| Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
Gateway To The Future - 2569/5679 Written by Lee on Saturday, 16th June 2007 Regular visitors to this site will be aware that some of us have been involved in working up proposals for the kind of service that we would like to see in the future. Our proposals call for the creation of a Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Authority and for the following to be delivered : LINE UPGRADES - Upgrade of the Henbury and Portishead lines to passenger standard , along with the Pilning goods loop. This upgrade would include the provision of two short double - track sections on the Portishead line , in the Ashton Gate & Pill areas , as proposed by Andrew Griffiths of First Great Western. This would allow 2 freight and 4 passenger trains to run on the line per hour. - Yate - Weston - super - Mare capacity enhancement (link below.) http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=465.msg1507#msg1507 - Proposed new platforms at the current Bristol Parkway station to be built. Also , our proposed Melksham line timetable (see posts below) has been designed to allow 1 freight and 2 passenger trains to run on the single - track per hour. STATIONS New stations at the following locations : Ashley Hill Ashton Gate Charfield & Wotton Corsham Cullompton Ham Green Henbury Horfield Pill Portbury Portishead Stonehouse London Road "Gateway" upgrades at the following key existing station locations : Bristol Parkway (to be renamed Bristol Gateway) Melksham (to be renamed Melksham & West Wiltshire Gateway) Pilning (to be renamed Pilning & Severn Gateway) Severn Tunnel Junction (to be renamed South Wales Gateway) Shirehampton (to be relocated next to the Portway Park & Ride site and renamed Shirehampton & Port Gateway) Worle (to be renamed Worle & Somerset Gateway) The "Gateway" concept has been designed to create the best possible "experience" for both existing and potential rail users. "Gateway" station upgrades would include (but not be restricted to) enhanced bus / rail interchange , extended car / cycle parking and vastly improved passenger waiting facilities. Also , research suggests that there is an enormous "pool" of potential rail users who could be converted into train passengers along the Bristol - Gloucester corridor. We propose that this line be designated as a "Gateway Route" with the stations along it (some of them "new - build") receiving facilities similiar to those mentioned above. The choice of initial "Gateway" station upgrades has been made based on the existance of detailed proposals by the following : Bristol Parkway , Pilning and Worle - Joe Patrick (Friends Of Suburban Bristol Railways) Melksham - Graham Ellis (Melksham Rail Development Group / Save The Train) Severn Tunnel Junction (Severn Tunnel Action Group) Shirehampton - Andrew Griffiths & Keith Walton (First Great Western / Severnside Community Rail Partnership) However , the "Gateway" concept is envisaged as being a rolling programme , with further station upgrades and route designations taking place in partnership with stakeholders. In particular , early extensions of the "Gateway" station upgrade concept are likely to be considered at Ashton Gate and Keynsham , subject to detailed proposals being drawn up. Re: Gateway To The Future - 2569/5680 Written by Lee on Saturday, 16th June 2007 Our last round of timetabling produced the following (links below.) http://www.shinewithstyle.co.uk/literature/melksham%20new%202007%20timetable%20proposals.pdf http://www.shinewithstyle.co.uk/literature/Suggested%20Portsmouth%20-%20Rhoose%20timetable.pdf http://www.shinewithstyle.co.uk/literature/Suggested%20Weymouth%20-%20Severn%20Beach%20timetable.pdf http://www.shinewithstyle.co.uk/literature/Draft%20Greater%20Bristol%20Metro%20Proposals.pdf We wanted our proposals to be both feasible and to have as much public support as possible. Many people read and commented on the timetables , and also provided us with their own aspirations for the future. As a result , we have updated our timetable proposals as follows (timings are minutes past each hour) : WEST - EAST / NORTH - SOUTH THROUGH BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS FGW - Weston - super - Mare xx22 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx27 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx45 depart xx00 - Bath Spa arrive xx11 depart xx12 - Chippenham xx25 - Swindon arrive xx40 depart xx41 - Didcot Parkway xx55 - Reading xx14 - London Paddington xx45. CCF - (the Midlands / North) - Birmingham New Street xx08 - University xx14 - Bromsgrove xx29 - Ashchurch for Tewkesbury xx47 - Cheltenham Spa xx56 - Gloucester arrive xx06 depart xx13 - Bristol Gateway xx45 - Filton Abbey Wood xx48 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx00 depart xx05 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx22 - Taunton xx40 - Tiverton Parkway xx52 - Exeter St Davids xx06 - (the West Country.) STA - Bristol Gateway xx48 - Filton Abbey Wood xx51 - Horfield xx54 - Ashley Hill xx58 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx01 - Lawrence Hill xx03 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx05 depart xx10 - Bedminster xx13 - Parson Street xx15 - Nailsea & Backwell xx23 - Yatton xx29 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx35 - Weston Milton xx40 - Weston - super - Mare xx43 - Highbridge & Burnham xx53 - Bridgwater xx00 - Taunton xx12. FGW - Cardiff Central xx15 - Newport xx29 - South Wales Gateway xx39 - Pilning & Severn Gateway xx51 - Patchway xx56 - Filton Abbey Wood xx03 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx10 depart xx15 - Bath Spa xx28 - Bradford - on - Avon xx41 - Trowbridge xx47 - Westbury arrive xx54 depart xx59 - Warminster xx06 - Salisbury arrive xx29 depart xx30 - Romsey xx49 - Southampton Central arrive xx01 depart xx02 - Fareham xx24 - Cosham xx32 - Fratton xx41 - Portsmouth & Southsea xx45 - Portsmouth Harbour xx49. STA - Gloucester xx23 - Stonehouse London Road xx33 - Cam & Dursley xx38 - Charfield & Wotton xx45 - Yate xx53 - Bristol Gateway xx03 - Filton Abbey Wood xx06 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx11 - Lawrence Hill xx13 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx15 depart xx20 - Keynsham xx27 - Oldfield Park xx34 - Bath Spa xx37 - Freshford xx47 - Avoncliff xx50 - Bradford - on - Avon xx53 - Trowbridge xx59 - Westbury xx06 - Dilton Marsh xx09 - Warminster xx15 - Salisbury xx38. FGW - London Paddington xx30 - Reading xx56 - Didcot Parkway xx11 - Swindon xx30 - Chippenham xx45 - Bath Spa xx01 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx15 depart xx20 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx38 - Highbridge & Burnham xx48 - Bridgwater xx55 - Taunton xx07 - Cullompton xx23 - Exeter St Davids xx33. STA - Bristol Gateway xx35 - Henbury xx43 - St Andrews Road xx51 - Avonmouth arrive xx54 depart xx55 - Shirehampton & Port Gateway xx58 - Sea Mills xx02 - Clifton Down xx08 - Redland xx10 - Montpelier xx12 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx16 - Lawrence Hill xx18 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx20 depart xx25 - Bedminster xx28 - Parson Street xx30 - Ashton Gate xx32 - Ham Green xx38 - Pill xx40 - Portbury xx42 - Portishead xx46. FGW - Exeter St Davids xx10 - Cullompton xx20 - Taunton xx38 - Bridgwater xx50 - Highbridge & Burnham xx57 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx07 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx25 depart xx30 - Bath Spa arrive xx41 depart xx42 - Chippenham xx55 - Swindon arrive xx10 depart xx11 - Didcot Parkway xx25 - Reading xx44 - London Paddington xx15. CCF - (the Midlands / North) - Birmingham New Street xx38 - University xx44 - Bromsgrove xx59 - Ashchurch for Tewkesbury xx17 - Cheltenham Spa xx26 - Gloucester arrive xx36 depart xx43 - Bristol Gateway xx15 - Filton Abbey Wood xx18 - Bristol Temple Meads xx30. STA - Bristol Gateway xx18 - Filton Abbey Wood xx21 - Horfield xx24 - Ashley Hill xx28 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx31 - Lawrence Hill xx33 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx35 depart xx40 - Bedminster xx43 - Parson Street xx45 - Nailsea & Backwell xx53 - Yatton xx59 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx05 - Weston Milton xx10 - Weston - super - Mare xx13. EWR - Portsmouth Harbour xx52 - Portsmouth & Southsea xx57 - Fratton xx01 - Cosham xx09 - Fareham xx17 - Southampton Central arrive xx38 depart xx40 - Romsey xx51 - Salisbury arrive xx10 depart xx11 - Warminster xx31 - Westbury arrive xx37 depart xx40 - Trowbridge xx46 - Melksham & West Wiltshire Gateway xx55 - Chippenham xx06 then attaching to : EWR - Cardiff Central xx45 - Newport xx59 - South Wales Gateway xx09 - Pilning & Severn Gateway xx21 - Patchway xx26 - Filton Abbey Wood xx33 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx40 depart xx45 - Bath Spa xx58 - Corsham xx04 - Chippenham xx11. Combined train continues to Swindon