Four track for Filton Bank - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

I believe BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) car parking is regularly full, and the design of the carpark was to allow extra 'decks' when needed. Also the advent of MetroBus(t) will make BPW a transport hub and will require extra parking.

So not sure what will arrive first, a few hundred extra parking spaces, a new platform and when these will happen.

Presumably MetroBus is notionally intended to reduce the demand for parking at Parkway, rather than increase it?

However I wouldn't be surprised if South Dibley were to put forward plans to increase parking in that area... they seem fairly determined to turn their little part of the world into some sort of 'Los Angeles without the weather'.

Edit: typo

[stuving]

And there's even some pretty (and moving) artist's pictures of it here.

Ahh! you mean moving in that sense of the word. 

Yes, I do - though it did occur to me that the other sense might be apt, for those forum members who have an emotional attachment to this project. 

[paul7575]

That's still well clear of the footbridge, so provided its bases hidden in the bushes aren't too big it should be OK, if it's already railway land (which seems likely).

And there's even some pretty (and moving) artist's pictures of it here.

Building the fourth platform off to the side (and slightly lengthening the existing island at the south end), is also illustrated in the video linked to by Four Track, Now! himself, back in reply #120, on 22nd Feb.

Don't see any problems, that's two bits of evidence supporting a simple side platform...

Paul

[stuving]

At BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) yesterday I was speaking to a member of staff, and was told that surveyors have been on site from a number of civil engineering companies.

Whether this was for the new platform, or more parking I have no idea. I was wondering if any announcements had been made.

Certainly, the announcement of the new platform has been made, and I believe it survived the recent review. It is necessary to allow parallel movements into and out of BPW. I can't see car parking provision being increased so soon after the construction of the multi-storey.

A shame I don't pass overhead BPW these days.

What Hendy's version of the CP5^▸ (Control Period 5 - the five year period between 2014 and 2019) Infrastructure Plans says about BPW (in W002b) is as follows.
Objective:

At Bristol Parkway station deliver infrastructure to enable:
* 2 new London to Bristol Temple Meads via Parkway services each hour in each direction from December 2018
* Improved operational flexibility, over the base May 2016 layout, sufficient to allow ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) moves to and from the new Hitachi Train care facility at Stoke Gifford
* Parallel moves from Bristol Parkway towards Filton (from platform 1) and South Wales (from platform 2)

Scope of works:

At Bristol Parkway station deliver the following infrastructure:
* An additional platform face, signalling and track works
* Additional bi-directional signalling between Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Parkway
* Additional bi-directional signalling between Patchway and Bristol Parkway
* Additional bi-directional signalling between Patchway and Severn Tunnel Junction
* Provision of direct access to Stoke Gifford Yard in the up direction

Timescale:

Bristol Parkway 4th platform - EIS^▸ (Enters Into Service) ^ Infrastructure authorised
Infrastructure ready for use for driver training/testing
November 2018
Regulated Output

With no date given for use by trains in service.

[TonyK]

Building the fourth platform off to the side (and slightly lengthening the existing island at the south end), is also illustrated in the video linked to by Four Track, Now! himself, back in reply #120, on 22nd Feb.

Don't see any problems, that's two bits of evidence supporting a simple side platform...

Paul

OK, hands up, that was a bit lazy of me! I have two young grandchildren at my home, without parents, so relied on memory rather than proper research. That said, I reckon the bridge at FIT will need a little more work than the one at SRD, although the latter will still need disabled access.

Presumably MetroBus is notionally intended to reduce the demand for parking at Parkway, rather than increase it?

MetroBust is intended to do a lot of things it won't do. Ordinary buses are already capable of transporting people to BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) from the surrounding residential areas, but the price of car parking hasn't yet persuaded them to leave the motor at home. MetroBust is just another bus in that part of the world.

You illustrate a conundrum, however. It seems to me that MetroBust can never be integrated fully into local public transport, as originally promised in the glossy leaflets. If cross-modal go-anywhere tickets were available, it would transport a bus load from Patchway towards Bristol, but empty at BPW whilst everyone jumps on a train. Who wants to spend half an hour on the M32 when a 12-minute train ride will get you to work?

