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Tytherington Quarry; freight line to reopen?

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Henbury Loop

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The line was designated 'Out of Use (temporary)' beyond milepost 0 mi 30 ch in mid 2013 following Hanson UK mothballing the quarry.

I was chatting with somebody on another group who actually works in the Yate Middle signal box and he has so say been told that Hanson UK have approached NR to ask how quickly they could get trains running again?

This was further confirmed by someone else who used to work the line and went to a reunion of sorts where it was mentioned also.

Does anyone know anything?

I have always had an interest in this line, partially because i actually live next to Grovesend Tunnel which used to carry the line to Thornbury.
 
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HowardGWR

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The line was designated 'Out of Use (temporary)' beyond milepost 0 mi 30 ch in mid 2013 following Hanson UK mothballing the quarry.

I was chatting with somebody on another group who actually works in the Yate Middle signal box and he has so say been told that Hanson UK have approached NR to ask how quickly they could get trains running again?

This was further confirmed by someone else who used to work the line and went to a reunion of sorts where it was mentioned also.

Does anyone know anything?

I have always had an interest in this line, partially because i actually live next to Grovesend Tunnel which used to carry the line to Thornbury.

Interesting and could be helpful in reopening for pax services to Thornbury. The Metro West project is considering a service to Yate. This was possibly to be extended to Gloucester, but perhaps it could be better extended to Thornbury?
 

Henbury Loop

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Old news article now;

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Calls-Thornbury-railway-line-open/story-17758735-detail/story.html

CALLS have been made for a railway line to be restored in Thornbury following the closure of Tytherington Quarry.
South Gloucestershire councillors Brian Hopkinson (Con, Bradley Stoke Central and Stoke Lodge) and Trevor Jones (Con, Frenchay and Stoke Park) are spearheading a campaign to bring the line, which once took passengers to Yate and on to Bristol, back into use.
They are lobbying transport chiefs to ask that the old railway, which stopped transporting passengers in 1944, is reopened in order to ease congestion on nearby roads.
The councillors believe now is the perfect time for the reinstatement as Tytherington Quarry, operated by building materials company Hanson UK, was recently mothballed, meaning the tracks that run behind it could be given a new lease of life and returned to their original purpose.
They believe that the local authority should "grab" this unexpected opportunity to request that Network Rail reclaim the line....
 
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TheNewNo2

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It would certainly make sense as a reopening, as it would help out the MetroWest project by having a proper terminal station rather than using Yate where terminators use up line capacity.
 

Henbury Loop

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I wasn't aware of that, perhaps I worded that badly. He must indeed work in Bristol PSB which controls Yate Middle junction.

Reopening of the branch to Thornbury is a long way off, if ever sadly (whilst it would be great and make sense I'm not sure the business case would ever add up).

I am very interested in this rumour of the line reopening to freight.

The line is still in very good condition having only been out of use since 2013, minor vegetation clearance would probably be necessary.

The aforementioned chap I was speaking with went on to say the S&T men crapped themselves when they were approached by Hanson UK / NR as much of the level crossing equipment at Iron Acton had been borrowed for elsewhere! So obviously NR didn't forsee it reopening anytime soon...
 

Noddy

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I would think it would make far more sense for a Bristol Metro to terminate at Thornbury than Yate, which would undoubtably cause problems with blocked paths on the mainline, or a Gloucester service which is just too far away and could do with a faster service to Bristol, rather than a stopper.

How much of the trackbed into Thornbury itself still survives though? If the station was well out of town that would be less useful as a passenger.
 

The Planner

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Depends how long you timetable the terminal stop for at Yate and how much money people are prepared to spend. Stick a new crossover in at the station and you could dump out at Yate, move up to Yate West on the branch so you are out the way and come back in on the up platform, start and cross over to the down. The crossover could be superfluous if you can timetable the bi-di back to Westerleigh which could be possible based on that its only 1½ miles.
 

Henbury Loop

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The trackbed is still in place right up to the East portal of Grovesend Tunnel which passes under the A38 (1 in 61 gradient!), there is lots of infomation online stating that the tunnel is now privately owned - however i have never seen anything concrete to back this up.

The trackbed then runs out of the West portal through a heavily overgrown gated area east of the aptly-named Midland Way, the land where the original station sat is now a Tesco supermarket and the goods yard/sidings an industrial estate.

It is certainly a pipe dream of mine to see trains run to Thornbury once more.

The busiest the line had probably been was during the construction of the First Severn (road) Crossing and Oldbury Power station where Cement products and steel were brought in by rail then taken the last short distance to works sites, and indeed has been reported that the line was still busy and had work when closed in sept '67, however the line was still used until October of that year due to a new Stone contract- was then lifted during '69, and ironically relaid during '72 hardly worth lifting really was it?
 

HowardGWR

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Just on the issue of justification, if the 'extension' from Avonmouth to Severn Beach is justifiable, then that to Thornbury must be, as a bigger market is available. Could HenburyLoop confirm that one could extend near enough to that supermarket to make it worthwhile? I don't see a lot of difference between that location and the 'out of town' location of the new Portishead station.
 