arrive xx30 depart xx31 - Didcot Parkway arrive xx53 depart xx56 - Oxford arrive xx09 depart xx11 - Islip xx24 - Bicester Town xx37 - (East West Rail destinations.) FGW - London Paddington xx00 - Reading xx26 - Didcot Parkway xx41 - Swindon xx00 - Chippenham xx15 - Bath Spa xx31 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx45 depart xx50 - Worle & Somerset Gateway arrive xx08 depart xx12 - Weston - super - Mare xx17. FGW - Gloucester xx53 - Stonehouse London Road xx03 - Cam & Dursley xx08 - Charfield & Wotton xx15 - Yate xx23 - Bristol Gateway xx33 - Filton Abbey Wood xx36 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx41 - Lawrence Hill xx43 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx45 depart xx50 - Keynsham xx57 - Oldfield Park xx04 - Bath Spa xx07 - Freshford xx17 - Avoncliff xx20 - Bradford - on - Avon xx23 - Trowbridge xx29 - Westbury xx36 - Frome xx47 - Bruton xx57 - Castle Cary xx02 - Yeovil Pen Mill xx14 - Thornford xx18 - Yetminster xx21 - Chetnole xx25 - Maiden Newton xx34 - Dorchester West xx44 - Upwey xx51 - Weymouth xx57. STA - Bristol Gateway xx05 - Henbury xx13 - St Andrews Road xx21 - Avonmouth arrive xx24 depart xx25 - Shirehampton & Port Gateway xx28 - Sea Mills xx32 - Clifton Down xx38 - Redland xx40 - Montpelier xx42 - Easton & Stapleton Road xx46 - Lawrence Hill xx48 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx50 depart xx55 - Bedminster xx58 - Parson Street xx00 - Ashton Gate xx02 - Ham Green xx08 - Pill xx10 - Portbury xx12 - Portishead xx16. EAST - WEST / SOUTH - NORTH THROUGH BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS FGW - Weston - super - Mare xx22 - Worle & Somerset Gateway xx27 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx45 depart xx00 - Bath Spa arrive xx11 depart xx12 - Chippenham xx25 - Swindon arrive xx40 depart xx41 - Didcot Parkway xx55 - Reading xx14 - London Paddington xx45. CCF - (the West Country) - Re: Gateway To The Future - 2569/5681 Written by Lee on Saturday, 16th June 2007 One of the key aims of the Transport 2000 campaign "Growing The Railway In the South West" is to transform Bristol Temple Meads into a regional hub. Our timetable proposals would turn this vision into reality by providing easy to remember "clock - face" departures from Bristol Temple Meads as detailed below (timings are minutes past each hour) : 00 - Bath Spa - Chippenham - Swindon - Didcot Parkway - Reading - London Paddington. 00 - Filton Abbey Wood - Bristol Gateway - Gloucester - Cheltenham Spa - Midlands / North. 05 - Worle & Somerset Gateway - Taunton - Tiverton Parkway - Exeter St Davids - West Country. 05 - Filton Abbey Wood - Patchway - Pilning & Severn Gateway - South Wales Gateway - Newport - Cardiff Central. 10 - Bedminster - Parson Street - Nailsea & Backwell - Yatton - Worle & Somerset Gateway - Weston Milton - Weston - super - Mare - Highbridge & Burnham - Bridgwater - Taunton. 10 - Lawrence Hill - Easton & Stapleton Road - Ashley Hill - Horfield - Filton Abbey Wood - Bristol Gateway. 15 - Bath Spa - Bradford - on - Avon - Trowbridge - Westbury - Warminster - Salisbury - Romsey - Southampton Central - Fareham - Cosham - Fratton - Portsmouth & Southsea - Portsmouth Harbour. 15 - Lawrence Hill - Easton & Stapleton Road - Filton Abbey Wood - Bristol Gateway - Yate - Charfield & Wotton - Cam & Dursley - Stonehouse London Road - Gloucester. 20 - Keynsham - Oldfield Park - Bath Spa - Freshford - Avoncliff - Bradford - on - Avon - Trowbridge - Westbury - Dilton Marsh - Warminster - Salisbury. 20 - Worle & Somerset Gateway - Highbridge & Burnham - Bridgwater - Taunton - Cullompton - Exeter St Davids. 25 - Bedminster - Parson Street - Ashton Gate - Ham Green - Pill - Portbury - Portishead. 25 - Lawrence Hill - Easton & Stapleton Road - Montpelier - Redland - Clifton Down - Sea Mills - Shirehampton & Port Gateway - Avonmouth - St Andrews Road - Henbury - Bristol Gateway. 30 - Bath Spa - Chippenham - Swindon - Didcot Parkway - Reading - London Paddington. 30 - Filton Abbey Wood - Bristol Gateway - Gloucester - Cheltenham Spa - Midlands / North. 35 - Filton Abbey Wood - Patchway - Pilning & Severn Gateway - South Wales Gateway - Newport - Cardiff Central. 40 - Bedminster - Parson Street - Nailsea & Backwell - Yatton - Worle & Somerset Gateway - Weston Milton - Weston - super - Mare. 40 - Lawrence Hill - Easton & Stapleton Road - Ashley Hill - Horfield - Filton Abbey Wood - Bristol Gateway. 45 - Bath Spa - Corsham - Chippenham - Swindon - Didcot Parkway - Oxford - Islip - Bicester Town - East West Rail destinations. 