Bristol connections: Metro, Bus Rapid Transit, PTE, ITA and local councils - discussion

[whole diary]

[TonyK]

I've just realised how long it has been since I left my employment in Bemmie, overlooking the station. Turning back there was the norm then, using the line closest to Victoria Park, with the driver walking along the platform to change ends. We also had the view of the Orient Express, down for washing, I think.  I should get out more!

[Chris from Nailsea]

You wouldn't get any trains very far down that particular length of track now: it's all overgrown with bluddy buddleia!

[TonyK]

I'll get a new string for me strimmer.

A letter to the Evening Post:

AS A former railway man, I am writing to comment on a recently announced proposal, to bring the old Brunel Train Shed at Bristol Temple Meads back into use, as the terminus of the post-2016 London route electric trains.

Although this sounds like a nice idea, it is, unfortunately, operationally barmy. This is because it entails a wasteful use of limited capacity. And we need all the capacity we can get, if we are to have improved local services, under the other recently announced (all council backed) concept of a Bristol Metro network.
 
​

How Brunel's Train Shed could look with electric trains

It would add to the number of platforms, but they still have to be used sensibly, according to the direction of travel of the various services.

Put simply, the Shed is on the left, and via Bath, London trains turn right, so there is conflict with all left-turning services (the busiest exit from Temple Meads, with trains for Parkway, Cardiff, and Birmingham etc).

This is not a problem currently, because London via Bath trains mostly use platforms on the right hand side of the station.

I wrote to Great Western Trains to ask where they stand on this vital issue. 'No comment at this time' was their response.

I interpret this as meaning they know my caveat is valid, but dare not say so, for 'political reasons'.

J A G**** (British Rail Western Region civil engineer, 1968-93)

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Brunel-s-old-train-shed-Temple-Meads-wrong-place/story-15992939-detail/story.html

Not sure if this chap has it right.  My latest understanding is that the trains using the Brunel Shed will go via Bristol Parkway. Trains via Bath and 'Nam will continue to use platforms over the east side of BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)), as now, without posing any inconvenience for any other train. Writing to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) for details of a route they may not even be involved with, depending on franchise, would be unlikely to elicit a response.

Like the picture! I look forward to seeing the real thing.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

South Bristol rapid transit route consultation starts


It is hoped the route will help cut congestion and encourage new businesses to set up in south Bristol

People are being invited to have their say on plans for the south Bristol section of the West of England rapid transit network.

The route aims to link Long Ashton Park and Ride to the new hospital, Skills Academy, the shops at Imperial Park and leisure centre at Hengrove Way.

It will have fast boarding and smartcard ticketing linking with wider bus and railway services.

A planning application is due to be submitted in the autumn.

The route will link into the wider rapid transit network with direct access to Bristol city centre and along the M32 to Cribbs Causeway and Emersons Green in the north of the area.

But campaigners opposing the proposed south Bristol link road say it is a "staggering" waste of public money.

They say the cost of the 3.1 mile (5km) road is ^43.1m and works out as more than ^8,600 per metre.

Bristol City and North Somerset Councils are contributing some ^15m towards the cost of the road with other funding coming from the Department for Transport.

Bristol City Council said the road would help "unlock" south Bristol.

"We want to make it easier for local people to get into the city centre for work, leisure and retail facilities and to encourage investment in south Bristol," said a spokesperson.

[TonyK]

I'm afraid I side with the "staggering waste of money" side of this argument. Look at the timing - the "Best and Final" funding bid was submitted just before "Green Light for Light Rail" rolled off the presses. Now Bristol has the dubious distinction of being the only city to vote for a mayor, and will probably have money lavished on it to upset the other nine. What better time to go to Downing Street to ask for permission to upgrade to light rail? Not only that, reading through the objections lodged with the public inquiry here, I don't think the Bus Rabid Transit is a done deal yet. It looks as though the whole process has been botched.

[JayMac]

I concur with your sentiments regarding the Mayor and how he or she may well be supported by the Coalition Government.

Looks like the 13% of the total electorate in Bristol who voted for a directly elected Mayor could well have set the ball rolling for some very interesting transport related capital expenditure projects in the city in the coming years.

