Railway Group earlier this week, who assures me the timescale is unduly pessimistic. He thinks it will be up and running by 2022.

Today's news about the funding makes this even more interesting!
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/all-about/portishead

The platform will be long enough for five car trains and Network Rail also plans to install a ticket machine at the station - something which is not available on some of the other stations along the Severn Beach line.

I can see it now: Severn Beach line to be extended to Portishead on new Avonmouth Bridge!

I was wondering when the Bridge would make a reappearance 😉

I had in mind some sort of addition to the M5 bridge, rails tacked on to the side. I think that beats your idea, Graham, for silliness!

Why is a bridge to Portishead from the Severn Beach Line a silly idea?

Why is a bridge to Portishead from the Severn Beach Line a silly idea?

The Avon is part of the Port of Bristol, and large ships have a right of navigation as far as the harbour entrance. The current "air draught" under Avonmouth bridge is about 30 m at high tide, so any new bridge would need to be as high, movable, or its lower height agreed by the port company.

So: Tunnel, anyone?  ;)

I'm not sure I entirely understand every detail of grahame's proposal - is it loosely based on the arguably-not-entirely-successful Combe Hay caisson lock?

So sorry, I thought you were proposing a swivelling tunnel to get to depth quicker!

Go on, be bold. We've got loads of boat lifts on canals; so why not a train lift?

On my first visit to Auckland New Zealand I was told that the Auckland Harbour Bridge had recently been widened by the Japanese who had bolted, must have been big bolts, brackets, big ones too, onto the outsides of the bridge to widen it and then constructed the additional road lanes using the installed brackets.

Then of course, Sydney Harbour Bridge has a double track rail line crossing it with the highway either side.

What would Brunel do ?

A broad gauge, atmospheric, suspended bridge with billiard straight rails,or a beached Great Eastern embedded in each bank, with a hole cut amidships, and swivelling half bridges rather like half arm level crossing barriers ???

Planning consent for Portway Parkway Railway Station now granted - details and documents here. (https://planningonline.bristol.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=PC097NDNG3E00&activeTab=summary)

I have a detailed catchup on Portway Parkway pencilled in for 15th April. Please feel free to have a good look, and if there any aspects you want more details on, or if you have any other Portway Parkway-related questions, then let me know before then and i will ask.

Lee, thanks for posting that.  Although its not in my 'local' area I've always had an interest in this type of scheme since producing several ideas in my RT days.  One thing not clear is, on the drawings, it appears that you have to walk through the car park, along the road, from the bus set down/pick up point.  Have I read that correctly (or seen it properly)?

Yes the proposals maintain the current pedestrian route into the Park & Ride site, down the steps and ramp into the car park. Some improvements to this route will be made to enable an appropriate pedestrian route down to the station entrance.

The section of car park to the south is currently not in use. This area was laid out when the site was expanded so that further expansion can be achieved relatively easily. The expansion is not part of this station project but as parking demand increases we will consider the appropriate time to look at further expansion, subject to funding availability. This could also be an opportunity to look at an additional pedestrian entrance should it be felt appropriate.

We are currently working towards commencing detailed design for the project now that planning consent has been secured.

Weather permitting, so that's a big "if" already, I'm thinking of taking a quick jaunt coastwards on the Severn Riviera Express to see if there is any indication of work starting on the Portway Station site. Does anyone know if this would be a waste of time as well as the ticket fare?
I'm still not certain about the stipulation that's been mentioned about the funding being conditional on completion this year. If it is and there's not an orange jacket to be seen yet, are there going to be some interesting times ahead?

Weather permitting, so that's a big "if" already, I'm thinking of taking a quick jaunt coastwards on the Severn Riviera Express to see if there is any indication of work starting on the Portway Station site. Does anyone know if this would be a waste of time as well as the ticket fare?
I'm still not certain about the stipulation that's been mentioned about the funding being conditional on completion this year. If it is and there's not an orange jacket to be seen yet, are there going to be some interesting times ahead?