45 - Lawrence Hill - Easton & Stapleton Road - Filton Abbey Wood - Bristol Gateway - Yate - Charfield & Wotton - Cam & Dursley - Stonehouse London Road - Gloucester. 50 - Worle & Somerset Gateway - Weston - super - Mare. 50 - Keynsham - Oldfield Park - Bath Spa - Freshford - Avoncliff - Bradford - on - Avon - Trowbridge - Westbury - Frome - Bruton - Castle Cary - Yeovil Pen Mill - Thornford - Yetminster - Chetnole - Maiden Newton - Dorchester West - Upwey - Weymouth. 55 - Bedminster - Parson Street - Ashton Gate - Ham Green - Pill - Portbury - Portishead. 55 - Lawrence Hill - Easton & Stapleton Road - Montpelier - Redland - Clifton Down - Sea Mills - Shirehampton & Port Gateway - Avonmouth - St Andrews Road - Henbury - Bristol Gateway. Re: Gateway To The Future - 2569/5682 Written by Lee on Saturday, 16th June 2007 PROPOSED GREATER BRISTOL SUBURBAN FREQUENCY GUIDE (tph = trains per hour in each direction.) Ashley Hill 2 tph Ashton Gate 2 tph Avoncliff 2 tph Avonmouth 4 tph Bath Spa 6 tph Bedminster 4 tph Bradford - on - Avon 3 tph Cam & Dursley 2 tph Charfield & Wotton 2 tph Clifton Down 2 tph Easton & Stapleton Road 6 tph Filton Abbey Wood 8 tph Freshford 2 tph Ham Green 2 tph Henbury 2 tph Horfield 2 tph Keynsham 2 tph Lawrence Hill 6 tph Montpelier 2 tph Nailsea & Backwell 2 tph Oldfield Park 2 tph Patchway 2 tph Parson Street 4 tph Pill 2 tph Pilning & Severn Gateway 2 tph Portbury 2 tph Portishead 2 tph Redland 2 tph Sea Mills 2 tph Severn Beach 2 tph Shirehampton & Port Gateway 2 tph South Wales Gateway 4 tph St Andrews Road 4 tph Stonehouse London Road 2 tph Trowbridge 4 tph Weston Milton 2 tph Weston - super - Mare 3 tph Worle & Somerset Gateway 5 tph Yate 2 tph Yatton 2 tph We would very much appreciate your views on these proposals. Suggestions would be particularly welcome regarding the following : - Better train pathing of the proposed services into , and out of , Gloucester station. - The extension of one of the proposed Bristol Gateway - WSM services to Taunton , without creating overly long turnaround times. (Note - some edits have been made as a "tidying - up exercise." None of the actual proposals were altered as a result.) Re: Gateway To The Future - 2569/5707 Written by streety7 on Sunday, 17th June 2007 I am astounded by the level of good work that you do Lee, these proposals just get better and better. I am for the 'hub' plan you have. One question - why 'Gateway'? Is there any stations in Britain currently with the name Gateway? I'm probably missing an obvious one here or I haven't read it properly... I will soon have these typed in PDF's for easier reading as per request, in different tables if need be - I'll get round to that when I do them. Sorry I haven't been around much lately either, but you should start seeing me a bit more often now! Re: Gateway To The Future - 2569/5714 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Monday, 18th June 2007 [quote author=Chris Street link=topic=2569.msg5707#msg5707 date=1182114875] Is there any stations in Britain currently with the name Gateway? [/quote] "Tower Gateway" is the only one that springs to my mind (and I'm pretty sad in terms of knowing my station trivia!). But Lee is very much looking forward and - yes - such new approaches are very much a part of that ;) Lee - there are some really good / exciting proposals and suggestions in there. Not only sorting out Bristol issues but also sorting other horrors such as Oxford from the West, and then cross country. Personally, plans such as these (and local bus links in to our gateway) would encourage me onto puboic transport far more - and I'm not alone in this. Better budget for increased platform lengths and longer trains! Re: Gateway To The Future - 2569/5728 Written by Lee on Monday, 18th June 2007 [quote author=Chris Street link=topic=2569.msg5707#msg5707 date=1182114875]One question - why 'Gateway'? Is there any stations in Britain currently with the name Gateway? I'm probably missing an obvious one here or I haven't read it properly... I will soon have these typed in PDF's for easier reading as per request, in different tables if need be - I'll get round to that when I do them.