Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 08:35 28 Mar 2024
* Easter travel warning as millions set to hit roads
- What contributed to the Baltimore Bridge collapse?
- Man suffers life-threatening injuries after train stabbing
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 (1917)
Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore closed (link)

Train RunningCancelled
06:28 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
06:57 Swansea to London Paddington
07:28 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
07:43 Swansea to London Paddington
08:18 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
08:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
09:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
09:12 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
09:29 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
09:30 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
10:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
10:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
10:41 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
11:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
11:16 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
11:23 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
11:30 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
11:50 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
12:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
12:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
Short Run
05:40 Bristol Temple Meads to Penzance
06:48 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington
06:54 Taunton to London Paddington
07:12 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
08:25 Okehampton to Exeter Central
08:34 Exeter Central to Okehampton
09:50 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
10:50 Penzance to Cardiff Central
Delayed
05:03 Penzance to London Paddington
05:23 London Paddington to Swansea
05:33 Plymouth to London Paddington
05:55 Plymouth to London Paddington
06:00 London Paddington to Penzance
06:38 Weymouth to Gloucester
06:50 Westbury to Weymouth
08:03 London Paddington to Penzance
08:30 Liskeard to Looe
09:35 Exeter Central to Okehampton
09:37 London Paddington to Paignton
10:04 London Paddington to Penzance
10:23 London Paddington to Oxford
10:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
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, 08:52:10 *
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
[146] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
[117] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[80] Return of the BRUTE?
[63] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[49] Reversing Beeching - bring heritage and freight lines into the...
[27] CrossCountry upgrade will see 25% more rail seats
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1 ... 52 53 [54] 55 56 ... 72
  Print  
Author Topic: Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion  (Read 384368 times)
chuffed
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1499


View Profile
« Reply #795 on: January 11, 2020, 06:50:41 »

Enough for a red squirrel to turn white no doubt!
Logged
TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6435


The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!


View Profile
« Reply #796 on: January 11, 2020, 13:49:19 »

It's worth remembering that every few years it becomes necessary to close the A4 Portway, on the other side of the Avon Gorge but also part of the 156 hectares that make up the Avon Gorge SSSI, while they do works to stop rocks falling on cars below. This involves, I suspect, far more damaging interventions than will be needed for the Portishead line.


Indeed so. It used to be a lot more intensive before the canopy was built under the bridge, although I'm not sure that falling rocks were the primary reason. I can recall the Portway being closed for months one year, whilst people in harnesses swung from ropes, inspecting and chiselling here and there. I don't believe there is a way to completely stabilised the A4 side of the gorge to the point that there could never be a rock big enough to do some serious harm fall 80 metres. There are countries where the response to this danger would be to erect a sign saying "Beware of falling rocks", but I can well understand why that isn't the way here.

Well if any of this does cause further delays to this reopening, I for one will certainly be apomictic with rage.

I'm personally hoping it doesn't come to that, what with the holiday season just around the corner.
« Last Edit: January 11, 2020, 13:55:12 by TonyK » Logged

Now, please!
Noggin
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 513


View Profile
« Reply #797 on: January 15, 2020, 12:52:47 »

Notice of Acceptance of Application for DCO (Driver Controlled Operation) in the paper this morning - https://ibb.co/3FTdN5n
Logged
stuving
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7154


View Profile
« Reply #798 on: January 15, 2020, 13:38:34 »

Notice of Acceptance of Application for DCO (Driver Controlled Operation) in the paper this morning - https://ibb.co/3FTdN5n

For those who prefer it, the same news on the interweb, and the letter from TPI:
Quote
Dear Mr Willcock,Planning Act 2008 (as amended) – Section 55
Application by North Somerset District Council for an Order Granting Development Consent for the Portishead Branch Line – MetroWest Phase 1
Notification of decision to accept an application for Examination for an Order Granting Development Consent
I refer to the above application for an Order granting development consent made under section 37(2) of the Planning Act 2008 (as amended) (PA2008) and received by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State on 15 November 2019.

The Secretary of State has decided to accept this application for Examination. In reaching this decision, the Secretary of State has:
• in respect of section 55(3)(e) had regard to the matters set out in section 55(4), and concluded that the applicant has complied with Chapter 2 of Part 5 of PA2008; and
• in respect of section 55(3)(f), had regard to the extent to which those matters set out in section 55(5A) have either been complied with or followed, and concluded that the application (including accompaniments) is of a satisfactory standard.

Please be aware of your duties under:
• sections 56, 58 and 59 of PA2008;
• Regulations 8, 9 and 10 of the Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 (as amended); and
• Regulation 13 of The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2009 or, for projects scoped after 16 May 2017, the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. Delete this bullet point if your project is not EIA development.

