Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 16:35 28 Mar 2024
* Passengers pleaded with knifeman during attack
- How do I renew my UK passport and what is the 10-year rule?
- Jet2 launches first flight from Liverpool airport
- Easter travel warning as millions set to hit roads
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

On this day
28th Mar (1988)
Formal end to carrying coffins by BR (link)

Train RunningCancelled
15:16 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
15:30 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
16:51 Filton Abbey Wood to Bristol Temple Meads
16:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
17:04 Bristol Temple Meads to Filton Abbey Wood
17:51 Filton Abbey Wood to Bristol Temple Meads
17:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
17:57 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street
19:33 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill
20:56 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington
Short Run
12:03 London Paddington to Penzance
13:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
13:28 Weymouth to Gloucester
15:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
15:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
15:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
16:19 Carmarthen to London Paddington
16:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
Delayed
13:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
13:55 Paignton to London Paddington
13:59 Cardiff Central to Penzance
14:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
14:36 London Paddington to Paignton
17:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
PollsOpen and recent polls
Closed 2024-03-25 Easter Escape - to where?
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 28, 2024, 16:36:38 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[142] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
[80] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[56] Return of the BRUTE?
[46] If not HS2 to Manchester, how will traffic be carried?
[43] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[34] Reversing Beeching - bring heritage and freight lines into the...
 
News: the Great Western Coffee Shop ... keeping you up to date with travel around the South West
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1 ... 48 49 [50] 51 52 ... 72
  Print  
Author Topic: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion  (Read 384447 times)
johnneyw
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 2257


From station to station, back to Bristol city....


View Profile
« Reply #735 on: August 29, 2019, 20:24:20 »

This quip is a bit over the top isn't it.

Quote
“The Portishead line is a nationally significant project that will deliver wide ranging environmental and economic benefits to our region". ....

Talk to anyone outside of "our region" and they wouldn't know where you were talking about but mention HS2 (The next High Speed line(s)) and everyone knows about that project.


It does sound a bit grandiose doesn't it?  I think, though, it refers to the fact that it is going to extend the national passenger rail network rather than just opening a station or two on the existing network. Besides, since when have politicians anywhere chosen to downplay their claims?    Cheesy
Logged
ellendune
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4452


View Profile
« Reply #736 on: August 29, 2019, 20:29:57 »

This quip is a bit over the top isn't it.

Quote
“The Portishead line is a nationally significant project that will deliver wide ranging environmental and economic benefits to our region". ....

Talk to anyone outside of "our region" and they wouldn't know where you were talking about but mention HS2 (The next High Speed line(s)) and everyone knows about that project.


It does sound a bit grandiose doesn't it?  I think, though, it refers to the fact that it is going to extend the national passenger rail network rather than just opening a station or two on the existing network. Besides, since when have politicians anywhere chosen to downplay their claims?    Cheesy

I think it is a technical planning definition - this sort of development is deemed to "nationally significant" and is therefore determined by the Secretary of State rather than the local authority. 
Logged
Bmblbzzz
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4256


View Profile
« Reply #737 on: August 29, 2019, 21:08:09 »

Talk to anyone outside of "our region" and they wouldn't know where you were talking about
Unless they were fans of 1990s trip hop.  Cheesy
Logged

Waiting at Pilning for the midnight sleeper to Prague.
johnneyw
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 2257


From station to station, back to Bristol city....


View Profile
« Reply #738 on: August 29, 2019, 21:20:51 »

Talk to anyone outside of "our region" and they wouldn't know where you were talking about
Unless they were fans of 1990s trip hop.  Cheesy

That threw me for a mo, then it clicked..... Portishead. Definitely a trip hop band of more than regional significance.
Logged
TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6435


The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!


View Profile
« Reply #739 on: August 29, 2019, 21:52:44 »

This quip is a bit over the top isn't it.

Quote
“The Portishead line is a nationally significant project that will deliver wide ranging environmental and economic benefits to our region". ....

Talk to anyone outside of "our region" and they wouldn't know where you were talking about but mention HS2 (The next High Speed line(s)) and everyone knows about that project.


It does sound a bit grandiose doesn't it?  I think, though, it refers to the fact that it is going to extend the national passenger rail network rather than just opening a station or two on the existing network. Besides, since when have politicians anywhere chosen to downplay their claims?    Cheesy

I think it is a technical planning definition - this sort of development is deemed to "nationally significant" and is therefore determined by the Secretary of State rather than the local authority. 

And I think you are right, ellendune. I seem to recall that very form of words being used by our Noble Friend, Andrew, Baron Adonis, way back in the day when he was transport minister. I think that once a railway is deemed to be of national significance, it can only be cancelled then reinstated for a maximum of three elections. And let's face it, adding 50,000 customers to a business is never going to be sniffed at!

As regards the time scale, we should recall that the line was relaid for freight from Parson Street to Portbury Dock in less than a year from the announcement, and that included the chord into Portbury from just west of Pill. The original centruty-old track remains in situ from Portbury nearly a junction - the points were thrown into the grass by the line last time I looked. Said points could be refitted and clipped in a day, and the new rail delivered in 250 metre lengths at 5 mph. There is no reason why  the 3 miles or so that needs to be relaid couldn't be done quickly, although doubtless it won't be. It's in the preppy-uppy. That drainage will take time, and there's bound to be a newt or two along the way.