[/quote] Thanks Chris. The proposals are entitled "Gateway" because they envisage such stations as being "Gateways" to the rail network. Whether the passenger arrives at a "Gateway" station by bus , car or walks / cycles , the idea is to make access to the rail network as easy and as pleasant an experience as possible for existing & potential rail users alike. [quote author=Graham Ellis link=topic=2569.msg5714#msg5714 date=1182149505]Personally, plans such as these (and local bus links in to our gateway) would encourage me onto puboic transport far more - and I'm not alone in this.[/quote] Regarding bus links routed into Melksham & West Wiltshire Gateway , the obvious choices would be the 234 / X34 Frome - Chippenham & the 272 / X71 / X72 Devizes - Bath services. We would also want to see the 14 Melksham Town Service extended northwards from Sainsburys , via the station , and continuing to Portman Road , Avon Road , Addison Road & Dunch Lane , along the route of the existing 72 service. By the way , this topic has also been posted on the First Great Western Coffee Shop Forum (link below.) http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=357.msg1034#msg1034 Re: Gateway To The Future - 2569/5736 Written by courgettelawn on Monday, 18th June 2007 Wonderful ideas all round. I envisage that Salisbury could be a better functioning gateway to link south west and south east than it currently is. I have often wondered why Salisbury does not serve cross-country services via Basingstoke. Re: Gateway To The Future - 2569/5841 Written by Graz on Saturday, 23rd June 2007 Wow Lee, what an overhaul! But in a definite good way. Big change is sometimes bad, like the recent FGW timetable but this is great. The Gateway idea is nice. I like Bristol gateway the best, but the rest perhaps make some of the station names a little long. it's a good concept though as it makes people realise that there are many alternative travel options availible to/from the station, and it does feel very refreshing. I do feel there should be a couple of fast services to Weston-super-Mare, as now. I think there should be a few fast services that do not call at Weston Milton, Bedminster and Parson St, perhaps to Paddington, especially for the summer. Nothing but local services in the peak summer period I feel would be inadequate - I've been on a crowded HST to W-S-M, just imagine how bad 2-car trains would get! Not also forgetting the special events that run from the town in the summer. This may just be me but I wouldn't like to have to catch a bus from Worle into the town.... Your idea for the Bristol Gateway - Taunton service would provide adequate services from W-S-M to Taunton though, and I do recommend this. 2tph at Bridgwater is a plus, too. I'd propose a 1 tp 2 h fast service calling at Bristol Temple Meads, Worle & Somerset Gateway, and Weston-super-Mare from Paddington, or perhaps the CCF service. New stations- a definite yes. How viable would a station be at Wootton Bassett be? Good to see more trains at Pilning, too. It's such a shame to see a station run to the ground by FGW as now. No direct trains from Cheltenham Spa to Cam and Dursley, (Stonehouse London Road, Charfield & Wooton) and Yate is perhaps an issue as people travel to/from these stations directly. Perhaps make the Gloucester - Salisbury trains originate from Cheltenham Spa? I agree with CCF services calling at Gloucester. This would have an added bonus of reducing delay times. Both Cheltenham and Gloucester are by far large enough for these trains. However all CCF services calling at Filton Abbey Wood....? I don't really feel this is needed except at peak, as CCF services should be fast. What happened to your Bristol - Yeovil Pen Mill- Yeovil Junction service idea, Lee? It seems like a wasted oppertunity at present: Salisbury - Exeter local services frequently from Yeovil Junction, but Yeovil Pen Mill is more central and would provide northbound/southbound connections from all the local stations along this route. Perhaps another service to Frome/Yeovil? Although maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part again! :D I find the idea of a Portsmouth Harbour & Bristol Temple Meads - Oxford service very interesting....intriguing, even! However....perhaps it may be a better idea to attach/detatch at Swindon due to platform availibility issues? Re: Gateway To The Future - 2569/5875 Written by Lee on Monday, 25th June 2007 Thanks for that , Graz. Below are my views on the points you raised : [quote author=Graz link=topic=2569.msg5841#msg5841 date=1182624070]The Gateway idea is nice. I like Bristol gateway the best, but the rest perhaps make some of the station names a little long. it's a good concept though as it makes people realise that there are many alternative travel options availible to/from the station, and it does feel very refreshing.