It's only three quid return from Temple Meads, so not a big loss. A short trip around Avonmouth can be rewarding. An even shorter trip even more rewarding. When all else fails, may I recommend the George in Shirehampton High Street, opposite the Jobccentre? Less dangerous than the Lifeboat, some say. The chippy is pretty good, too.

Or The Lamplighters which is much nicer than either and is nearer the station!

It's only three quid return from Temple Meads, so not a big loss. A short trip around Avonmouth can be rewarding. An even shorter trip even more rewarding. When all else fails, may I recommend the George in Shirehampton High Street, opposite the Jobccentre? Less dangerous than the Lifeboat, some say. The chippy is pretty good, too.

Or £2 return if I start from Clifton Grand Central Station instead of my usual Redland (and 1/3 off with my railcard).
Anyway, Western Pathfinder's reply yesterday rather told me all I needed to know. As for the Lifeboat pub, it's historic reputation still seems valid! 😮

My goodness! I had forgotten the Lamplighters! Nice place, popular with young mums at lunchtime for some reason.

Yes indeed, not been there since nineteen eightysomething. Pleased to hear it was recentlyish rescued from closure. Been past it a few times and it looks very good.

What goes in Shire JC stays in Shire JC.

Last time I was in there you could breaststroke in the Gents. 

If I've read this correctly, the whole £350,000,000 funding envelope was approved as were all the business case allocations:
https://tinyurl.com/y6pqama6

8.To approve the Outline Business Case for Bristol Temple Meads Eastern Entrance and award of £2.5m of funding through the Investment Fund as set out in the Feasibility and Development Funding Application.

11.To approve the Outline Business Case for MetroWest Phase 2 and award of £3.519m to develop the Full Business Case noting the need to enhance the Benefit to Cost Ratio to at least 2 by Full Business Case stage.

6.To approve the Full Business Case for the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension and award £21.9m of Investment Fund subject to supply of a detailed elemental cost breakdown for the highway works and securing all necessary land.

12. To approve a further £900,000 to develop a Full Business Case for Charfield Station.

11. To approve the Outline Business Case for MetroWest Phase 2 and award of £3.519m to develop the Full Business Case noting the need to enhance the Benefit to Cost Ratio to at least 2 by Full Business Case stage.

12. To approve a further £900,000 to develop a Full Business Case for Charfield Station.

I thought all this had been done in the days of Avon CC and Northavon DC and copies nailed into their coffins for burial. £900,000 is a f*****g awful lot of dosh to exhume a coffin, open it, extract the report and re-type it.

As mentioned elsewhere on this forum (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=231.msg267122#msg267122), on Friday WECA was set to authorise funding for the next phase of development of a number of public transport improvements. If you found the Bristol Post article a bit hard to read, then this one from Bristol 247 (https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/wecas-multi-million-pound-transport-plans-for-bristol-region/) contains largely similar information, without the clickbait and other irritating entrained clutter that is the hallmark of the Post these days. Actually the content is so similar, you could almost believe that both organs had simply quoted a press release...

Surprisingly, as far as I can see nothing has been made public about this meeting or its outcome on the WECA website, and Tim Bowles didn't mention it directly at the Community Rail Conference yesterday...

WECA seem to be dolling out £ millions for this project or other but can't or rather don't want to spend a few pennies resolving some to be easily solved 'snags' with Metrobust although they could be bracing themselves for an as yet unknown bill to fix what might be, from my observations, a developing major problem with the Metrobust Infrastructure in the Stoke Park/Stoke Lane area more of which I'll post on the Metrobust thread itself.

Multi-million pound investment for rail across the West of England gets the green light

Better connections and more frequent rail services are coming down the tracks after the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) approved a further £3.5m investment in the MetroWest project.