Henbury Loop

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In theory yes it would still be possible for the railway line to run parallel with Midland Way bringing it less than half a mile from the High Street.

It should be noted that Severn Beach never used to be the terminus on that line, it infact used to continue to the GWML near Pilning.
 

Checkflaps

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There is the small matter of 'Armstrong Way' being on the trackbed (it used to be part of my garden), and you would also need a crossing of the ring road - although that might slow down some of the vehicles that use it as a race track. Also, a new bridge would be needed over the link road from Avon Way.

As a resident from the opposite side of the town, I feel a rail link to Bristol would be superb for Thornbury as it seems to be steadily growing (beyond the ring road :shock: ) and the traffic on the A38 up to Almondsbury and the M5 is never going to get any better.

I think the more likely scenario - assuming it happens in the next 20 years - is that there will end up being some sort of 'Parkway' terminus station before the line crosses Midland Way with a 'transport interchange' (Bus Stop). Then, you just have 'circular' bus routes around the town to the station. Its got to be easier than the alternatives of CPO's, Level Crossings and new structures.
 

HowardGWR

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@Checkflaps

Great input. Dreaming a little, if the service were a 'tram train' it could cross northwards to the Grovesend roundabout and then continue to the Aldi car park. Now that's Central Thornbury for you!
 

Checkflaps

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@Checkflaps

Great input. Dreaming a little, if the service were a 'tram train' it could cross northwards to the Grovesend roundabout and then continue to the Aldi car park. Now that's Central Thornbury for you!

Ta.

Perhaps, but I feel there might be just a hint of opposition to it. :D
Besides, its not like we shouldn't all be walking / cycling more anyway.

Probably the most 'out there' thinking would be for the line to go the other way around the town, and carry on to the power station at Oldbury - as and when they get around to starting the building of the new one (probably 20-30 years).

Garry
 

The Planner

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Easier than going in and changing the schedule, might aswell leave it as it is as you dont have to go and change it back if the branch comes back into use. Looks RHTT to me.
 

a good off

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The crossover could be superfluous if you can timetable the bi-di back to Westerleigh which could be possible based on that its only 1½ miles.

I think that with the amount of late running cross countries we get on that section, running bi-di to a Westerleigh even if it works on paper would cause mayhem and probably mean that the Yate terminater wouldn't make it past Bristol Parkway on the day in order to keep it out of the way.
 

Henbury Loop

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I thought I would update you with some info I have received from NR today.

"Dear Mr South

Thank you for contacting us in respect of the future of the Tytherington Branch Line.

You are correct in thinking that the temporary closure of the line has expired and we are currently preparing the line for possible re-opening next year.

It is probable that this line will be re-opened shortly.

I hope you find this information useful; however, if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

Kind regards

Lily Exton"
 

Radedamer

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That's encouraging news.

Passenger services though? I can't see it happening, I'm afraid. Too much politics!
 

Henbury Loop

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Passenger services though? I can't see it happening, I'm afraid. Too much politics!

I live in hope that one day it will happen, the way the rail network is changing for the better in Bristol it ought to be probable in years to come.

It frustrates the hell out of me that The Borders can be pulled off in Scotland yet we have difficulty getting anything done here - takes years.
 

Henbury Loop

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Talking to a NR chap in Yate today, apparently train loads of ash are going in and mixed with the stone. Also talks of a tarmac contract going to South Wales approx one million tonnes, so it does seem that there will indeed be traffic on the line once more.:D

Anyone know anything else?
 

Checkflaps

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In theory yes it would still be possible for the railway line to run parallel with Midland Way bringing it less than half a mile from the High Street.

Something like this perhaps:

http://www.townend.me/files/thornbury.jpg

The only issue with that is diverting HGV's back onto 'Thornbury Hill', which is not really suitable for artics, rather than them using the ring road (that was built for them) to get access to the industrial estate. Its bad enough on the ring road now due to the new users of the Daikin site - its a call centre, and it would seem that most staff drive to it, but the car park isn't big enough. Thus, they all park on the ring road. Sensible! <(

Personally, I think they would be better to build the Parkway option with passive provision for an extension (to somewhere) later - if the pax numbers stack up.

There is a lot of development going on at the moment in and around Thornbury, the former Alexandra workwear site (between Midland Way and the old alignment) being turned into more houses, Thornbury Fields and PArk Farm developments as well as further planning approvals being sought for 'Cleeve Park' http://www.thornburytowncouncil.org/pdf/Cleeve-Park-Development.pdf which would then ultimately open up the entire eastern side of the ring road :|.

More houses does mean a need for better transport - and with the A38 being choked up every morning, perhaps now is the right moment for the rail link to be reinstated.

Garry.
ps - I can also see my house :lol:
 

Henbury Loop

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Work being carried out on the line as seen from Yate station.

Same response from the workers "soon, soon..."
 

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Harbornite

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Good to see another line being reactivated. I wonder how long it will stay open for this time.
 
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