Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Mark A]

It's illuminating to compare Portishead's forthcoming provision with Scotland's newish terminus at Leven, opened 2024 with two platforms of 205 metres in length.

Mark

[IndustryInsider]

I never understand the obsession with making it suitable for 5car trains, not 6car.   Especially as the rumours are that Project Churchward (or whatever the class 158, 165, 166 diesel unit replacement is now called) is likely to be 3car suburban units and 5car regional units.   The last I heard was going to be no 2car units.

So if the suburban trains are going to be 3car, or multiples (6, 9 etc) why make the platforms 5car.   

My understanding is that stations like Parson Street & Bedminster were rebuilt in 1930s with platforms over 200m long (although part is now not used) so why have some platforms only about 125m long, not nearer 145m

Totally agree with this if it restricts 6-car operation in the future.

However, new units are very likely to have SDO^▸ (Selective Door Operation) fitted and so therefore as long as six cars can be operated in the future using that I’m not so concerned.

It would also be very useful to have passive provision for extension to six (or even nine) carriages built into the design of Pill and Portishead.

In both cases that does mean making sure platform furniture and starting signals are positioned in a way that doesn’t affect those things from happening.

I can’t imagine Portishead will have a starting signal and the only signals on the branch will be those protecting the route back onto the main line.

[chuffed]

A very good meeting was held yesterday for the over 65s in Portishead at the Youth centre, where we all had to show our bus passes to be admitted...It  was given by the Secretary of PRAG Peter Maliphant giving us the background past, present and future journey of the railway. It was excellent and two interesting points were made in discussion...1) Had a wind assessment been done, given the proposed modular design ( very similar to Ebbw Vale) and the location, given the removal of almost all shelter in the form of trees and bushes ...and 2) was there a case for a Friends of Portishead station to be set up now between PRAG, the Town Council and other interested parties to enhance/embellish the very basic stripped down station building and facilities eg a pop up coffee trike or similar.
A reminder that Network Rail and North Somerset Council are presenting drop in sessions at Somerset hall, Portishead and Pill Community Centre respectively on March 26th and March 31st 3.30 to 7.30 pm