The funding was approved by WECA on 14 June to support the next stage in the project, which aims to deliver additional infrastructure and train operations by the end of 2021 to provide:

A half hourly service for Yate local station on the Bristol Parkway to Gloucester line, through the provision of an additional service between Bristol Parkway and Yate
An hourly service for a reopened Henbury Line with new stations at Henbury and North Filton. A new station will also be constructed at Ashley Down, on the existing Filton Bank (between Filton Abbey Wood and Stapleton Road).
The WECA Committee has also agreed to take forward ambitions for a brand-new rail station serving Charfield and the surrounding towns and villages, with a further investment of £900,000 to develop the full business case.

West of England Mayor, Tim Bowles, said: “Rail is a key part of my ambition to improve public transport in the region, giving people more sustainable ways to travel.

“This includes improving the Severn Beach line to provide direct services to Bath and Westbury, re-opening Henbury station and more frequent services to Yate. We also have plans to open new train stations in Portishead, Henbury, Portway and Charfield.

“Improved and more frequent rail services will give people better access to jobs, link new homes and communities with employment areas and encourage more people to use public transport. This is just part of the picture. Our long-term Investment Strategy proposes £350m for transport over the next 20 years.”

The West of England Joint committee has also confirmed a £500,000 allocation to the MetroWest scheme, and in April the Transport Secretary committed an extra £31.9m to complete the funding needed to reopen the railway to Portishead and Pill with two new stations. The Severn Beach line extension to Bath and Westbury is also on track for 2021.

[...article continues (https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/multi-million-pound-investment-rail-across-west-england-gets-green-light/)]

Although is article on the Bristol Live site begins with a local MP's campaigning to have a new station at Lockleaze the subject moves on to renewed demands for a Henbury Loop rather than a spur. It may not be a totally dead parrot yet.

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/should-new-railway-station-lockleaze-3002323

Residents are concerned plans for a new train station in Bristol will increase anti-social parking on their streets.

Ashley Down is one of three new stations to be built as part of the MetroWest Phase Two project which will see a passenger service return to the Henbury line for the first time in decades.

But residents in Ashley Down Hill - which is known for heavy congestion and idling street parking - are worried about the number of commuters the new services will bring into the area and fear current parking issues will worsen.

Chris Ge is in favour of the new railway plans but he said: "The roads around will need a residents parking scheme in place, otherwise it will just turn into another commuter park and ride."

Jacquelyn Haskins agrees more public transport is needed in Bristol but "We do need residents' parking scheme (RPS) as well as a new station."

From Bristol Live (https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/locals-favour-plans-ashley-down-3041287)

The key thing here is that the people quoted are not objecting to the station - they just want an RPS.

They're unlikely to get far with that, as Mayor Rees is opposed to them.

"Vote for me as mayor and I'll abolish the mayorship." It could be a winning slogan!

I used to go in Shire JC. I managed to escape.

Oh, and I'd have to disagree about The George in Shire, unless it's improved immeasurably in recent months. Last time I was in there you could breaststroke in the Gents. That's if you'd managed to unstick your feet from the carpet in front of the bar.

There's a short but somewhat ambiguous article in Bristol Live about some recent movement as regards a new station at Ashley Down with 3.5m approved by WECA to develop a full business case for "the project" last week.
The article is unclear if this refers to the station or the wider Metrowest project and begins with the misleading opening sentence "work is already underway".
Here's the link if you want to try and make sense of it:

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/more-details-revealed-new-ashley-2997303?__twitter_impression=true&int_source=taboola&int_medium=display&int_campaign=organic

Yes, some slightly confusing statements here. The article particularly singles out the need for improved access for pedestrians from Station Road and Lane, and later refers to the need to reduce conflicts between users of Concorde Way and the proposed station. Concorde Way is the pedestrian and cycle access running past the old station, and runs alongside (or possibly along) the old station platform. Access between the two could hardly be simpler unless the proposed station is not on the site of the old station, which would be odd. There is an issue about potential conflict of users, but I would have thought that ought to be resolvable.