Let's hope Bus Rapid Transit goes no further than what's already funded, or gets quietly dropped, and the emphasis is shifted toward Light and Heavy Rail.

[anthony215]

I concur with your sentiments regarding the Mayor and how he or she may well be supported by the Coalition Government.

Looks like the 13% of the total electorate in Bristol who voted for a directly elected Mayor could well have set the ball rolling for some very interesting transport related capital expenditure projects in the city in the coming years.

Let's hope Bus Rapid Transit goes no further than what's already funded, or gets quietly dropped, and the emphasis is shifted toward Light and Heavy Rail.

I have to agree with Bignosemac here especially if anyone takes a good hard look at the FTR^▸ (Fitness To Run) metro service First currently operate in Swansea.

The services was ok when it first started and I myself was a big fan of it and still am a bit although I would have much rather prefered a proper tram or perhaps somethinglike a low floor parry people mover with services runninng all the way down to oystermouth/mumbles.

Sadly to save some costs First have been using a standard bus at times on weekdays and weekends.

I personally do hope they see sense in Bristol and go for a tram option and we dont have the farce like last time ligh rail was proposed in Bristol.

Hopefully as well we get to see the local lines around Bristol electrified aand new emu's brought in to work services along with extra carriages on other routes such as Cardiff - Portsmouth hbr.

One final hope is that they sort out the current bus network in Bristol with the high price of fares

[TonyK]

Amen to that, Anthony. First have already said that they will use normal buses much of the time, and of course this unglorified bus lane will be open to most of the other services coming from Portishead, WSM, etc. They will be normal bus, too. The paint on the bus lane in Hotwells Road is hardly dry, but that will be hardly used if this daft idea goes ahead. The ressies of Cumberland Road are up in arms, as that will become No Parking Ever, and a lot of the houses have no off-street provision. And when Portishead rail line reopens to passengers, a lot of the folk who currently park at Long Ashton will be able to leave the car at home.

Now I seem to recall that the Chancellor said he was allocating the money  with the proviso that there was no great opposition to the scheme - I guess he doesn't want to see the cost racked up with having to coax protesters out of trees and holes. Between that, and Bristol City Council's traditional incompetence, this may yet die a death. I have a great aversion to seeing railway lines ripped up for anything other than putting down new ones.

[ellendune]

Surely with ^43million you could do quite alot with the Portishead branch with intermediate stops in south Bristol.

[TonyK]

^43 million would pay for the reopening, with no frills. Or so the GRIP3 report on the line suggests.

[anthony215]

Yes lets hope if Bristol gets a mayor  in November he or she will have some sense and scrap the stupid FTR^▸ (Fitness To Run) scheme in Bristol.

I do hope they can get the Portishead branch re-opened although that said considering Bristol is the only city to have said yes to having a directly elected mayor I can see the government being generous with funding just to show the cities who voted no what they are missing out on.

[anthony215]

There was a good piece about the Bristol Metro proposals in the latest issue of Rail.

[Phil]

considering Bristol is the only city to have said yes to having a directly elected mayor I can see the government being generous with funding just to show the cities who voted no what they are missing out on.

That's a very astute comment, if I may say so! I hadn't thought if it like that. Bet you're spot on, as well. Interesting!

[paul7575]

On the other hand, the Bristol Mayor might find the opposite, that because on a national basis most people voted against it, there won't be any extra funding at all.  Are DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) really going to be running a special scheme just for Bristol?

Paul

[anthony215]

On the other hand, the Bristol Mayor might find the opposite, that because on a national basis most people voted against it, there won't be any extra funding at all.  Are DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) really going to be running a special scheme just for Bristol?

Paul

As I said in my previous comments it could go either way but a part of me does agree with your statement Paul however I would hope it would go the other way.

I would like to see Bristol get additional funding and the mayor spend it on better things that BRT^▸ (Bus Rapid Transit) such as re-opening Portishead and electrifying the local branchlines around Bristol although then we will have to wonder where will the emu's come from unless if as expected some of the class 315's are displaced from East Anglia by crossrail for use on the Cardiff Valley Lines perhaps there may be some of them available.

Still as others have said I can see things getting very interesting in Bristol over the new few months & years.