Pilning - the station, services, viability and closure of down platform - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster.....

This is something seemingly not very many people were aware of, i think it is a travesty that they are going to close the down platform. Pilning is a undervalued asset.

The copies of NR^» (Network Rail - home page)'s letters are included in the below publication.

FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) are most unimpressed and are writing to Office of Rail and Road ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) and Western Enterprise Partnership WEP regarding this.

http://www.fosbr.org.uk/files/20160615_pilningpr.pdf

Hi, Oliver, and welcome to the forum.    There is some background discussion on the issue to access to Pilning's platforms on electrification / the cost of providing a disability compliant access to the platform that's an island, etc - at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=814.msg194642#msg194642 - so readers can pick that up as background.

The consultation, though, was news to me and I'm going back through my notifications to see if I had heard about it.   With my Wiltshire hat, probably not logical to be told ... but I would have hoped that FOSBR would have been altered to a consultation, and I would be surprised if they hadn't heard from others if the consultation had been given reasonable publicity through people like the rail unions, CBT^‡(resolve) and RailFuture, even if FOSBR had been overlooked.

[ellendune]

Welcome to the forum.

From reading the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) letter at the end of the consultation I think this was only a consultation to train operating companies as a network change.  As far as I recall they do not need to consult local authorities for a network change.  

However, this is a change that has significant implications.  I am not sure whether retaining Pilning has benefits over services to Severn Beach, but I believe that there needs to be proper consideration. I therefore fully support FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways)'s campaign.

MODS there has been a previous discussion on the future potential for Pilning

Just pipped by Grahame

[ChrisB]

I'm sure there's another thread where we've discussed this? I think before June 10? Maybe FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) ought to be monitoring this board?

[grahame]

As an admin / moderator, I plan to merge this with the previous Pilning topic mentioned in my earlier post once the white heat of initial responses is over, and it's clear that this is indeed a continuation rather than a specific failure os consultation system.

I did try to follow the link in the letter from FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) (the Network Rail consultation letter. But I got a "404" page telling me to check the link / or the content may have been moved.    Could be that my browser is the issue.   Does anyone had a working link they can post here, or a  copy of the text of the letter in their cache?

[Oliver]

Try this link:
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%2520documents/network%2520code/network%2520change/completed%2520proposals/western/ncg12016west594%2520pilning/a%2520ncg12016west594%2520notification.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwi7kMuboLTNAhUMJsAKHdcpBaIQFggdMAE&usg=AFQjCNHU0cOXPIOcKff1Kns9ItgoOWCsPQ&sig2=Wbjv2TGSkLpF83-stSVHKw

[grahame]

Try this link:
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%2520documents/network%2520code/network%2520change/completed%2520proposals/western/ncg12016west594%2520pilning/a%2520ncg12016west594%2520notification.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwi7kMuboLTNAhUMJsAKHdcpBaIQFggdMAE&usg=AFQjCNHU0cOXPIOcKff1Kns9ItgoOWCsPQ&sig2=Wbjv2TGSkLpF83-stSVHKw

Good heavens ... now try http://atrebatia.info/pilning_down_closure.pdf where I have put a mirror.

Looks like it's a consultation letter just to the train operators .... which is a pretty slim "consultation" to me for what looks like it may be the reduction of a viable station to one that's not viable.   The URL above / mirrored doesn't include the scheme details, nor the distribution list, so I don't know whether down trains can cross over and stop at the up platform, or who's been asked.  I took the liberty of checking with TravelWatch SouthWest and even they didn't receive an invite to comment.

I am not expressing a view on the scheme in this post ... just a view on what may appear to be effective closure without public consultation.

[ellendune]

Good heavens ... now try http://atrebatia.info/pilning_down_closure.pdf where I have put a mirror.

Looks like it's a consultation letter just to the train operators .... which is a pretty slim "consultation" to me for what looks like it may be the reduction of a viable station to one that's not viable.   The URL above / mirrored doesn't include the scheme details, nor the distribution list, so I don't know whether down trains can cross over and stop at the up platform, or who's been asked.  I took the liberty of checking with TravelWatch SouthWest and even they didn't receive an invite to comment.

I am not expressing a view on the scheme in this post ... just a view on what may appear to be effective closure without public consultation.

Is this in Charlotte Leslie's constituency? Or do you live in her constituency. Even if not writing to the local MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) using the term "effective closure" might be a useful approach.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Pilning is not in Charlotte Leslie's Bristol North West constituency: it's in Jack Lopresti's Filton and Bradley Stoke constituency.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I shall also check with my contacts at the Severnside Community Rail Partnership as to whether they have been informed of this proposal, and whether they are involved in the 'consultation'.

[grahame]

Another long and interesting URL documenting other notices under the same consultation scheme:

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browseDirectory.aspx?root=&dir=%5cnetwork%20code%5cNetwork%20Change%5cCompleted%20Proposals%5cWestern

For 2016, as well as Pilning there are notices for Dr Day's Bridge Junction to Filton Abbey Wood, and for the Heathfield branch.

The link above leads you to responses as well as the original consultation.  For ease of access / shorter URLs, there are copies at http://atrebatia.info/pilning_docs

[grahame]

Information suggests platform closes "from 17th September".   Does that mean last service Pilning to Cardiff is 10th September?

[Bmblbzzz]

Is the platform also due for physical removal at some future date?

[Adelante_CCT]

Does that mean last service Pilning to Cardiff is 10th September?

Severn Tunnel closes on the 12th, so nothing would be stopping anyway from that date.

Still gets 2 buses to/from BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) each week: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/PIL/2016/09/17/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

[grahame]

Does that mean last service Pilning to Cardiff is 10th September?

Severn Tunnel closes on the 12th, so nothing would be stopping anyway from that date.

Still gets 2 buses to/from BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) each week: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/PIL/2016/09/17/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

OK - will 'Calendar' 10th.  I probably won't go;  been to two railway "lasts" in the past.  One was sad.  And on the other I saw just about the angriest passengers I've err seen on a train.

[John R]

I was on the last service on the Epping Ongar branch, some 22 years ago.  Rather a lot of detonators if I remember...