[/quote] A matter of perception , and I take your point regarding length of names. We felt that we needed to create "spheres of influence" regarding our "Gateway" stations , the aim being to target those currently not using the trains as well as existing passengers. [quote author=Graz link=topic=2569.msg5841#msg5841 date=1182624070]I'd propose a 1 tp 2 h fast service calling at Bristol Temple Meads, Worle & Somerset Gateway, and Weston-super-Mare from Paddington, or perhaps the CCF service.[/quote] Looked at it , having trouble pathing it. Do you (or does anybody else) have a timing proposal? [quote author=Graz link=topic=2569.msg5841#msg5841 date=1182624070]New stations- a definite yes. How viable would a station be at Wootton Bassett be?[/quote] I have a feeling that my "keys to Wooton Bassett" are about to be withdrawn.... Have a look at the link below. http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=381.msg1119#msg1119 We had to make some difficult choices with our proposed Cardiff - Bristol - Oxford - East / West Rail service , among them being how many stops to include , how much these would slow down the services , and crucially , whether we could keep to the path identified by Jacobs for this service. We felt that we could just about fit in a stop at Corsham , where feedback suggested that a new station was essential , and our reasons for including a stop at Didcot are detailed in the link above. Unfortunately , without "upsetting the balance" , we felt that including a stop at Wooton Bassett was impractical this time round , and we noted that support for a new station there (as well as practical moves towards opening one) was not yet at the same level as can be found for Corsham....... Personally , I remain a strong supporter of a new Wooton Bassett station , but we need someone to come up with a viable way of including one in these proposals. [quote author=Graz link=topic=2569.msg5841#msg5841 date=1182624070]No direct trains from Cheltenham Spa to Cam and Dursley, (Stonehouse London Road, Charfield & Wooton) and Yate is perhaps an issue as people travel to/from these stations directly. Perhaps make the Gloucester - Salisbury trains originate from Cheltenham Spa?[/quote] We want to do this , which is one of the reasons why the quote below forms part of our proposals : [quote author=Lee link=topic=2569.msg5682#msg5682 date=1181995386]We would very much appreciate your views on these proposals. Suggestions would be particularly welcome regarding the following : - Better train pathing of the proposed services into , and out of , Gloucester station.[/quote] [quote author=Graz link=topic=2569.msg5841#msg5841 date=1182624070]I agree with CCF services calling at Gloucester. This would have an added bonus of reducing delay times. Both Cheltenham and Gloucester are by far large enough for these trains. However all CCF services calling at Filton Abbey Wood....? I don't really feel this is needed except at peak, as CCF services should be fast.[/quote] With part of the intention being to provide a "metro" style service for Bristol , we felt that Filton Abbey Wood was ideally situated to become a key "interchange" station. One of the factors we took into account was the infrastructure upgrades that have taken place at the station in recent years (link below.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filton_Abbey_Wood_railway_station [quote author=Graz link=topic=2569.msg5841#msg5841 date=1182624070]What happened to your Bristol - Yeovil Pen Mill- Yeovil Junction service idea, Lee? It seems like a wasted oppertunity at present: Salisbury - Exeter local services frequently from Yeovil Junction, but Yeovil Pen Mill is more central and would provide northbound/southbound connections from all the local stations along this route. Perhaps another service to Frome/Yeovil? Although maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part again! :D[/quote] Looked at it , having trouble pathing it. Do you (or does anybody else) have a timing proposal? [quote author=Graz link=topic=2569.msg5841#msg5841 date=1182624070]I find the idea of a Portsmouth Harbour & Bristol Temple Meads - Oxford service very interesting....intriguing, even! However....perhaps it may be a better idea to attach/detatch at Swindon due to platform availibility issues? Re: Gateway To The Future - 2569/5911 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 26th June 2007 As well as the Gateway stations being served by local bus services , our proposals envisage the creation of "Gateway Connect" bus services (along existing bus routes) , linking them to stations on other lines in the area , mainly via non - rail destinations. BRISTOL GATEWAY Gateway Connect services to : Bath Spa Keynsham Patchway Shirehampton & Port Gateway Full bus service list : 73 / 580 Bradley Stoke (73) - Patchway Station - Cribbs Causeway. 