In my previous life as a person who wasn't retired, working in the 1980s - 1990s as a fraud investigator for what was then DSS, I followed someone to work from his home in Portishead, where one of my solicitor brothers-in-law then had his practice. The traffic along the Portbury Hundred at 7.30am was so bad that on day two, I had a colleaugue waiting on the Bristol side of the A369, and another in Abbots Leigh, because even if I was right behind the target car as we got to the M5 roundabout, there was little chance of me still being in eyeball contact on tghe other side. Since then, thousands of new homes have been built in dear old Posset. (BTW (by the way), it was fun at the other end. He went into Asda in Bedminster to get his lunch, before we got to the nitty gritty. As I pressed the PTT (Public Time-Table) button on the built-in radio to talk to a colleague, all the alarms in all the Fords within a 25-metre radius went off. Like the responsible adults we were, we drove around the car park setting off more alarms, and almost missed our man leaving.)
Logged

Now, please!
johnneyw
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 2257


From station to station, back to Bristol city....


View Profile
« Reply #740 on: August 29, 2019, 22:30:47 »



In my previous life as a person who wasn't retired, working in the 1980s - 1990s as a fraud investigator for what was then DSS, I


My good lady who used to work for said authority lent me a book by a Bristol chap in the same line of work called "Where's My Money?". It was an intersting read. His fortitude about being beaten up by a claiment was inspiring.
Logged
stuving
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7156


View Profile
« Reply #741 on: August 29, 2019, 23:05:01 »

"Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP)" is indeed planning jargon; used in the Planning Act 2008. Basically it means the project must follow the DCO (Driver Controlled Operation) route rather than getting a TWA, which in turn means a minister has to approve it.

The threshold for being an NSIP is too low, and known to be - HMG proposed setting a higher lower limit but never went through with it. However, that would only lift the maximum size for a TWA from anything that can be done as permitted development to 2 km of track. I knew I'd dug out some more on this a while ago, it's here if you like that sort of thing.





Logged
TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6435


The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!


View Profile
« Reply #742 on: September 02, 2019, 18:08:51 »

"Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP)" is indeed planning jargon; used in the Planning Act 2008. Basically it means the project must follow the DCO (Driver Controlled Operation) route rather than getting a TWA, which in turn means a minister has to approve it.

The threshold for being an NSIP is too low, and known to be - HMG proposed setting a higher lower limit but never went through with it. However, that would only lift the maximum size for a TWA from anything that can be done as permitted development to 2 km of track. I knew I'd dug out some more on this a while ago, it's here if you like that sort of thing.


Bravo stuving!
Logged

Now, please!
chuffed
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1499


View Profile
« Reply #743 on: September 06, 2019, 15:18:55 »

Dr Liam Fox ...for it is he....has secured an adjournment debate in the Commons next Wednesday 11th September on the reopening of the Portishead line. It's only 14 years since his previous adjournment debate on the same subject when he described Portishead  as the longest cul-de-sac in Europe !
Logged
johnneyw
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 2257


From station to station, back to Bristol city....


View Profile
« Reply #744 on: September 06, 2019, 15:36:24 »

Dr Liam Fox ...for it is he....has secured an adjournment debate in the Commons next Wednesday 11th September on the reopening of the Portishead line. It's only 14 years since his previous adjournment debate on the same subject when he described Portishead  as the longest cul-de-sac in Europe !

Is it known what specifics will be debated and what outcome it sets out to achieve?
Logged
Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 5190


There are some who call me... Tim


View Profile
« Reply #745 on: September 06, 2019, 16:30:51 »

Dr Liam Fox ...for it is he....has secured an adjournment debate in the Commons next Wednesday 11th September on the reopening of the Portishead line. It's only 14 years since his previous adjournment debate on the same subject when he described Portishead  as the longest cul-de-sac in Europe !

We should have general elections more often!
Logged

Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
Western Pathfinder
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1528



View Profile
« Reply #746 on: September 06, 2019, 16:34:16 »

Oh No Not Another One ! Copyright Brenda from Bristol.
Logged
chuffed
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1499


View Profile
« Reply #747 on: October 04, 2019, 12:10:39 »

The adjournment debate secured by Dr Liam Fox on the future of the Portishead railway is now scheduled for Wednesday 16th October, unlawful prorogations permitting. I wonder what sort of an update he can provide, since the last one in 2005 !
Logged
johnneyw
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 2257


From station to station, back to Bristol city....


View Profile
« Reply #748 on: October 16, 2019, 15:37:47 »

BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Radio Bristol reminded me today that the postponed Commons debate on the Portishead Line is due today. Might check out BBC Parliament.
Logged
Noggin
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 514


View Profile
« Reply #749 on: October 16, 2019, 22:13:43 »

BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Radio Bristol reminded me today that the postponed Commons debate on the Portishead Line is due today. Might check out BBC Parliament.

For goodness sakes, what on earth is there to debate?

Who wants to bet me a tenner that Levenmouth reopens before Portishead does?

Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: 1 ... 48 49 [50] 51 52 ... 72
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page