Through trains: London to Bristol, Weston and beyond (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[devon_metro]

Oh? 

Most of my trains are on time and I have only ever been cancelled on once!

[swlines]

That's because 'fluke' and 'luck' are in the dictionary!!

[devon_metro]

Trust you to come up with an answer like that 

[smokey]

That's because 'fluke' and 'luck' are in the dictionary!!

I WAS THINKING MORE ON THE LINE OF "THE DEVIL LOOKS AFTER HIS OWN"

[John R]

I notice that the line between Bristol and Taunton is closed at weekends for a good two months next Spring. Is this just the routine renewals which usually necessitates a few closures, or something more significant (dualling Worle Jn, he hopes, in vain?)

Also, I notice that the first down ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) to Weston is now a booked stopping service. Not sure how many will be catching the 0559 Nailsea to Weston, and I'm sure those near to the station will enjoy the even earlier wake up call. (At least the Valentas are gone.)

[ReWind]

Does this mean the return working from Weston up to London will now be of a different departure time from Weston?

[John R]

Welcome to the Forum BristolBlogger, and no, I believe it's broadly unchanched.

[TheLastMinute]

I've just been looking though the Rules of the Route on Network Rail's website & it looks to my layman eyes that all the planned work is purely routine maintenance e.g. bridge inspections, sleeper replacement etc.

There's no sign yet (that I can see) of any procession for the proposed doubling of the line between Worle Jnc and Milton but the West of England Partnership seem to expect it to happen sometime in 2009 as seen on their website.

TLM

[John R]

The MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) for Weston was told in early 2007 by NR^» (Network Rail - home page) that Phase 1 was due to be completed in 2008. This appears to be another example of schemes creeping forward at a snail's pace. 

http://www.epolitix.com/mpwebsites/mppressreleases/mppressreleasedetails/newsarticle/network-rail-confirm-doubling-the-track///mpsite/john-penrose/?no_cache=1

[ReWind]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff seem to know nothing of any Redoubling plans between Worle Jnc. & Milton.  I would love a clear "Is it or Isn't it" going to happen answer on this subject!

[Ollie]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff seem to know nothing of any Redoubling plans between Worle Jnc. & Milton.  I would love a clear "Is it or Isn't it" going to happen answer on this subject!

I'm not to familiar with this area, but is this the bit where it branches off to Weston Super Mare?
As at a public meeting I attended I recall this being discussed.
Chris (Moderator) was at the same meeting so maybe he recalls the details?

[John R]

Indeed it is Ollie, and in the peaks it literally runs to capacity, with any perturbation to service causing knock on delays. The first phase was to dual the junction and add 1 mile of double track to just short of Milton, with a further phase to dual into Weston and then reinstate the bay platform.


 

[ReWind]

Maybe I'm wrong, but isn't the Single line from Worle Jnc to Weston busier than the double tracked Avoiding line?

I believe only a hourly XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service in each direction and a rare FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) use this line.

Surely if this is line is doubled, the line from Worle Jnc to Weston and even back out to Uphill Jnc should be doubled?

[John R]

Absolutely, but you have to go back nearly 37 years to Jan 1972 when the line was singled. There were not so many trains serving Weston then, particularly in the peak. But like so many infrastructure cuts at that time, it needs reversing now.

[ReWind]

Surely since 1972 the track has been relaid though!  Would the Worle Jnc to Weston line be easy to double up though, as there isn't much land to work with, housing estates very near the track etc.

As for the bay platform at Weston, which is currently being used by a Network Rail Sandite Machine, surely this could be converted into a Platform for Passenger use within hours, easing pressure on the 2 through lines!