73 Bristol City Centre - Temple Quay. 312 / 318 / 319 / 517 / 518 UWE - Frenchay - Downend. 312 Almondsbury Hill - Alveston - Thornbury. 318 / 319 Cribbs Causeway. 318 / 319 Staple Hill - Kingswood. 318 Longwell Green - Willsbridge - Keynsham Station. 319 Warmley - Bitton - Bath Spa Station. 517 / 518 Mangotsfield - Emerson Green. 517 / 518 Filton - Southmead Hospital - Westbury - Coombe Dingle - Long Cross - Shirehampton Centre - Shirehampton & Port Gateway Station. 581 Filton Abbey Wood Station - UWE - Blackberry Hill Hospital - Fishponds - Lodge Causeway - Kingswood - Hanham - Longwell Green. 581 Winterbourne - Frampton Cotterell - Yate Station - Yate Town Centre - Chipping Sodbury. MELKSHAM & WEST WILTSHIRE GATEWAY Gateway Connect services to : Bath Spa Corsham Full bus service list : 14 Portman Road - Avon Road - Addison Road - Dunch Lane. 14 Sainsburys - Melksham Market Place - Forest Road - Methuen Avenue - Melksham Forest - Sherwood Avenue - Blackmore Road - Queensway - Snowberry Lane - Melksham Hospital. 72 Melksham Market Place - Melksham Hospital - Berryfields. 72 Portman Road - Avon Road - Addison Road - Dunch Lane - Shaw - Atworth - Whitley - Gastard - Corsham Station. 234 / X34 Beanacre - Lacock (234) - Notton (X34) - Chippenham Railway Station - Chippenham Bus Station. 234 / X34 Melksham Market Place - Semington - Hilperton - Trowbridge Town Centre - Trowbridge Station - Southwick - Beckington - Oldford - Frome Station. 237 Melksham Market Place - Broughton Gifford - Holt - Staverton - Hilperton Marsh - Trowbridge Town Centre - Trowbridge Station. 272 / X72 Melksham Market Place - Bowerhill. X72 Sells Green - Devizes - Potterne - West Lavington - Market Lavington - Easterton. 272 / X72 Shaw - Atworth - Kingdown (272) - Bathford (272) - Batheaston (272) - Ashley (X72) - Bath Spa Station. PILNING & SEVERN GATEWAY Gateway Connect services to : Clifton Down Henbury Severn Beach Full bus service list : 624 Pilning Village - Severn Beach Station. 624 Easter Compton - Cribbs Causeway - Hallen - Henbury Station - Westbury - Clifton Down Station - Bristol City Centre. SHIREHAMPTON & PORT GATEWAY Gateway Connect services to : Bristol Gateway Full bus service list : 517 / 518 Shirehampton Centre - Long Cross - Coombe Dingle - Westbury - Southmead Hospital - Filton - Bristol Gateway Station - Mangotsfield - Emerson Green. 902 Hotwells - Harbourside - Bristol City Centre - Temple Quay - Old Market - Broadmead. SOUTH WALES GATEWAY Full bus service list : 62 Tudor Court - Magor. 62 Caerwent - Old Ship Yard. WORLE & SOMERSET GATEWAY Gateway Connect services to : Ashton Gate Frome Portishead Full bus service list : Frequent services to Weston suburbs. 350 Congresbury - Yatton Town Centre - Yatton Station - Cleeve - Backwell - Flax Bourton - Cambridge Batch - Long Ashton - Ashton Gate Station - Bristol City Centre. X25 Clevedon - Walton-in-Gordano - Portishead Station - Cribbs Causeway. New Gateway Connect Express Coach Service - Winscombe - Cheddar - Wells - Shepton Mallet - Frome Station. [quote author=Lee link=topic=2569.msg5875#msg5875 date=1182767956] [quote author=Graz link=topic=2569.msg5841#msg5841 date=1182624070]I'd propose a 1 tp 2 h fast service calling at Bristol Temple Meads, Worle & Somerset Gateway, and Weston-super-Mare from Paddington, or perhaps the CCF service.[/quote] Looked at it , having trouble pathing it. Do you (or does anybody else) have a timing proposal?