The extension of MetroWest rail services to Gloucester and Westbury is one step closer

More frequent trains to Gloucester, Yate and Westbury are a step closer as a change of scope to the MetroWest rail project was agreed at the West of England Combined Authority committee meeting on Friday 19 June.

Phase one, of the MetroWest project which is currently under way, will see the reopening of the Portishead line to passenger trains and improved services on the Severn Beach and Bath to Bristol lines. Phase two would reopen the Henbury Line to an hourly spur service, as well as providing increased, half-hourly trains to Yate.

Expanding MetroWest 30 miles beyond Yate to Gloucester in the north, and 15 miles from Bath to Westbury in the east is now within the scope of the MetroWest project after being welcomed by the West of England Combined Authority Committee.

The proposal to extend the service to Gloucester in place of the Yate turnback has been developed with the train operators and Network Rail. Gloucester is considered a better terminating point for the services because less significant infrastructure is likely to be required whilst extending the communities within reach of the MetroWest services.

The Westbury extension is expected to provide a better mix of local and regional train services, addressing overcrowding issues and making better use of trains and train crews.

Further work is now required for both extensions to confirm the cost and timescales. Once these have been confirmed the proposals to extend the lines would then formally become part of the MetroWest project.

West of England Mayor, Tim Bowles said: “The new MetroWest rail network is going to get our region and its economy moving. It will help create jobs, connect our communities and create more than 1million new journeys on our railway network each year. It will also help us cut carbon emissions, ease congestion and improve our region’s air quality so I’m very pleased that by extending services to Gloucester and Westbury we will give even more residents see those benefits that I know they have been calling for.”

Mike Gallop, Western route director for Network Rail, said: “This is a very welcome step towards delivering enhanced rail services for passengers in and around Bristol. Our work with West of England Combined Authority and local authorities to deliver MetroWest will help to transform the city’s suburban rail network. It will bring new communities together by offering a choice of rail, rather than road, and it will help to support growth through the regeneration of the former Filton Aerodrome site. It’s good news for passengers and for the economy too.”

Once completed, MetroWest will connect an additional 80,000 residents directly to the national rail network and includes:

• Half hourly services on the Severn Beach line calling at a new station at Portway
• Half hourly services from Bristol Temple Meads to Bath and Westbury
• Hourly services between Portishead and Bristol Temple Meads with new stations at Pill and Portishead.
• Hourly services from Bristol Temple Meads to Henbury, calling at new stations at Ashley Down, Henbury and North Filton as well as all existing stations in between
• Half hourly services between Bristol Temple Meads, Yate and Gloucester.

https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Map-metrowest.jpg mirrored at:
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/Map-metrowest.jpg)

Can this be done without reopening Platform 4 at Westbury?

Extending the scheme to Gloucester is a nice ambition but I wonder if it's not overreaching. Moving the goalposts so they can extend the pitch without having enough grass or paint for the lines.

Interesting map, showing Portishead trains through Bedminster, Parson Street, Nailsea and Backwell on their way to Pill and Portishead, and all trains to the South West passing through Weston Milton and Weston-super-mare.  I would "give" them the latter if the map showed purely regional trains, but it doesn't - it included long distance expresses with arrowed off routes to London from both Bath Spa and Bristol Parkway.

Mmm.

We've amended the version on the FoSBR website (https://fosbr.org.uk/metrowest-plans-extended-to-gloucester-and-westbury/), and asked WECA if they'd like to correct the original...

I think that's fair enough actually - it's a map of MetroWest services. Maps are always a compromise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwprznh3d-o

It's not just of Metrowest services though. It also includes arrows to London, South Wales and South West, so giving the misleading impression that a Cross Country service to Plymouth will pass through Weston-super-Mare. I don't think it needs to show anything beyond WsM, just show a divergence at Worle with "South West" on the other line.

One passes through at 11:33 on its way from Manchester to Paignton though ... and at 15:33 on its way back from Exeter St David's to Manchester (from timetable / not running at present).