Yours sincerely
Simone Wilding
Head of Major Casework Management
For and on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing,
Communities and Local Government
« Last Edit: January 15, 2020, 13:53:54 by Red Squirrel » Logged
chuffed
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1499


View Profile
« Reply #799 on: January 16, 2020, 12:09:12 »

A hard copy of the Development Consent Order documents can now be viewed at Portishead Library, Pill Resource Centre and Bristol Library until 26 February (Note: The documents total 20,735 pages!).

The documents can also be viewed online at:

https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/south-west/portishead-branch-line-metrowest-phase-1/.

One page for every great crested newt I guess !
Logged
TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6435


The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!


View Profile
« Reply #800 on: January 18, 2020, 20:16:27 »

Or 4 or so per sleeper.
Logged

Now, please!
Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 5190


There are some who call me... Tim


View Profile
« Reply #801 on: January 21, 2020, 09:05:24 »

Quote
Ashton Gate frustration at station and metrobus inaction

Bosses at Ashton Gate Stadium say they are trying and so far failing to persuade council leaders to improve the transport links to their stadium.

The chairman of Ashton Gate said they have asked council chiefs to work towards reopening the old Ashton Gate station and move the Metrobus stop named Ashton Gate closer to the stadium, but have been ‘unable to get a commitment’.

[...long article continues...]

Ashton Gate Stadium Ltd and Bristol City Council are working together on other transport issues, however. The stadium is part-funding work to install parking restrictions and double yellow lines on roads near the stadium, mainly along Duckmoor Road, to improve local access while matches are on.

[...]
Source: Bristol Post



Logged

Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6435


The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!


View Profile
« Reply #802 on: January 21, 2020, 11:11:57 »

The wider saga of Ashton Gate shows how Bristol City Council continually gets it wrong. I recall a temporary platform being put up opposite the stadium in the early 1980s to cater for people travelling to see the Rolling Stones and Billy Graham (two separate gigs, obviously) with enough rolling stock to make a big difference. The stadium now holds 16,000 and regularly gets close to that for at least 23 home football and 16 rugby matches, plus a variety of concerts, conventions and events throughout the closed season. As the club has grown, there has been a considerable increase in the problems experienced by local residents and businesses by the regular influx of visitors. So far, BCC» (Bristol City Council - about)'s most notable response has been to help wreck plans to build a new stadium away from the present one. Ashton Gate is to gain many more homes in the near future, yet a station there remains only an aspiration rather than the subject of tough lobbying. MetroBust is seemingly unable to run additional services because of its "special" guided bit, and the stops were in any case sited to discourage use by football fans. The other local service, the 24, is a single deck service that has seen its frequency cut since the M2 began.

Bristol City want to expand further to make fuller use of the ground. There's a chance they will be in the Premier League next season. A station there is required for the stadium alone, let alone the thousands of people living nearby. I can think of no other football ground with such poor transport links, except Bristol Rovers, of course.
Logged

Now, please!
Phantom
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 484



View Profile
« Reply #803 on: January 21, 2020, 11:21:15 »

The stadium now holds 16,000 and regularly gets close to that for at least 23 home football and 16 rugby matches, plus a variety of concerts, conventions and events throughout the closed season

Sorry to be pedantic but those numbers are massively short
The capacity of the stadium is now 27,000. City get over 20,000 every game and the Bears are getting just under that, with a number of sell outs already, they're playing Gloucester this weekend and will way over the 20,000 again for this game
As for the concerts, this summer there is permission to go over 30,000 for "The Killers" gig.

As for conventions etc, these take place all year round and not just out of season
Logged
Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 5190


There are some who call me... Tim


View Profile
« Reply #804 on: January 21, 2020, 16:55:57 »

Or 4 or so per sleeper.

Actually, you could easily lose the whole lot in the ballast:

Logged

Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
IndustryInsider
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 10095


View Profile
« Reply #805 on: January 21, 2020, 17:03:05 »

Actually, you could easily lose the whole lot in the ballast:

I’m sure it’d be found lying there when the next set of studies and ground surveys take place.
Logged

To view my GWML (Great Western Main Line) Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/
TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6435


The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!


View Profile
« Reply #806 on: January 22, 2020, 17:19:04 »


Sorry to be pedantic but those numbers are massively short
The capacity of the stadium is now 27,000. City get over 20,000 every game and the Bears are getting just under that, with a number of sell outs already, they're playing Gloucester this weekend and will way over the 20,000 again for this game

My typo - I intended 26,000, but thank you for t the correction. I understand there is now  a plan to enlarge the stadium further, which will probably make  some of those who campaigned for the Town Green on the alternative site wonder  if  they  backed the right horse.