[/quote] We have extended a London - Bristol service to Weston - super - Mare , calling at Worle & Somerset Gateway. This also provides a connection at Worle & Somerset Gateway for those who wish to travel from / to WSM from / to Exeter St Davids , Cullompton , Taunton , Bridgwater and Highbridge & Burnham. Re: Gateway To The Future - 2569/6146 Written by Lee on Saturday, 7th July 2007 GATEWAY STATION FEATURES Each "Gateway" station would feature the following , based on proposals by Joe Patrick (Friends Of Suburban Bristol Railways) : - Enhanced bus / rail interchange facilities - Free tarmaced car parking for at least 12 hours (24 hours at Bristol Gateway) - Enough parking spaces to meet demand - Adequate number of sheltered bicycle racks - All day staffing - Indoor or heated waiting facilities & platform shelters - CCTV covering car park & station - Tactile platform edge for the blind - Full wheelchair accessibility - Live Information Screens - Automatic announcements - Roadside signs saying how long to next train - Adequate signage on major/local roads to the station - Public telephone As well as provision of the above , measures at specific "Gateway" sites will need to be taken as follows : BRISTOL GATEWAY - Abolition of car parking charges - Additional signage , particularly around the Bradley Stoke area , required PILNING & SEVERN GATEWAY - Land to be purchased to provide adequate parking and existing rail contractors Re: Gateway To The Future - 2569/6374 Written by Lee on Thursday, 19th July 2007 [quote author=Lee link=topic=2569.msg5682#msg5682 date=1181995386]We would very much appreciate your views on these proposals. Suggestions would be particularly welcome regarding the following : - Better train pathing of the proposed services into , and out of , Gloucester station. - The extension of one of the proposed Bristol Gateway - WSM services to Taunton , without creating overly long turnaround times.[/quote] These issues have now been addressed , and as a result , we propose a slight reduction in the minimum connection time at Gloucester station , from 7 minutes to 6 minutes. We have also included further feedback suggestions , and some of the earlier posts have been edited as a result. PROPOSED STA GREATER BRISTOL METRO NETWORK RED LINE - Weston - super - Mare - Bristol Gateway (every 30 minutes.) BLUE LINE - Portishead - Bristol Gateway via Avonmouth (every 30 minutes.) YELLOW LINE - Westbury - Gloucester (every 30 minutes.) GREEN LINE - Avonmouth - Severn Beach (every 30 minutes.) METRO EXPRESS - Bath Spa - Bristol Temple Meads - Filton Abbey Wood - Patchway - Pilning & Severn Gateway - South Wales Gateway (every 30 minutes Bath Spa - South Wales Gateway , every 15 minutes Bath Spa - Bristol Temple Meads.) Re: Gateway To The Future - 2569/6765 Written by Lee on Thursday, 9th August 2007 [quote author=Chris Street link=topic=2569.msg5707#msg5707 date=1182114875]One question - why 'Gateway'? Is there any stations in Britain currently with the name Gateway? I'm probably missing an obvious one here or I haven't read it properly...[/quote] This entry from Graham's blog should interest you (link below.) http://www.wellho.net/archives/2007/08/from_leeds.html#comments My thanks go to Nicki Pittman (CANBER) & Graham for their assistance with the maps below.      link to index of articles |
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Save the Train was the campaign to bring an approriate train service back to and through Melksham. Most big contributors are still around writing at the Coffee shop forum where new members are very welcome. The train has been saved - sort of - we have stepped back up from an unusable service to a poorish one but it's doing very well. We did that through setting up the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. That fulfilled its early objectives; it has been taken over by local and regional government types who are now doing medium and long term work. The team from this forun can also be found at the Melksham Rail User Group (which was the Melksham Rail Development Group at the time these articles were written and we had no users. We mustn't loose sight, though, that the train service remains poor and needs our community support in marketing and campaigning to keep it going in a positive direction ... and all the more so when we're expecting to find a different normallity once we get out of the Coronavirus Pandemic and head for zero carbon via the climate crisis. Yes, it's saved ... it's now a key community facility ... the need for enhancement and the strong and near-universal local support remain, and the rail industry and goverment remain slow to move and provide the enhancements even to level us up with other towns. Please support the Melksham Rail User Group - now very much in partnership rather than protest with the rail industry and local government, including GWR, TransWilts and unitary and town councils. And please use the trains and buses, and cycle and walk when you can. -- Graham Ellis, (webmaster), February 2021 | |||
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