Great Western Coffee Shop

Due to the sea flooding the railway between Clifton Down and Severn Beach, the line is blocked.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed, or revised.

Flood alert for Tidal River Avon at Bristol, Pill and Shirehampton

Tides are expected to be higher than usual due to spring tides. First forecast high water is 20:30 on 21/02/23. Second forecast high water is 08:45 on 22/02/23. All times are local and refer to the high water time at Avonmouth. Plan driving routes to coastal roads, which may be flooded. Please be careful along beaches, promenades and coastal footpaths and roads. We expect flooding to affect the tidal River Avon from Sea Mills to Conham in Bristol and between the Avonmouth Bridge and Shirehampton Park including Pill and Shirehampton. We are closely monitoring the situation. Our incident response staff are closing flood gates. This message will be updated Wednesday 22/02/23, or as the situation changes.

Looks like a couple of trains were cancelled this morning; all appears back to normal now according to Realtime Trains...

Update: gwr.com says normal service after 13.00. Looks like they may be making use of the CFN turnback.

I had a look under the viaduct at Sea Mills on the weekend. Presumably these girders are supposed to brace it during high tides. I can see why NR might be a bit worried!

(https://fosbr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/sea_mills_viaduct_20230226.jpg)

Looks pretty ‘non-structural’ to me! :o

Indeed. I've stated here before my fear each time I've walked under the bridge following the Avon Walkway path on the mudflats, as there is much corrosion evident all around. If you are in a train, you obviously don't see the state of the pillars, so travel completely unaware.

Presumably as a first measure, NR could install a speed limit over the bridge, but would that help at all?

If not, any work to the bridge would obviously mean the closure of the line beyond Sea Mills (and possibly beyond Clifton Down, as would Sea Mills be able to act as a station with works so close by?). It would be ironic if that happened on the day Portway Parkway opened!

Indeed. I've stated here before my fear each time I've walked under the bridge following the Avon Walkway path on the mudflats, as there is much corrosion evident all around. If you are in a train, you obviously don't see the state of the pillars, so travel completely unaware.

Presumably as a first measure, NR could install a speed limit over the bridge, but would that help at all?

It may be that if the only traffic is DMUs these are not needed any more (I assume the freight goes via Henbury).   

Looks pretty ‘non-structural’ to me! :o

I may have commented before that, for an island nation, we don't seem very conscious of tides and how they vary. Tide forecasts and warnings have a very narrow audience. Obviously it's different in France ...

I know about the tides, but I am not conscious of them of a day to day basis perhaps because I live in north Wiltshire on the 125m contour line.  Even if all the ice sheets melt and the sea rises by 70m I am still not sure that I would need to be conscious of them here!

Expected sea flooding the railway between Dovey Junction and Aberystwyth / Pwllheli means lines will be closed from approximately 09:00. As a result, no trains will be able to run between these stations.

We expect disruption to continue until 12:00.

Cancellations to services between Severn Beach and Clifton Down via Avonmouth

Due to flooding between Clifton Down and Avonmouth the line is blocked. Disruption is expected until 12:00 13/03.

Train services between Severn Beach and Clifton Down via Avonmouth will be cancelled or revised. Some stations between Avonmouth and Clifton Down will not be served.

Apologies to customers wishing to use the Severn Beach line today. As a consequence of flooding in the Sea Mills area, the line is currently blocked between Avonmouth and Clifton Down.
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We're operating a shuttle service between Severn Beach and Avonmouth utilising a three coach train. The departure times of these can be found in journey planners and at stations. 8-seat taxis will then replace trains between Avonmouth and Clifton Down in both directions. Trains to / from Bristol Temple Meads will start / terminate at Clifton Down. Please be prepared to change trains at either Avonmouth or Clifton Down depending on where you're travelling from.
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This plan is expected to remain in place until midday.
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Please note that the pick up / drop off point at Clifton Down will be in the pay and display car park on the opposite side of the tracks to Sainsbury's just off Whiteladies Road.
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We've also requested ticket acceptance on local bus routes in the area to accept our customers however such agreements have not yet been confirmed.
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During this disruption if you wish to use local buses as an alternative means of transport and the local bus is not accepting GWR tickets please purchase a ticket on the bus, keep it and send it, together with your train ticket, to us to claim for a refund.
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If you require further information please speak to our station or onboard staff, use the Customer Help Points located on platform level, tweet us @GWRHelp via X platform (formerly Twitter) or call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950.
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Once again we apologise for any inconvenience caused to your journey with us today.

From National Rail