Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

So platforms 13 and 15 are out of use until this work is completed?

That side of the station is out of use at the moment anyway, while Bristol East Jct works continue.

...hence this unusual image which I took last week, under rather leaden skies. A London-bound IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) departs from Platform 3. You'd normally expect this to leave from a high-numbered platform.



Note the ground frame, visible between the train and the signal post - I'm surprised that's still there!

[Red Squirrel]

Looks like the subway extension is going well... they'll have the ballast on and the tracks down by tomorrow teatime at this rate.


Image from twitter (https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/1431187231041937409)

[Red Squirrel]

Gurt lush!



Images from Network Rail Western, via twitter: https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/1433381105030385666

[Timmer]

Looks great doesn’t it? Done with future electrification in mind I expect as well.

[Bmblbzzz]

Neat and clean. 

[Red Squirrel]

Looks great doesn’t it? Done with future electrification in mind I expect as well.

Yup. These photos were taken from the new signal gantry, which has full electrification clearance for example.

[Bmblbzzz]

That is good news.

[grahame]

Mike Gallop - Route director Network Rail talking about more trains as from December on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Points West. 

Err - which December - he didn't say and it sounded like this year?   More trains to Westbury (he mentioned) withing the next 4 months - with a suggestion that was only possible because of all the works being done.   Have I missed something - I thought we were seeing a reduction by the removal of the SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) services on this route this December.  One extra GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) train to replace one of them, and one extra GWR arrival to replace a Cross Country train from Cardiff.

[IndustryInsider]

Perhaps the 4tph London to Bristol service is being introduced in December? 

I’d be amazed though!

[grahame]

Perhaps the 4tph London to Bristol service is being introduced in December? 

I’d be amazed though!

So would I; it was not included in the timetable briefing at the start of this week, whereas Cardiff back to half hourly, and through Cheltenhams every day / hour were.

[TonyK]

Whatever happens timetable wise, that layout is a thing of beauty.

[Lee]

Mike Gallop - Route director Network Rail talking about more trains as from December on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Points West. 

Err - which December - he didn't say and it sounded like this year?   More trains to Westbury (he mentioned) withing the next 4 months - with a suggestion that was only possible because of all the works being done.   Have I missed something - I thought we were seeing a reduction by the removal of the SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) services on this route this December.  One extra GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) train to replace one of them, and one extra GWR arrival to replace a Cross Country train from Cardiff.

Perhaps they have decided to respond to the SWR criticism by doing a Dallas, and persuading us that the last few weeks were just a dream. They will then start the new series with an hourly TransWilts, extra Waterloo-Bristols, and Bobby Ewing as the first GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) Chairman.

[grahame]

Just in ...

Dear Graham
 
Quick note to let you know that the Bristol Rail Regeneration work at Bristol East Junction has gone very well and services are running normally again on all routes from today.  There will be one final piece of work to complete on the weekend of Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September, but the new track and signals are now in place and working well. 
 
It has been a very major piece of work, involving thousands of bus movements, diverted services, temporary depots and extra customer support and advice. Network Rail teams have worked day and night to complete on time.  It has been a collaborative effort with all parts of the railway working together to deliver for our customers.
 
We are really grateful for the help and support of our stakeholders and local communities, and in particular the help you have given us in keeping customers informed of the changes. 
 
This is a big investment in capacity for everyone using the railway through Bristol and we are really pleased that this will now enable us, in partnership with the West of England Combined Authority, to deliver the extra services planned for MetroWest.   This will start from December when we will move to a half hourly frequency on the Severn Beach Line.
 
Thank you again for your support.
 
Jane Jones (GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)), Toby Elliott (Network Rail), Richard Gibson (Crosscountry)

My bolding, identifying the extra services that Mike Gallop talked about.  His mention of Westbury in the same sentence (or perhaps I missed a spoken full stop) confused me.   And Portway Parkway to open in the New Year too, probably within the December to May timetable if it goes according to latest time anticipation.

[infoman]

Just wondering when the half hourly cross country services will commence

[grahame]

Just wondering when the half hourly cross country services will commence

I don't know - but that's recommence as they were there until March last year on the old track layout, so really should not be counted as a benefit made possible by the new layout (though I'm sure that some may use them as "made possible by these works")