Bristol West Junction

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

Refurbishments at Bristol West Junction

Preparations are underway for a nine-day refurbishment of Bristol West Junction, which lies between Bristol Temple Meads and Bedminster station.

The bulk of the track refurbishment takes place 20 – 28 January, when we will be working 24/7 to replace old rail, crossings and points, along with the wooden beams they sit on (bearers) and sleepers.

Components are being delivered to our Temple Gate compound from late November and follow up work will run up until the end of March 2024.

Wooden bearers and sleepers need to be used on a like for like basis, as we are only able to renew parts of the junction at present. When we complete the full renewal of the junction in a couple of years’ time we will replace these with modern concrete components, ensuring the wooden materials are used elsewhere on the railway.

Source: Network Rail

So this appears to be purely maintenance. Hopefully the future 'full renewal' they refer to includes four-tracking through to Parson Street...

[infoman]

Does Parson Street actually need a second down road,how often have you been waiting on the train for the Weston route to be cleared.

I would much prefer an up line double tracking from Rose view meadow under pass towards Parson Street with relevant crossovers,
 which could ease congestion getting into temple meads.

Having said that IF a main signal was installed on the up main at Parson Street near the steps,IF there was a problem of not being able to get into BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI))

I would prefer getting off at PS to gain access to BTM or where I was heading too,as opposed to stuck on a train for an extended period of time

[johnneyw]

It would be interesting to see what Network Rail are proposing for the "full renewal in a couple of years".  Might some of this be work to upgrade the junction with the Portishead line?

[stuving]

It would be interesting to see what Network Rail are proposing for the "full renewal in a couple of years".  Might some of this be work to upgrade the junction with the Portishead line?

According to WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about)'s "Year Rail Delivery Plan for Investment: 2020 – 2030" (2020), one of the things they and are looking at is: "Increase capacity and improve resilience for new MetroWest services between Portishead and BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI))". This is said to require:

Bristol to Exeter CMSP.
Bristol West Junction Enhancement.
Four tracking Bristol Temple Meads to Parson Street.
Passenger and train capacity at Bristol Temple Meads.

Two points about that - it comes under "New schemes to be developed in the 10 Year Rail Delivery Plan and delivered 2030 to 2045"; and in that first step CSMP means a "Continuous Modular Strategic Planning" study. Somehow I don't find that sounds reassuring.