Bristol Parkway station - facilities, services, events and incidents (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[infoman]

Any one know how to start a petition to keep it as it now is.

For those who don't really know the area,have a look at google maps

For drivers entering Hatchett road,if they could all head north towards Bradley stoke and use
Winterbourne road(B4057)
great stoke way and Stoke gifford by-pass to gain access to the M32 and central Bristol


 https://council.southglos.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=41&RPID=4768585&HPID=4768585

[ChrisB]

Errr.....https://council.southglos.gov.uk/ielogon.aspx?lp=1&RPID=4806507&HPID=4806507&Forms=1

[IndustryInsider]

Err....for me Infoman's link works, whereas yours doesn't, Chris?

[Bmblbzzz]

The petition seems to misunderstand the purpose of the barriers.

WIth social distancing restrictions due to be relaxed in the near future there is no longer a need for these extra controls.

While they do resemble the barriers used for "pavement widening" in many places, the purpose of these barriers is to prevent bridge strikes on the arch bridge. Perhaps NR^» (Network Rail - home page) and SG both need to publicise their reasons/

[stuving]

The petition seems to misunderstand the purpose of the barriers.

WIth social distancing restrictions due to be relaxed in the near future there is no longer a need for these extra controls.

While they do resemble the barriers used for "pavement widening" in many places, the purpose of these barriers is to prevent bridge strikes on the arch bridge. Perhaps NR^» (Network Rail - home page) and SG both need to publicise their reasons/

Not so - but since there was a consultation exercise last September about making the changes permanent, a new, small, petition isn't likely to persuade the council to reconsider it. The consultation was introduced by:

How do you feel about the changes to the traffic arrangements at Parkway railway bridge?

During the Covid 19 Virus pandemic we introduced changes to the road layout under Bristol Parkway  ailway bridge on Hatchet Road in Stoke Gifford. This was to help protect cyclists and pedestrians  gainst coronavirus as they returned to school and work and as shops started to reopen.

Historically this is a pinch point for people walking or cycling as the road narrows under the bridge, and our intention was to make improvements to allow people to socially distance and use the underpass with confidence. The extra space created either side of the running lane has been designated for people walking or cycling under the bridge and enables them to keep a safe distance from each other. Signs and road markings are in place to notify road users of the new road layout and direct cyclists and pedestrians to use it safely and appropriately.

Three education campuses- Abbeywood Community School, South Gloucestershire & Stroud College and Bristol Technology & Engineering Academy are located near to the railway bridge meaning that a high proportion of pedestrians and cyclists are children and young people and their numbers will continue to grow.

A permanent solution would require collaboration between the Council and Network Rail. An engineering scheme of this complexity would require a number of years to complete, therefore we are seeking your feedback on the suitability of the current measures in the short and medium term.

We would like to get your feedback on the scheme. Please complete and return this short survey by October 1st.

That page does say: "This consultation has now closed and we are analysing the results, which will be published here in due course." I can't see any signs of that result, so I guess the current state is still temporary pending the ongoing pondering.

[Bmblbzzz]

Oh! Well in that case it seems to me these particular barriers have failed in their purpose. In fact they seem very badly placed to achieve their purpose. I've never seen anyone using the space between kerb and barriers for either walking or cycling. I doubt if there's actually room for cycling and even walking would be a bit of a pinch. Either widen the pavement properly (probably on the western side which has the cycle path) or return the road to its former layout.

[infoman]

due to person being hit by train
Bus's replace trains between Bristol Parkway and Gloucester

[grahame]

due to person being hit by train
Bus's replace trains between Bristol Parkway and Gloucester

I suspect the issue is a little to the south of Gloucester, as there are delays on the South Cotswold line as well as from Bristol Parkway into Gloucester

06:28 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 08:32
07:05 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 09:03
07:27 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 09:25

07:27 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa due 09:25 will be delayed at Swindon.
This is due to a person hit by a train.

[JayMac]

This Sunday, Bristol Parkway will be 50 years old. The UK^▸ (United Kingdom)'s first 'Parkway' station opened on 1st May 1972.

By no stretch is it a 'destination' station, but it serves a need, is functional and has seen improvement over the years. It proved the 'Parkway' concept leading to other such stations in subsequent years. Some more 'Parkway' than others. I'm looking at you Bodmin Road!

I can't say Bristol Parkway is a station I particularly look forward to using. It's a means to an end/beginning/change. But it is convenient for certain journeys instead of Temple Meads if you live in its catchment. It also has relatively decent interchange with buses for many North Bristol destinations.

It's at it worst though when used as a Rail Replacement Bus hub.

Oh, and not very useful when no one turns up on a cold November morning to open it for the first train to London, as once happened to me and a few other early commuters.

Being somewhat soulless I have very few pictures of Bristol Parkway. Despite using it on a regular basis when I lived in North Bristol it would seem I was never inspired to get my camera/phone out and take snaps.

Best I could find.


Anyone else have memories of Bristol Parkway from the past 50 years?

[johnneyw]

First became aware of it's existence when we saw it on the departures board at Paddington, probably during it's first summer of being open.  We were weary coming back from Germany after the overnight ferry and the next service to Temple Meads was not for some time but a "Bristol Parkway" was due to go shortly.  We had no idea where in Bristol this was but mum decided to take a punt in it.
Arriving there did feel a bit like stepping into the middle of nowhere in those days but we got ourselves back reasonably soon....can't remember if it was with a bus or taxi though.

[bobm]

First day of 387s in passenger service from Bristol Parkway to London Paddington.  (May 2021)

[PhilWakely]

Not quite 'at birth', but a 6-year-old Parkway in May 1978....

[Merthyr Imp]

Gives an idea of what it used to be like - sometime in the 1980s:

[johnneyw]

I certainly recall that the ticket office, where the main building is now, was something of a pre-fab affair, certainly into the 1990s.

[Bmblbzzz]

The whole district was something of a wasteland until the early 90s. I'm sure the station played a small but key part in triggering Bristol's North Fringe boom.