Disruption October - November 2020

[whole diary]

[grahame]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) now stating until 23rd November

The words "at least" have started to appear too ... didn't see them in the earlier posts, but they may have been in some of them.

[TonyK]

Oh dear.

[Timmer]

The crazy thing is this work has absolutely nothing to do with improving the railway whatsoever. The only saving grace is this huge overrun occurred during lockdown. Scant consolation if you rely on trains in the area to get to work of course.

[TonyK]

The crazy thing is this work has absolutely nothing to do with improving the railway whatsoever. The only saving grace is this huge overrun occurred during lockdown. Scant consolation if you rely on trains in the area to get to work of course.

Absolutely right. There was a perfectly good railway running over an absolutely adequate bridge before all this began. The Western Super Mayor (? Bignosemac) decided that the best way to improve public transport was to build a much wider road MetroBust route following the railway line between Parkway and Filton Airfield, thence to Cribbs Causeway, and it seems to have gone downhill since. When it finally opens to traffic, cars will be able to get stuck at the traffic light junction with the A38, a few hundred metres further on, much more quickly than they could before.

[grahame]

The crazy thing is this work has absolutely nothing to do with improving the railway whatsoever. The only saving grace is this huge overrun occurred during lockdown. Scant consolation if you rely on trains in the area to get to work of course.

From the Stoke Gifford Journal ... http://www.stokegiffordjournal.co.uk/2020/11/08/gipsy-patch-lane-mega-bridge-move-trouble-soft-ground/ - a long and many-time-extended article ... latest news:

BRIDGE LANDED: After being "stuck" for 15 days, the replacement railway bridge at Gipsy Patch Lane was (we believe) successfully moved into its intended position this morning (Saturday 14th November 2020).

Before you get too excited, a reminder that the road under the bridge isn't due to reopen to motor vehicles until July 2021, with associated highway works continuing until the end of 2022.

[ellendune]

Found this video of the bridge onTwitter

[TonyK]

To look at that video, one could could be forgiven for thinking that the line will reopen on Monday. Here's hoping for the best. It has been a pretty mammoth job, when all is said and done.

[grahame]

From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard

The director of Network Rail has apologised to train commuters for 'inconveniencing them longer than they should have' with the installation of a new railway bridge in Bristol.

Tomorrow, train passengers are expected to finally be able to use the rail service that has called disruption to services between Bristol and Wales as the installation of a new bridge nears completion.

The installation in Gypsy patch Lane has been plagued by delays after initially being halted due to the coronavrius pandemic and then a significant engineering issue pushed the installation further back.


Network Rail director Mike Gallop made a statement at the site today, he said:"We have had some significant problems at this site but we are now in the final stages of bringing the railway back to life.

"Its been a huge logistical and technical challenge and our teams and contractor teams have been working day and night to get the railway open.

"Im pleased to confirm we are going to open the railway on Monday.

"On behalf of Network Rail, I would like to say thank you for your patience, to local resident who have been affected by our works and to the travelling public who, I am afraid we have inconvenienced longer than we should, please accept my apologies."

[Timmer]

Services have resumed this morning:
https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/1330756790406041600?s=21

[TonyK]

Services have resumed this morning:
https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/1330756790406041600?s=21

I love the "- thanks for your patience". Like we have patience.