Clifton Rocks Railway, Bristol - Open Days

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

You do though then have to get the pedestrians across the road to and from the funnycolour railway.

[grahame]

You do though then have to get the pedestrians across the road to and from the funnycolour railway.

Logic is using the colonnade - which was originally shops rather than residences.   Lift to first floor and bridge across, slope down on one side of the bridge and steps on the other.

[Red Squirrel]

You do though then have to get the pedestrians across the road to and from the funnycolour railway.

Logic is using the colonnade - which was originally shops rather than residences.   Lift to first floor and bridge across, slope down on one side of the bridge and steps on the other.

Alternatively, permanently close the Portway to private motor vehicles between Bridge Valley Road and Roman Way... discuss!

[Bmblbzzz]

The Portway does get plenty of runners and cyclists but they tend to be either on their way to/from work or running and cycling for fitness/sport. Further west, this is easier and pleasanter; there's a wide pavement on the river side, which cyclists are allowed to use (a rare example of a "shared use" footway that actually works IMO^▸ (in my opinion)) and for inbound cyclists, a wide bus lane. The bus lane ends at Bridge Valley Road and the pavement gets narrower, so from there inwards is not so pleasant. All a contrast to the Pill path on the other side of the Gorge.

I think the answer to "what will funicular passengers do at the bottom of the cliff?" is "go back up again". Surely the attraction will be the Rocks Railway itself? I can imagine it done up as a sort of museum/themed ride thingummy, perhaps with attendants in stove pipe hats (large cigars might not be allowed in tunnels nowadays). But who knows, there might even be one or two people who'd use it as an actual utilitarian transport connection, perhaps to get from Clifton to whatever bus might run along the A4 to Avonmouth.

[johnneyw]

You do though then have to get the pedestrians across the road to and from the funnycolour railway.

Logic is using the colonnade - which was originally shops rather than residences.   Lift to first floor and bridge across, slope down on one side of the bridge and steps on the other.

Alternatively, permanently close the Portway to private motor vehicles between Bridge Valley Road and Roman Way... discuss!

I think it would depend on the way motorists react, especially for those going to and from the M5. It might result in effectively rerouting the A4 through suburban West Bristol to and from the Centre. Alternatively, motorists may alter their journey to and from the motorway, for example, using the Gordano/Abbots Leigh route or using the Cribbs Causeway junction. Would these routes cope with the upsurge in traffic? The Abbots Leigh route would certainly become more difficult.

Would a significant number of people instead use the Portway P&R^▸ (Park and Ride) (and coming station)? That would certainly be a help if that happened but that would really only work with a frequent and reliable bus and rail service accompanying it.

[Rob on the hill]

I think the media are over-hyping the story and implying that it will be restored to its former glory as a working funicular railway. This does not seem to be the case, indeed the wartime BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) studios and air raid shelters built inside the tunnel over the rails are now also part of its history.

[grahame]

Looking at going on Saturday ... but what a mess with no trains.  A comparison of the journey, setting off early on Thursday (when I have a car available), Friday, Saturday and Sunday - noting it's a "rail replacement bus" weekend ... with normal service buses far better than the rail ones ...









Leaving later on Sunday ... arrive Clifton after noon is possible in 2 hours 18 minutes by bus.

[Bmblbzzz]

I've just been to the open day. It's an interesting place and the volunteer guides are extremely knowledgeable, though my particular guide had an unfortunately less than engaging delivery. It seems from the tour that current plans are more to focus on it as a historical site than a railway.

[grahame]

I've been wanting to go for years ... and did so today. 











Fascinating ... but sad that it's so limited in the area / parts that can be seen or these days even worked on. The hotel which owned it until a few days back limited work / trips in recent years to the top station because of their insurance; there's some trepidation as to what the new owner will do - having said which, that's a comment from someone I was chatting with who's not been central to any talks. Maggie sounded more positive, but then she's a go-getter who has seen the project, determined, through thick and thin to get this far.

[Western Pathfinder]

Dr Maggie Shapland,who has done more than just about anyone else to see that the CRR survives to this day .