Rhubarb Curve, or Loop, Bristol - merged topics, ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[SandTEngineer]

....and just out of interest here is what it looked like in the mid-1960s (all six tracks of it) looking South at Dr.Days Bridge Junction:

[Image from here is not available to guests]

[TonyK]

My partner, who works in Filton, uses this service on those rare occasions when she can finish work early. It is definitely popular, and I suspect a similar service (or preferably services) running an hour later would be even more so. Large numbers commute from the Bath stations to the Filton area, not just to MoD but to numerous other local employers, or are college students at the college there (where my partner works). No doubt there is also some commuting in the opposite direction into Bath, Keynsham or Trowbridge. At present they have to commute standing up in overcrowded trains that sit around Temple Meads for a long time (especially as they often seem to get delayed while waiting there), whereas a Rhubarb route train would shorten their journey time considerably and probably give a more pleasant journey as well.

I think that is a jolly good idea. It would make things easier at Temple Meads too. If a way could be found, it would be, as you say, very popular.

[Bmblbzzz]

I mentioned my mis-training on another (non-rail) forum and you'd be amazed – or perhaps you wouldn't – how many people said they'd done similar, including someone from Suffolk who jumped on a 13-coach London-bound train instead of the 2-coach local branch-line train to get the two stops from Ipswich to Woodbridge! "Best" though were the people who'd managed to board the wrong plane. 

[metalrail]

In bygone days, days of which I can remember, most, if not all, services between Cardiff and the South Coast via Salisbury / Southampton used the Rhubarb Curve as Stapleton Road was the Junction for South Wales.

This was when Stapleton Road became pretty much the 2nd busiest station in Bristol as it was a main interchange station, not just for passengers on the Severn Beach line but also to split trains travelling south onwards to either Bath or further to the SW via Temple Meads

This was mainly due to the fact that in the days of steam a reversal at BRI^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads station (that is the formal station code - see also BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads station (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative))), or Bristol Royal Infirmary (hospital), depending on context) would obviously take considerable time.  So passengers for Bath and onwards would change at SRD to go around the Rhubarb, and also for BRI for journeys to the SW

Obviously once reversals became a lot more common / easier with the introduction of DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)'s this negated much less lengthy layovers at BRI

[TonyK]

I mentioned my mis-training on another (non-rail) forum and you'd be amazed – or perhaps you wouldn't – how many people said they'd done similar, including someone from Suffolk who jumped on a 13-coach London-bound train instead of the 2-coach local branch-line train to get the two stops from Ipswich to Woodbridge! "Best" though were the people who'd managed to board the wrong plane. 

A pal of mine who lives near Parkway and travelled to work by train once jumped on the only train of the day from BRI^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads station (that is the formal station code - see also BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads station (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative))), or Bristol Royal Infirmary (hospital), depending on context)  nonstop to Birmingham, leading to a shrivelled dinner. My favourite, poor chap, was on a train from Birmingham to Bristol on a day when the cock-up fairy had been extra busy at New Street. No signals, no PIDs, staff issuing contradictory advice, the lot. Eventually, I found the train myself, a long way from its booked platform, and checked with the TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context). As we eventually pulled out, an elderly gentleman of oriental appearance asked him "What time do we get to Telford?" About midnight, you, I thought.

[Bmblbzzz]

Rhubarb in the media!
https://www.bristol247.com/food-and-drink/pubs-and-bars/pub-of-the-week-the-rhubarb-tavern/

[grahame]

07:04 Bath Spa to Filton Abbey Wood due 07:33

07:04 Bath Spa to Filton Abbey Wood due 07:33 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:12/06/2024 04:04

That's the "Rhubarb Loop" train ... the only passenger service scheduled over that line these days?   I get the feeling of a service that's run pre-peak to get a service provision requirement out of the way before the trains are at their busiest, rather than a service to meet passenger requirements.  Do I have that right, or is there a strong flow to Filton Abbey Wood for early work starts there or connection onward to South Wales?

[Mark A]

Someone who worked for the MOD in Bath and was transferred to Abbey Wood and then used the train for travel would be well placed to answer this. I seem to recall that the service was tweaked to ease the journey, and some ran direct, and a few avoided Temple Meads.

Mark

[Sulis John]

It is reasonably well used - though unsurprisingly not as busy as trains either side of it going into Temple Meads. Operationally speaking it is one of two trains which arrive at Bath ecs from the Bristol direction to head back there within the space of about 10 minutes so it’s hardly “out of the way”.

[grahame]

Next Monday - rare opportunity to travel the Rhubarb loop after dark

Minor change to 23:08 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads service

Due to engineering work, the 23:08 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads service will change direction of travel between Lawrence Hill and Bristol Temple Meads, and arrive at Bristol Temple Meads approximately 7 minutes later than normal.