Scope to increase Bristol suburban services?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

12:59 Cardiff Central to Penzance due 18:41

12:59 Cardiff Central to Penzance due 18:41 will call additionally at Bedminster, Parson Street and Weston Milton.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.

1 minute late from Bristol, 4 minutes late at Nailsea, 3 minutes late at Weston-super-mare ... and made up the three minutes thereafter - more or less on time beyond Taunton.

So I have to ask - "with IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) running the Cardiff to Exeter services, would they be able to stop at some three to five extra stations and provide half hourly (or in one case hourly) services in the Bristol commuter area?"

[johnneyw]

I've just done Ashley Down to Cardiff Central today....the run back in under an hour, changing at Filton Abbey Wood...but could they squeeze in the occasional direct service I'm wondering.....that should significantly speed things up.

[ChrisB]

Jumping before....? Have you identified the rolling stock available to run these extras?

[johnneyw]

Jumping before....? Have you identified the rolling stock available to run these extras?

Extra stock?  No.  Extra stop on a few suitable existing services was, I think, the idea.

[grahame]

Jumping before....? Have you identified the rolling stock available to run these extras?

Extra stock?  No.  Extra stop on a few suitable existing services was, I think, the idea.

Yeah - it would come from Cardiff 

[TonyK]

So I have to ask - "with IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) running the Cardiff to Exeter services, would they be able to stop at some three to five extra stations and provide half hourly (or in one case hourly) services in the Bristol commuter area?"

I think they would manage with ease - if the route were electric all the way. It would still be a poor use of a high speed train though.

[WelshBluebird]

It's worth adding that given there is no Sunday Filton shuttle right now, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are stopping some of the Cardiff to the South West trains at Ashley Down to provide a Sunday service. Given even during the week these services tend to have a decent amount of dwell time at Temple Meads is really don't see why this can't be extended to other days.

And they also seem to be happy to stop a variety of services (mainly Gloucester services I think) at Ashely Down for football and cricket (if the last few days are anything to go by) with limited impact on the timetable (based on rtt it looks like the main impact has been due to crowds rather than the regular dwell time on the stop itself).

South of the river, some of the Cardiff to South West services are already timetables to stop at  Bedminster and Parson street too so again I really don't see why this can't be extended to more times!

[grahame]

So I have to ask - "with IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) running the Cardiff to Exeter services, would they be able to stop at some three to five extra stations and provide half hourly (or in one case hourly) services in the Bristol commuter area?"

I think they would manage with ease - if the route were electric all the way. It would still be a poor use of a high speed train though.

Yes - but it is ALREADY poor use of an IET. It struck me on Friday and Saturday and the way traffic at most of the stations gathered in time for the "occasional" hourly service - which is far better than it was at times in the past - possibly offered a latent and significant for passengers opportunity.

I don't think it needs to wait for full electrification.  It could be done - err - now.   Just the thoughts of a seasoned observer; perhaps someone on the political front would like to pick it up?

[Phantom]

12:59 Cardiff Central to Penzance due 18:41

12:59 Cardiff Central to Penzance due 18:41 will call additionally at Bedminster, Parson Street and Weston Milton.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.

1 minute late from Bristol, 4 minutes late at Nailsea, 3 minutes late at Weston-super-mare ... and made up the three minutes thereafter - more or less on time beyond Taunton.

So I have to ask - "with IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) running the Cardiff to Exeter services, would they be able to stop at some three to five extra stations and provide half hourly (or in one case hourly) services in the Bristol commuter area?"

100& they could and probably should, as someone who regularly uses that route not just for work but for going to football at Ashton Gate I can see the benefits to a better service
With a new Sporting Quarter on the horizon for BS3 there will be an even greater need

[TonyK]

Yes - but it is ALREADY poor use of an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train). It struck me on Friday and Saturday and the way traffic at most of the stations gathered in time for the "occasional" hourly service - which is far better than it was at times in the past - possibly offered a latent and significant for passengers opportunity.

I don't think it needs to wait for full electrification.  It could be done - err - now.   Just the thoughts of a seasoned observer; perhaps someone on the political front would like to pick it up?

I entirely agree that it is a poor use of IETs, and have said as much on another thread. I just didn't want to upset some of our members who seem to get slightly rattled when an intercity express is compared to an EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit)/DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit). Without doubt, a proper service calling at all points between Temple Meads and Parkway would be possible now, subject to political, financial and train availability being satisfactory. Things have changed over the years, the line is four track, now with four platforms at Filton Abbey Wood and Parkway. Why we still have a mere shuttle to Filton baffles me, especially as it seems to have to move out of the station and back to a different platform for the return leg. I am hoping this is all part of some great master plan that will become obvious very soon.

[Mark A]

**snip**

Why we still have a mere shuttle to Filton baffles me, especially as it seems to have to move out of the station and back to a different platform for the return leg. I am hoping this is all part of some great master plan that will become obvious very soon.

I didn't realise that that happened. Filton Abbey Wood is a totally counterintuitive terminus for a service. Agreed, given the new infrastructure it'll be turning at Parkway in the near future.

Mark

[grahame]

**snip**

Why we still have a mere shuttle to Filton baffles me, especially as it seems to have to move out of the station and back to a different platform for the return leg. I am hoping this is all part of some great master plan that will become obvious very soon.

I didn't realise that that happened. Filton Abbey Wood is a totally counterintuitive terminus for a service. Agreed, given the new infrastructure it'll be turning at Parkway in the near future.

Mark

My understanding is that there are capacity issues at Bristol Parkway that prevent the train carrying on to there. Until it continues to Henbury it gets turned at Abbey Wood.  Looking to the future ... a 30 minute service  off Temple Meads via each of Avonmouth, North Filton, Patchway and Yate - is that 8 trains an hour to Stapleton Road, six to Ashley Down and Filton Abbey Wood?

[johnneyw]

Did anyone submit a "Meet the Manager" question that relates to these issues, especially for the next timetable change?  Probably too much of a narrow local interest question for a region wide Q&A session....and I know that all the questions will be revealed tomorrow anyway.

[Red Squirrel]

We asked GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) quite early on whether it was possible to terminate local services at Bristol Parkway, and got a firm 'no'. I seem to remember the factors were junction capacity, platform capacity, and the undesirability of establishing a service pattern which would have to be unpicked when Brabazon and Henbury open.

It's not clear whether TfW's proposed half-hourly Cardiff - Bristol stoppers would call at Ashley Down - if they did, it would be transformative, leading to a proper 4 tph metro-style service when combined with the 2 tph Henburys.

GWR suggest Filton Abbey Wood as an interchange, although with 2 tph to BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) and quite long connections it's not great; for example ASD - YAE gives journey times of around 40-50 mins, of which over half an hour is spent kicking your heals at FIT. Still quicker that the bus, but could be a lot better.

[johnneyw]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) suggest Filton Abbey Wood as an interchange.....

A successful interchange station tends to have substantial numbers of people standing at, or moving between, platforms.  The complete absence of cover on the bridge and very limited shelter on the platforms would make this a unpopular prospect with passengers in wet weather.