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Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2026 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 22nd November 2006 The following timetable service pattern is feasible within existing capacity plus Portishead (click on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portishead_Railway) All services are hourly unless otherwise stated : KEY CCF - Cross - Country Franchise service. FGW - First Great Western service. WAF - Welsh Assembly funded service. FGW - Severn Beach xx15 - St Andrews Road xx21 - Avonmouth arrive xx24 depart xx30 - Shirehampton xx33 - Sea Mills xx37 - Clifton Down xx43 - Redland xx45 - Montpelier xx47 - Stapleton Road xx51 - Lawrence Hill xx53 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx56 depart xx04 - Keynsham xx11 - Oldfield Park xx18 - Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2027 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 22nd November 2006 AVONMOUTH CIRCULAR SERVICES FGW - Weston - super - Mare xx03 - Weston Milton xx06 - Worle xx11 - Yatton xx16 - Nailsea & Backwell xx22 - Parson Street xx32 - Bedminster xx34 - Bristol Temple Meads xx37 - Lawrence Hill xx40 - Stapleton Road xx43 - Filton Abbey Wood xx48 - St Andrews Road xx57 - Avonmouth xx00 - Shirehampton xx03 - Sea Mills xx07 - Clifton Down xx13 - Redland xx15 - Montpelier xx17 - Stapleton Road xx21 - Lawrence Hill xx23 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx26 depart xx30 - Bedminster xx33 - Parson Street xx35 - Nailsea & Backwell xx43 - Yatton xx49 - Worle xx55 - Weston Milton xx00 - Weston - super - Mare xx03. FGW - Weston - super - Mare xx18 - Weston Milton xx21 - Worle xx26 - Yatton xx31 - Nailsea & Backwell xx37 - Parson Street xx47 - Bedminster xx49 - Bristol Temple Meads arrive xx52 depart xx00 Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2028 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 22nd November 2006 FREQUENCY GUIDE (tph = trains per hour in each direction.) Avonmouth 2 tph Bedminster 3 tph plus 2-hourly Gloucester - Portishead service. Bridgwater 1 tph Cam & Dursley 3 tph Clifton Down 2 tph Filton Abbey Wood 6 tph Highbridge & Burnham 1 tph Keynsham 2 tph (increased during peak hours.) Lawrence Hill 5 tph Montpelier 2 tph Nailsea & Backwell 4 tph plus London - Weston - super - Mare / West Country services. Oldfield Park 2 tph (increased during peak hours.) Patchway 2 tph Parson Street 3 tph plus 2-hourly Gloucester - Portishead service. Pilning 2 tph during peak hours. Portishead 2 - hourly (increased to hourly during the peak.) Redland 2 tph Sea Mills 2 tph Severn Beach 1 tph Severn Tunnel Junction 2 tph Shirehampton 2 tph St Andrews Road 2 tph Stapleton Road 5 tph Weston Milton 3 tph Weston - super - Mare 3 tph plus London - Weston - super - Mare / West Country services. Worle 5 tph plus London - Weston - super - Mare / West Country services. Yate 3 tph Yatton 4 tph plus London - Weston - super - Mare / West Country services. A draft timetable for the above can be found in the link below. http://www.shinewithstyle.co.uk/literature/Draft%20Greater%20Bristol%20Metro%20Proposals.pdf All Melksham - related timetables contained in this section are for future development. To view the current Save The Train Melksham - related timetable proposals , check out the link below. http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=766.msg2221#msg2221 You can follow the development of all our non - Melksham related timetable proposals here (link below.) http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=782.msg2267#msg2267 Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2044 Written by Graz on Thursday, 23rd November 2006 Hey Lee, I really like this timetable a lot. Some things may be a *little* on the ambitious side (at least, I'm sure FGW would think that), but I'd love to see this actually happen, and we'd finally see Bristol catching up with the rest of the country in relation to rail services. A few little points... A station at Henbury: I feel there is a very strong case for a station at Henbury, between St Andrews Road and Filton Abbey Wood. Not only would it serve Henbury, but the Cribbs Causeway shopping complex as well. That can be very tricky to get to by road (Jams around Bristol have put me off ever going there), and a quick and easy way would definitely be by rail. I'm sure it would be popular. The Avonmouth circular services could call there and I'm sure it would be possible. The Avonmouth circular services...this is more personal preference, I would change these slightly to terminate (or just call additionally) at Bristol Parkway. This is because they will then provide connections from Bristol Parkway (cross-country and Paddington-wales connections) to local Bristol stations rather than for customers still having to go back on themselves down to Bristol TM as they do now. Not forgetting Bristol Parkway will get a 3rd platform soon! Some Gloucester-Taunton services could call additionally at Weston-super-Mare. I say this because W-s-M is quite a big town, and I know trains can become crowded *especially* in the summer. There has been several instances when I've travelled to this station and not been able to board trains, which could be the case even with Worle upgrades. I'm glad Gloucester now has 3 tph to Bristol. I've always thought Gloucester was neglected given its size (1tph just isn't enough, especially peak). Will trains terminate there, or continue to Cheltenham Spa/Worcester SH? If they *do* terminate it would mean connections to Cheltenham Spa and Worcester will be more limited, leaving only Central Trains Cardiff-Nottingham 1tph service and 1 tp2h Paddington services. Good idea for a Welsh Assembly funded Rhoose (Cardiff Intil Airpt) - Bristol TM service. Would this then be the return of Arriva Trains Wales to Bristol? I hope so. And great that Pilning would have a respectable service. 