Four track for Filton Bank - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Aasimuk]

Anywhere that gives the breakdown of what exactly has been approved?
All I can find is www.betterrailway.co.uk

[JayMac]

I'm a little too busy to go looking for the nuts and bolts of the latest announcement from Network Rail. From a quick skim read of their press release, much of it is about existing projects such as Reading, Birmingham New Street, GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) electrification, Northern Hub etc. Hard to decipher what's actually new in relation to the Bristol area in specific detail.

Meanwhile though, may I extend a warm welcome to the forum Aasimuk. 

[IndustryInsider]

Anywhere that gives the breakdown of what exactly has been approved?
All I can find is www.betterrailway.co.uk

There should be the final delivery plan replacing the draft delivery plan released very shortly.  By the end of March 2014 according to this page of the Network Rail website:  http://www.networkrail.co.uk/publications/delivery-plans/control-period-5/draft-cp5-delivery-plan/

[paul7575]

Anywhere that gives the breakdown of what exactly has been approved?
All I can find is www.betterrailway.co.uk

There should be the final delivery plan replacing the draft delivery plan released very shortly.  By the end of March 2014 according to this page of the Network Rail website:  http://www.networkrail.co.uk/publications/delivery-plans/control-period-5/draft-cp5-delivery-plan/

The March 14 version of the 'CP5^▸ (Control Period 5 - the five year period between 2014 and 2019) enhancements delivery plan' is now online, AFAICT^▸ (as far as I can tell) it must have been posted within a few minutes of II's post above.   Third (PDF) link down on this page, the four tracking is on page 99 :

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/publications/delivery-plans/control-period-5/cp5-delivery-plan/

Paul

[TonyK]

    So they've confirmed the work in the required timescales I explained in post #11 after all; whatever next!

Paul

Yes Paul, you are entitled to credit for telling us exactly what, where, and when. I wish I had your faith!

[paul7575]

Yes Paul, you are entitled to credit for telling us exactly what, where, and when. I wish I had your faith!

I just remember a similar series of discussions leading up to the CP4^▸ (Control Period 4 - the five year period between 2009 and 2014) announcement 5 years ago, all the decision and confirmation dates are set down in the 2005 Railways Act.  It's a bit like the old 'watched pot never boils'...

Paul

[TonyK]

I just remember a similar series of discussions leading up to the CP4^▸ (Control Period 4 - the five year period between 2009 and 2014) announcement 5 years ago, all the decision and confirmation dates are set down in the 2005 Railways Act.  It's a bit like the old 'watched pot never boils'...

Paul

Makes you wonder why the "Oh yes it is! / Oh no it isn't!" sort of politics applies to transport and throws out half-truths and mixed messages when a clear direction would help plan improvements.

[Red Squirrel]

...It's a bit like the old 'watched pot never boils'...

I think you could forgive us if we've allowed ourselves to get slightly over-excited by all this... speaking for myself, these are the first really significant positive changes I've seen to the rail infrastructure of this region in my entire lifetime... and I am pretty ancient for a squirrel!

[TonyK]

Structural soil survey people were hard at work under the derelict bridge at SRD.

[Red Squirrel]

The planning portal on Bristol City Council's website* has this

14/01549/SCR | Request for a screening opinion as to whether an environmental impact assessment is require for Filton bank capacity improvement project : railway line between temple meads and filton abbey wood stations.(railway Track Redoubling Project). | Railway Between Temple Meads And Abbey Wood Stations Bristol

Some good plans to pore over there.

As far as I can tell the conclusion is that an EIA is not required. All good, and signs of progress.

* go to http://planningonline.bristol.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=simple&searchType=Application and enter the reference 14/01549/SCR

[Oxman]

NR^» (Network Rail - home page) has announced today that it has awarded a ^33m contract to Taylor Woodrow for this work to start in December 2014. No completion date given!

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/News-Releases/Doubling-of-the-railway-lines-between-Bristol-stations-is-given-the-green-light-21aa.aspx

[TonyK]

Also announced by Assistant Mayor Mark Bradshaw via the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Bristol Temple Meads and Parkway get extra tracks

Two new tracks between Bristol's main railway stations will provide the capacity to "grow" local rail services, the city's assistant mayor has said.

Network Rail said this would double the capacity between Temple Meads and Parkway stations, would allow more trains to run and cut journey times.

Councillor Mark Bradshaw said it would make it easier to open the Henbury loop and cross Bristol routes which campaigners have long called for.

The work is due to start in December.

"It's consistent with the [under construction] fast electric services into London and south Wales and that very important CrossCountry link to the Midlands and HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s))," Mr Bradshaw said.

Freight increase
Network Rail said the ^33m investment would help with the demand for rail transport into and out of the city which it says is set to rise by 50% within a decade.

"To help meet this demand, the number of lines between Temple Meads and Parkway stations will be increased from two to four through Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill [stations]," a Network Rail spokesman said.

"The extra lines will also enable an increase in freight services."

The Henbury loop, which closed nearly 50 years ago, connects Avonmouth, Shirehampton, Sea Mills, Lawrence Weston and north Bristol

Campaigners hope the circular route around the city, and re-opening the Portishead to Temple Meads line to passengers, would help provide a viable Bristol rail metro.

The only real addition to the sum of knowledge is that work is due to start in December. As much of the design work has been done, I would think this means work in the more physical sense, and shall keep an eye out.

[trainbuff]

Once complete will FTN be changing his username to 'Four Tracked Then'? Seriously though, this is good news. Filton bank is a very crowded portion of track and this is long overdue. Also looking forward to extra platform at Bristol Parkway

[eightf48544]

No it will be to Six Track Now (STN) to cater for the 5 minute metro service on the Henbury llop.

[paul7575]

The only real addition to the sum of knowledge is that work is due to start in December. As much of the design work has been done, I would think this means work in the more physical sense, and shall keep an eye out.

The last CP5^▸ (Control Period 5 - the five year period between 2014 and 2019) enhancement plan had work on the ground not starting until May 2015, (with completion Aug 2017) so this could be a six month advance if they really do start...

Paul