New station at Ashley Down, Bristol

[whole diary]

[TonyK]

Is the possession just the two lines? No bustitutions in RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website).

[Red Squirrel]

Is the possession just the two lines? No bustitutions in RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website).

Yes; this one (27-28 May) and the later one (3-18 June) just involve the relief lines. Lawrence Hill and Stapleton Rd will only be served by Severn Beach line trains during these periods.

I was going to say that this work would have been much more disruptive if there were still two tracks here, but as it wouldn't have been possible to open a new station the work  wouldn't have been done!

[TonyK]

Yes; this one (27-28 May) and the later one (3-18 June) just involve the relief lines. Lawrence Hill and Stapleton Rd will only be served by Severn Beach line trains during these periods.

I was going to say that this work would have been much more disruptive if there were still two tracks here, but as it wouldn't have been possible to open a new station the work  wouldn't have been done!

I had reached the same conclusion independently.

[Bmblbzzz]

Yes; this one (27-28 May) and the later one (3-18 June) just involve the relief lines. Lawrence Hill and Stapleton Rd will only be served by Severn Beach line trains during these periods.

I was going to say that this work would have been much more disruptive if there were still two tracks here, but as it wouldn't have been possible to open a new station the work  wouldn't have been done!

I had reached the conclusion independently.

Two platforms now!

[johnneyw]

Presumably that's going to auger some holes for the rebar assemblies on the right of your picture to drop into.

It looks like the auger has done it's job.  Although the attached picture was taken a few seconds too late to see it clearly, the photo shows the rebar assemblies being loaded up onto a truck, presumably to be transported to the new excavations.

[Red Squirrel]

Couple of pictures today:

A piling rig between the mains and reliefs:


Work on the new access on the west (Station Road) side:


There seemed to be work going on towards Temple Meads too, but I couldn't get sight of it.

[paul7575]

Report on Network Rail website of an upcoming blockade to install platforms at future Ashley Down station:

Network Rail is set to begin a more intensive phase of the construction of the brand-new north Bristol station at Ashley Down, with a solid 16-day period from Saturday 3 June to Monday 19 June, when teams will be working around the clock to install two new platforms.

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/work-on-bristols-new-railway-station-steps-up-a-gear-as-platform-construction-begins-at-ashley-down

PS  Filton Bank reverts to a two track railway for the duration. “Two Track Now” 

Paul

[stuving]

Report on Network Rail website of an upcoming blockade to install platforms at future Ashley Down station:

Network Rail is set to begin a more intensive phase of the construction of the brand-new north Bristol station at Ashley Down, with a solid 16-day period from Saturday 3 June to Monday 19 June, when teams will be working around the clock to install two new platforms.

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/work-on-bristols-new-railway-station-steps-up-a-gear-as-platform-construction-begins-at-ashley-down

PS  Filton Bank reverts to a two track railway for the duration. “Two Track Now” 

Paul

At the end of that page NR^» (Network Rail - home page) say this:

This summer also sees essential track maintenance work taking place within the Severn Tunnel, which will be closed from Friday 9 June to Sunday 18 June for vital track replacement. Passengers are advised to check before travelling between these dates, as a bus replacement service will be in operation between Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central.

That work dictated the timing of the Ashley Down work, as it makes the closure of two tracks almost "free". There's an NR page an that work too, which includes the surprising snippet of information that they are using tin-plated sleepers!

Trains will be diverted or replaced by buses between Friday 9 and Sunday 18, and on Sunday 25 June, as Network Rail works around the clock to renew the tracks in the Severn Tunnel.

Engineers will replace 3.2km of old track, as well as 5,200 sleepers (track supports) and 14,000 tonnes of ballast (supporting stone) over a ten-day period. 

Salt-water makes for a corrosive environment inside the tunnel and track that would usually last 25 years needs to be replaced every ten. The new sleepers will be coated in tin to extend their life. 

In 2022, Network Rail replaced 3km of track on the Monmouthshire side of the tunnel. This June, the track will be replaced on the South Gloucestershire side. 

[TonyK]

PS  Filton Bank reverts to a two track railway for the duration. “Two Track Now” 

Paul

 

[Red Squirrel]

A hive of activity at Ashley Down yesterday (Sunday). This is a difficult location to photograph, but hopefully these give a flavour:

Station entrance from Station Road. The red brick building on the left is the old Station Hotel.


Work on the relief lines.


----------------------------------------------------

Cllr David Wilcox has some photos, taken from a passing train, on his twitter feed. This one is more or less the reverse angle of my second photo, and shows the site of the demolished old platform:


...and this shows the reliefs being dismantled, and the pile tops for a new platform:

[Red Squirrel]

Oh, and just spotted this vid from NR^» (Network Rail - home page): https://twitter.com/i/status/1665040656358838272

[Bmblbzzz]

I didn't realize they were going to have to move the tracks. I thought they had been been put down with the potential platforms in mind when the four-tracking was done.

[Red Squirrel]

I didn't realize they were going to have to move the tracks. I thought they had been been put down with the potential platforms in mind when the four-tracking was done.

Interesting point. I guess it's hard to do passive provision when the design of the thing you're passively providing for hasn't been finalised?

There does appear to have been a fairly late adjustment to the platform widths, related (I think) to disabled accessibility and safety. Maybe that's why they had to slew the tracks? This also led to the closure period of Concorde Way being much longer than initially planned.

[Bmblbzzz]

I'm sure I've seen posts on these very pages pointing out the passive provision made for future Ashley Down platforms! But if there's been a late revision to the design, that would clearly alter it.

[paul7575]

I didn't realize they were going to have to move the tracks. I thought they had been been put down with the potential platforms in mind when the four-tracking was done.

I think at the site of Ashley Down the tracks installed were the new mains on the east side.  It varied side to side in different areas along the whole length of the bank, but it’s possible the relief side was still in its original position prior to four tracking.