[stuving]

Now that South Gloucestershire have taken their planning portal out of the cupboard it's kept in over the weekend and wound up the clockwork, I can see that there have been no applications for the expected work at either FIT or BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains).

That presumably means that the works will be permitted development - just railway stuff, such as platforms, tracks, earthworks, signals (not on gantries), but no building, bridge, aqueduct, pier or dam  nor any access road.

There was an application for a temporary car park to replace the spaces at BPW used for the works, but that was withdrawn. There's also an entry for the original building of BPW, but that's only a scanned copy of a sketchy plan.

[simonw]

Seeing all the four track improvements proceeding, it left me wondering what is planned for BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains)?

There are only two tracks entering the station, and frequently trains have to wait to allow other trains to access the station track.

Not being a train buff, how could NR^» (Network Rail - home page) improve the flow into BPW, and what is planned?

[stuving]

Seeing all the four track improvements proceeding, it left me wondering what is planned for BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains)?

There are only two tracks entering the station, and frequently trains have to wait to allow other trains to access the station track.

Not being a train buff, how could NR^» (Network Rail - home page) improve the flow into BPW, and what is planned?

Oh dear. Someone else whose memory is going the same way as mine. Way back in, er, February we covered that in this thread, and your question was answered, in a fashion (BR^▸ (British Rail(ways))'s fashion).

What Hendy's version of the CP5^▸ (Control Period 5 - the five year period between 2014 and 2019) Infrastructure Plans says about BPW (in W002b) is as follows.
Objective:
Quote
At Bristol Parkway station deliver infrastructure to enable:
* 2 new London to Bristol Temple Meads via Parkway services each hour in each direction from December 2018
* Improved operational flexibility, over the base May 2016 layout, sufficient to allow ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) moves to and from the new Hitachi Train care facility at Stoke Gifford
* Parallel moves from Bristol Parkway towards Filton (from platform 1) and South Wales (from platform 2)
Scope of works:
Quote
At Bristol Parkway station deliver the following infrastructure:
* An additional platform face, signalling and track works
* Additional bi-directional signalling between Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Parkway
* Additional bi-directional signalling between Patchway and Bristol Parkway
* Additional bi-directional signalling between Patchway and Severn Tunnel Junction
* Provision of direct access to Stoke Gifford Yard in the up direction

[johnneyw]

Passing Stapleton Road yesterday I noticed a number of concrete caisson type of objects being stored on the old trackbed. They are not all identical but they are quite substantial. Sorry no pics, I was quite unprepared. Anyone know what they are for?

[simonw]

I saw them as well, along with three huge pieces of pre-fabricated bridge on the road behind Bristol Parkway.

I think Network Rail have a busy weekend ahead of them!

I hope all is ok Tuesday morning.

[JayMac]

I've decamped to Taunton this weekend. No desire to experience the delights of 'Rail Replacement Bus' on my local line.

Welcome the reason for the RRBs^▸ (Rail Replacement Bus) obviously.

[ellendune]

I saw them as well, along with three huge pieces of pre-fabricated bridge on the road behind Bristol Parkway.

I think Network Rail have a busy weekend ahead of them!

I hope all is ok Tuesday morning.

They are the beams for Easton Road bridge replacement.  The old bridge is being demolished and the new beams places in position this weekend. All should be finished by 04:00 on the 31st May according to NR^» (Network Rail - home page) latter to residents!

[TonyK]

I took the train to SRD from BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) today. I had forgotten about that work, but there was plenty of evidence of a busy weekend, with lots of diggers etc.

[simonw]

Over the past few days, I have seen lots of activity (workers, pipes, vans and heavy equipment) near the rail track in the Filton area.

Is there a published outline of the project anywhere of the expected date when this work will be completed and when traffic will be segregated between stopping and trunk services?

All I can find is reference to CP5^▸ (Control Period 5 - the five year period between 2014 and 2019), which means completion by 2019.

[paul7575]

According to the latest CP 5 milestones:

Infrastructure ready for use (not electrified) - December 2018
First timetabled public use of the infrastructure - December 2018

Paul