I last  saw  the Who there, before I got old. I think that was a pretty big crowd, and only my encyclopaedic  knowledge of  the area got us out  and  home quickly. I also recall going to a football match at Highbury when in London. That was a stadium built as big as it could be, surrounded by houses, at least with the  benefit  of a tube station close by. There's  a little bit of BS3 heading the same way.
Logged

Now, please!
Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 5190


There are some who call me... Tim


View Profile
« Reply #807 on: February 02, 2020, 11:23:56 »

Spotted this in the Jan 2020 Draft JLTP. I wonder if this is the issue TonyK was alluding to? This issue was being discussed last year, I think, but the following statement doesn't seem to have a conclusion...

Quote
HRA Mitigation
The MetroWest Phase 1 project level HRA proposes a series of mitigation measures, including implementing protective measures during scheme construction which would reduce the adverse effects on the Avon Gorge Woodlands SAC. However, it is not possible to avoid the loss of up to 0.71ha of woodland within the SAC and therefore an adverse effect on this SAC remains following mitigation.
The project level HRA has therefore proceeded to evaluate the alternatives to the MetroWest Phase 1 scheme, however, it has not been possible to identify any feasible alternatives to this scheme. It is therefore necessary for this scheme to advance to the ‘IROPI test’ (imperative reasons of overriding public interest). The IROPI that have been considered within the project level HRA relates to human health, public safety and important environmental benefits. Compensatory measures are also provided within the project level HRA, including habitat management and planting of additional woodland with whitebeams. However, as a result of the European Court of Justice interpretation of the Habitats Directive, these measures cannot be taken into account in the assessment of the implications of the project.
Logged

Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
stuving
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7154


View Profile
« Reply #808 on: February 02, 2020, 13:24:15 »

If you look in the DCO (Driver Controlled Operation) document set, there isn't one called Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA). There is a counsel's opinion that the HRA is legally well-founded, which kind of suggests such a thing exists. There is also the oddly Trotksyite sounding "Report to Inform Habitats Regulations Assessment APFP Regulation 5(2)(g)". I guess the point is that the HRA is a process, involving several reports. Maybe it should finish with one called the HRA Assessment...

Anyway, the RIHRA has this conclusion to one of its sections:
Quote
11.8 Conclusions
11.8.1 The decision to go ahead with a plan or project must meet the conditions and requirements of Article 6(4). In particular, it must be documented that:
  • the alternative put forward for approval is the least damaging for habitats, for species and for the integrity of the Natura 2000 site(s), regardless of economic considerations, and that no other feasible alternative exists that would not adversely affect the integrity of the site(s);
  • there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest, including ‘those of a social or economic nature’;
  • all compensatory measures necessary to ensure that the overall coherence of Natura 2000 is protected are taken.
11.8.2 For the reasons set out above it is considered that all three tests are met in the case of the DCO Scheme and that the adverse impact on the integrity of the Avon Gorge Woodlands SAC predicted at Stage 2 is adequately compensated. It is concluded that the grant of consent for the DCO Scheme will not cause detriment to the maintenance of the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network. The grant of consent to the DCO Scheme offers potential to improve the condition of the Avon Gorge Woodlands SAC.
Logged
SandTEngineer
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 3485


View Profile
« Reply #809 on: February 02, 2020, 13:32:23 »

If you look in the DCO (Driver Controlled Operation) document set, there isn't one called Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA). There is a counsel's opinion that the HRA is legally well-founded, which kind of suggests such a thing exists. There is also the oddly Trotksyite sounding "Report to Inform Habitats Regulations Assessment APFP Regulation 5(2)(g)". I guess the point is that the HRA is a process, involving several reports. Maybe it should finish with one called the HRA Assessment...

Anyway, the RIHRA has this conclusion to one of its sections:
Quote
11.8 Conclusions
11.8.1 The decision to go ahead with a plan or project must meet the conditions and requirements of Article 6(4). In particular, it must be documented that:
  • the alternative put forward for approval is the least damaging for habitats, for species and for the integrity of the Natura 2000 site(s), regardless of economic considerations, and that no other feasible alternative exists that would not adversely affect the integrity of the site(s);
  • there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest, including ‘those of a social or economic nature’;
  • all compensatory measures necessary to ensure that the overall coherence of Natura 2000 is protected are taken.
11.8.2 For the reasons set out above it is considered that all three tests are met in the case of the DCO Scheme and that the adverse impact on the integrity of the Avon Gorge Woodlands SAC predicted at Stage 2 is adequately compensated. It is concluded that the grant of consent for the DCO Scheme will not cause detriment to the maintenance of the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network. The grant of consent to the DCO Scheme offers potential to improve the condition of the Avon Gorge Woodlands SAC.


I really wonder how we manage to build anything in this country now....... Roll Eyes
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 ... 52 53 [54] 55 56 ... 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