As ever - "what does the map show"?    As it stands, it's unlikely to mislead whereas it could have mislead passengers hoping to change at Nailsea on their way from Weston to Portishead, now that there's no direct line between the two.

It can probably be done if the train extends beyond Westbury to Frome as that makes better use of the platforms at Westbury, but I would not  like to be certain after the fiasco at Bristol Parkway trying to get local trains in and out.

Terminate and lay over in the platform at a three platform Westbury?  - I have my doubts.   But then ... 3 local trains an hour into Westbury from the top right corner - two from Bristol and one from Swindon, and three local trains out - one all stations via Salisbury, one all stations to or via Yeovil Pen Mill, and one to Frome with a Radstock aspiration and you've no longer got anything platform blocking.

One Issue with the current turnback arrangments may be that they are ok if the train consists of one unit as the driver can walk through.
However if the train is formed of say 2 class 165 or 166 units provision needs to be made for a walking route to change ends.

So - do we reckon that something will get started one day ever, or will MetroWest just keep getting added to on paper, with new maps, until it reaches Scunthorpe and the Isle of Wight?

As far as I know, as I asked an SWR driver on this point, the driver must always be in the leading cab for all movements, there may be a union requirment too, that the guard etc, would have to be trained and paid a drivers wage for that day, when carying out a drives role.

With the PM's announcement that he is to speed up infrastructure projects, will this apply to the Portishead line, the Henbury Spur/Loop, the OHL via Bath to Bristol, Bristol East Junction remodelling to name just a few, I can't see it myself as our local politicians are such ditherer. I have heard it said of the combined authority, the WRECA authority following the publishing of the latest timetables for bus services leaving still no service from Marshfield to Bristol, the Bath - Bristol via Keynsham restricted to early morning/evening services only, no Bristol - Bath service via Bitton/Kelston. Not to be outdone, the Metro Mayor has gained the nickname 'Butcher Bowles'.

{snip}

That's enough ranting from me for now.

Anyway, the funding has been confirmed, according to the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-40755739):

TRAINS are calling today at Horden station on the Durham Coast for the first time since May 1964.

The station is not far from the post-war new town of Peterlee and will serve a catchment area with a population of 70,000. It has an hourly train service from today in each direction which calls at all stations between Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

Work is set to restart on the new Bow Street railway station.

Construction work on the £8 million project was suspended when the coronavirus crisis hit, but Transport for Wales has announced that work will restart on the site from Monday, 4 May.

Workers will concentrate on earthworks on site and roadworks nearby, with the introduction of a new slipway on the opposite side of the road.

Local councillor Paul Hinge welcomed the news, saying: “It is pleasing to hear that they are looking at how they can safely carry out the work and have decided to resume on Monday, 4 May.

“It is thought that the interchange site will officially open in November but the railway station could be operational before then.”

Portway Parkway is partway to halfway.

Are the members of the WRECA comittee called Phew Sue, Barney, McRue, Herbert, Dribble and Scrubb ,with apologies to the Trumpton Firemen !

I really ought to stop using the word 'glacial' in this context. These days, glaciers are getting fairly fleet of foot.

‘Inevitable’ delays push MetroWest opening date back to 2024

A delay to the MetroWest scheme will see its opening date pushed back to 2024.

The project, which will reconnect the railway line between Portishead, Pill and Ashton Junction in Bristol, has been pushed back as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

[...]

Portishead Railway Group (PRG) previously advised that the service would be in operation in December 2023, but it has now confirmed the coronavirus pandemic has ‘unavoidably’ pushed its reopening into 2024.

PRG committee member for programme and infrastructure Dave Chillistone said: “There is a delay with the DCO examination process by approximately four months, and MetroWest is currently working out if this translates as a linear four-month delay to the project.

[...]

“The previous programme saw the service reopening in 2023, and even a one-month delay would push the project into 2024, so it’s not as dire as it seems.

I expect to be travelling on a high-speed direct line from Montpelier to Montpelier (UK to Vermont) before I can get a train to Portishead.