Bristol Temple Meads Station redevelopment

[whole diary]

[SandTEngineer]

I don't have my hands on the signalling plan just yet, but once I do I will draw up one of my track layout plans and post it here (aka Filton 4T).

[Red Squirrel]

Actually, you get a less-tantalising view of the proposed track layout on W1103F-BDG-DRG-ECV-000015 SWEPT PATH/VISIBILITY SPLAY - it shows more of the layout, and some interesting dotted paths which someone with an over-active imagination could believe related to routing trains into the Old Station - or, at least, passively providing for it...

[SandTEngineer]

RS.  Has the old PO building gone now?  Any updated photographs?

[Red Squirrel]

I've not been to Temple Meads for a couple of weeks - anyone else been there lately?

[johnneyw]

RS.  Has the old PO building gone now?  Any updated photographs?

I was there on Wednesday. Entering and leaving Temple Meads by train you see no indication of the building. Looking from the platforms at that end of TM^‡(resolve) (and provided no IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) are blocking the view) you can see that there are still some "below ground" bits to demolish as the site is not totally level. Sadly no pics from me. It might not be long now until all the pics just show a cleared site.

[Phantom]

RS.  Has the old PO building gone now?  Any updated photographs?

The building has completely gone, they are currently clearing the site of the debris that was left behind
When that is done the Eastern end of P15 is where there was an underground section (mainly as the land wasn't level) they will then have to clear that away.

It is noticeably brighter and chillier waiting a service on P15 now - I am not looking forward to the winter months !

[Noggin]

RS.  Has the old PO building gone now?  Any updated photographs?

I was there on Wednesday. Entering and leaving Temple Meads by train you see no indication of the building. Looking from the platforms at that end of TM^‡(resolve) (and provided no IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) are blocking the view) you can see that there are still some "below ground" bits to demolish as the site is not totally level. Sadly no pics from me. It might not be long now until all the pics just show a cleared site.

AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) it's a little bit more complicated than that to actually clear the site as there's some kind of basement level that has to be dealt with. Presumably there will be some jolly deep foundations to go in, and that too will have to be done very carefully to avoid shaking the TM shed to pieces.

But indeed, to all intents and purposes the building is no more. 

[Red Squirrel]

According to the Bristol Post (story here), Network Rail are seeking to bring forward plans to extend of Temple Meads subway so as to exploit the blockade required for the Bristol East Jct project:

“The rationale for expediting this scheme is to take advantage of the existing planned rail closure for Bristol East junction which would provide a window for the scheme and reduce costs.

[grahame]

According to the Bristol Post (story here), Network Rail are seeking to bring forward plans to extend of Temple Meads subway so as to exploit the blockade required for the Bristol East Jct project:

“The rationale for expediting this scheme is to take advantage of the existing planned rail closure for Bristol East junction which would provide a window for the scheme and reduce costs.

Concern in the article that this is being pushed forward rather fast ... or perhaps just a good opportunity to brief the incoming BaNES leader with appropriate assurances?

A council leader has raised alarms over the handling of a multi-million pound revamp of Bristol Temple Meads, as transport campaigners brandished it the “Poundland” of train stations.

The scheme is being pushed through faster than usual to take advantage of a window for the work to take place with the planned closure of a rail junction, according to a report to the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) Committee.

Bath & North East Somerset Council leader Dine Romero, at her first Weca meeting, said she needed reassurance about how the project would be handled because the £26.6million the combined authority has earmarked for it was “such a significant sum of money”.

[JayMac]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) News - Poundland anger at Bristol Temple Meads railway station slur
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-48741833

Have to say, that whilst Bristol Temple Meads is desperately in need of investment, I'm in agreement with Poundland. Poorly chosen comparison by David Redgewell.

[Red Squirrel]

What irritates me about this sorry tale is that the Bristol Post have managed to spin a good news story about essential work being brought forward, into some sort of Bath v Bristol political infighting thing (with a twitter spat on the side, for good measure). That was their journalistic decision, and they will know which version of events sells more advertising! However given the glacial pace at which rail investment decisions are currently made, isn't it a cause for celebration that someone has decided to get on and do something?

[johnneyw]

A rare railway example of employing just a bit of JFDI^▸ (just flipping do it (polite version))?

[Red Squirrel]

And so it continues:

[Red Squirrel]

The outline business case for the eastern entrance is on the WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about) website. Key points here, and note firm dates for Bristol East jct works:

The entrance will extend the existing passenger subway, used to access platforms, directly through to the development site on Cattle Market Road, where the University of Bristol intends to locate its new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus. The entrance will improve permeability through the station, and create a gateway entrance to the east of the city. The new entrance will include gatelines as a form of revenue protection to the station (it will not form part of a public unpaid route through the station), as well as required facilities for passengers to buy tickets, access information regarding trains, and potential retail facilities. The entrance will comply with Network Rail requirements regarding accessibility, security and safety, and design guidance for stations. The entrance will provide sufficient capacity to accommodate existing and future demand from the east of the station, which is expected to increase significantly as the University’s development is built out and the Temple Quarter area is regenerated. There will be a direct interface with the development site on Cattle Market Road, where it will be necessary to locate public realm and potentially canopy cover and cycle parking in connection with the new entrance.

The structural works required to deliver the entrance will require closure of platforms 13 and 15 for a number of weeks during construction, which currently service trains into London. Due to the level of disruption and cost associated with these track closures, it is necessary to utilise the existing planned closures that Network Rail has agreed for their network critical re-signalling works to Bristol East Junction. If the opportunity to align these two projects is missed then it may not be possible to deliver an eastern entrance to station, as it is unlikely that significant track closures for these services could be secured for this project in isolation.

[...]

Due to the criticality of utilising the planned track closures to carry out structural works, it is necessary to expedite the delivery timeframe of this project. The track closure is planned for Summer 2021; design work, procurement and enabling works associated with the new entrance must be complete by this time to allow structural works to be carried out during the Summer 2021 track closure. Any non-structural works to fit out and commission the entrance can be carried out after this period, but must be coordinated with the University of Bristol’s development and construction timescales.

Due to the level of interface and coordination with the Bristol East Junction signalling works and the compressed timescales for design work, Network Rail will take responsibility for delivery of this scheme, utilising in-house resource and expertise to progress the project through their GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects) governance process and ensure the Summer 2021 milestone can be met.

[martyjon]

There used to be an exit from the subway onto Cattle Market Road and also an exit direct from the subway to the forecourt up an additional flight of steps in front to the 4 or 5 steps to the point where pax turn left or right up to platforms 3/4 at present but the forecourt exit gate has been blocked in.