2 tph service at Oldfield Park/Keynsham....kind of a grey area for me. When travelling to Avoncliff on Tuesday, I was the only person (and also the ticket office man) to catch the southbound train at 10:54, no one got off. Whereas from 2pm onwards, more than 10 people got off, and the 17:40 service was overcrowded, with worse than standing room only on Wednesday. Northbound trains are *jam-packed* between 7 and 8:45am. More than 2 tph peak times are definitely needed for these stations, but 1 tph may be sufficient off peak, at least for the time being. Your timetable definitely falls under the criteria for less trains terminating at Bristol TM, and be greatly appriciated by many commuters and travellers alike, me included. The extra services would be a huge benefit for all and the environment as well I'll comment on the Bicester-Salisbury times as well, but really well done on this :) Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2053 Written by Lee on Friday, 24th November 2006 Thanks Graz. On Henbury , the timings between St Andrews Road & Filton Abbey Wood are quite tight , and also , I wanted to frame the proposals on a "here & now" basis (Portishead being long overdue in my opinion.) However , a station at Henbury is a strong aspiration of Friends Of Suburban Bristol Railways , and I agree that one should be built there in the short - medium term future. Avonmouth circular services calling at Bristol Parkway...I ruled this out to avoid pathing conflicts at Filton Junction. Definately one to consider as part of Yate - Weston - super - Mare capacity enhancement , though. Gloucester-Taunton services could call additionally at Weston-super-Mare? Some of the CCF trains are planned to , London - West Country trains would , but , personally , I would stick with the proposed pattern until Yate - Weston - super - Mare capacity enhancement becomes reality. I would like some trains to continue to Cheltenham Spa/Worcester SH. I note that we have some regular site visitors from that area , and I would appreciate their views on this. Bear in mind also that the overall package includes a 1 tph Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2055 Written by Graz on Friday, 24th November 2006 Yes, Portishead would definitely be one of the biggest priorities. Traffic is getting worse around there, and I don't think buses alone would be the answer as they get stuck in the traffic as well. The track infranstructure is already in place, so there's every reason for a good service there. As for Henbury, I'm convinced a station here would be also of huge benefit - after reading the proposals by FOSBR! I agree about the Bristol Parkway issues now! But still, as you said, it is one to consider...Coming back from Cheltenham, I'd very often prefer taking a 'scenic route' into Bristol via Henbury so this could be the perfect oppertunity :) (not forgetting the extra connections!) I mainly said about the Weston-Super-Mare service from experience. The time when I was refused entry onto the FGW Local train, the platform was jammed with passengers. I waited an extra half an hour for a very welcome Virgin CrossCountry service, but I could see passengers were left stranded at Weston-Milton and Worle as I passed. Although this is based on an experience only, it may be worth adding extra calls to WSM in Summer timetables just because of the sheer number of tourists that go there. Ah yes, I forgot you were going to have a 1tph service from Paddington-Cheltenham as well! Still, it may be nice having one of the trains providing an hourly service to Worcester Shrub Hill from Gloucester which would provide extra connections. I've always considered this a good idea and it would make for extra Cross Country connections from Cheltenham Spa (rather than for passengers going up to Birmingham New St and changing there as most do now, although Worcester-Bristol services are still quite popular as I've seen.) I remember reading on FOSBR about their aspirations for a 2 tph service to Keynsham/Oldfield Park, yes...this would probably be the only thing I disagree with them about (I never normally suggest reductions in train services!) Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2062 Written by Lee on Saturday, 25th November 2006 Detailed proposals for a direct service to Oxford and Bicester from Westbury / Salisbury / Southampton / Bristol (which would also provide an appropriate service for Melksham) plus a revamped London Paddington - Bristol / Cheltenham Spa / Wales timetable can be found in the link below. http://www.shinewithstyle.co.uk/literature/melksham%20new%202007%20timetable%20proposals.pdf Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2111 Written by Lee on Thursday, 30th November 2006 FOSBR have renewed their call for a half - hourly Severn Beach line service (link below.) http://www.fosbr.org.uk/LetterPR.htm http://www.fosbr.org.uk/Letter.htm Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2116 Written by Lee on Thursday, 30th November 2006 I recently sent an e-mail regarding these proposals to the Portishead Railway Group , and was very pleased to receive the following reply : "I have passed this email to our chairman Alan Matthews, who will be better able to reply to you on the technicalities. I have added a link to your main website (Save The Train) on our links page, and wish you every success in your campaign." Here is a link to the Portishead Railway Group website. http://www.portisheadrailwaygroup.org/index.html Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2137 Written by Lee on Saturday, 2nd December 2006 A new station appears to have been built at Portishead. Unfortunately , there is a twist... (link below.) http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=16085511&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922 Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2147 Written by paulsouthwales on Saturday, 2nd December 2006 I see posts that refer to Rhoose in this section of the forum. Does anyone know why the Portsmouth - Cardiff services are NOT going to be extended to Barry and Rhoose as was outlined in the draft timetables issued in early 2006? I have an idea....Why not use the potentially redundant 180s on an hourly Portsmouth - Swansea service in December 2007! Now theres a sensible thought, so we will probably never see it happen. Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2156 Written by Lee on Sunday, 3rd December 2006 [quote author=paulsouthwales link=topic=673.msg2147#msg2147 date=1165097234]I see posts that refer to Rhoose in this section of the forum. Does anyone know why the Portsmouth - Cardiff services are NOT going to be extended to Barry and Rhoose as was outlined in the draft timetables issued in early 2006?[/quote] I examined this subject in the link below. http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=357.msg1200#msg1200 It was certainly the case that services were planned to run to Rhoose in the original Draft Timetable (links below.) http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=157.msg375#msg375 http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=152.msg365#msg365 Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2166 Written by Lee on Monday, 4th December 2006 [quote author=Graz link=topic=673.msg2044#msg2044 date=1164313850]I'm glad Gloucester now has 3 tph to Bristol. I've always thought Gloucester was neglected given its size (1tph just isn't enough, especially peak). Will trains terminate there, or continue to Cheltenham Spa/Worcester SH? If they *do* terminate it would mean connections to Cheltenham Spa and Worcester will be more limited, leaving only Central Trains Cardiff-Nottingham 1tph service and 1 tp2h Paddington services.[/quote] The proposed Portishead - Gloucester service has been revised and has been extended hourly to Great Malvern. Details of the rolling stock required for these proposals can be found in the link below. http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=741.msg2167#msg2167 Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2172 Written by Sion Bretton on Monday, 4th December 2006 Yes very intersting but Lee could the 1 minute turn around at Didcot be long enough to drive to move from one end of train to the other. Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2182 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 5th December 2006 [quote author=Sion Bretton link=topic=673.msg2172#msg2172 date=1165266756] Yes very intersting but Lee could the 1 minute turn around at Didcot be long enough to drive to move from one end of train to the other.[/quote] This has now been addressed (link below.) http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=741.msg2167#msg2167 Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2233 Written by Lee on Thursday, 7th December 2006 Many thanks to Steve Webb MP (Northavon) , who has agreed to put our proposals to Network Rail. He is also attempting to secure a decent service for Pilning (links below.) http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=508.msg1482#msg1482 http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=36.msg1897#msg1897 Re: Greater Bristol Metro Proposals - 673/2240 Written by streety7 on Thursday, 7th December 2006 Draft Greater Bristol Metro typed PDF timetable: Includes: > Services within the Greater Bristol Metro area, provided by FGW, Cross Country and Welsh Assembly Funded services. > Weston-Super-Mare - Avonmouth - Weston-Super-Mare circular services > New hourly train frequency at Greater Bristol Metro stations should proposals go ahead > Freight Train Path times Link --> [url]http://www.shinewithstyle.co.uk/literature/Draft Greater Bristol Metro Proposals.pdf[/url] Link to main message on all new proposals --> [url]http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=741.0[/url] 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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