Diversions due to line closures in the Bristol area (August 2021)

[tel]

Moderator note: Split from

Bristol Temple Meads - eastern approach remodelling

I've run a search on the forum for this and it appears that past discussion of the subject matter is scattered across several topics and is somewhat old. What I was trying to find is a definitive plan of what is actually going to be done during this work? I recall there were some rather...

www.railforums.co.uk

Just received Today's Railways and on page 20 is a small piece regarding the works at Bristol TM. It says (if I read it correctly) that there are plans to divert a Bristol Parkway to Weston-Super-Mare service via the Rhubarb Curve and North Somerset junction-Bristol West Junc through St Phillips Marsh depot on the Sunday 7 August and 9 to 13 August. So, is it happening or not?????????

Tel

 

[43 302]

Just received Todays Railways and on page 20 is a small piece regarding the works at Bristol TM. It says (if I read it correctly) that there are plans to divert a Bristol Parkway to Weston-Super-Mare service via the Rhubarb Curve and North Somerset junction-Bristol West Junc through St Phillips Marsh depot on the Sunday 7 August and 9 to 13 August. So, is it happening or not?????????

Tel

It should be happening yes. Hopefully an HST will find its way onto one of the services vice DMU...

 

[Class 170101]

XC services Monday 2 August (and probably until Friday inclusive) via Bristol East Depot DGL or North Somerset Jn.

Realtime Trains | Departures from Bristol Temple Meads between 0200 and 0159 on 02/08/2021

Train information at Bristol Temple Meads between 0200 and 0159 on 02/08/2021. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[43 302]

XC services Monday 2 August (and probably until Friday inclusive) via Bristol East Depot DGL or North Somerset Jn.

Realtime Trains | Departures from Bristol Temple Meads between 0200 and 0159 on 02/08/2021

Train information at Bristol Temple Meads between 0200 and 0159 on 02/08/2021. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Along with every other day between July 10th and August 6th. August 7th, and 9th-13th via Dr Days and Westbury.

 

[Brissle Girl]

Just received Todays Railways and on page 20 is a small piece regarding the works at Bristol TM. It says (if I read it correctly) that there are plans to divert a Bristol Parkway to Weston-Super-Mare service via the Rhubarb Curve and North Somerset junction-Bristol West Junc through St Phillips Marsh depot on the Sunday 7 August and 9 to 13 August. So, is it happening or not?????????

Tel

Are these services shown on RTT (or similar facilities) with this routing? I haven’t been able to find any such services so far.

 

[43 302]

Are these services shown on RTT (or similar facilities) with this routing? I haven’t been able to find any such services so far.

I highly doubt it.

 

[Mag_seven]

Are these services shown on RTT (or similar facilities) with this routing? I haven’t been able to find any such services so far.

I suspect they won't be loaded up until much nearer the date. That said I'm sceptical about passenger services being routed through St Phillips Marsh depot. I suspect we will just have to wait and see on this one.

 

[The exile]

I highly doubt it.

However unlikely it seems, GWR's own "Bristol" pages has this for 9th - 13th August:

• Bristol Parkway to Weston-super-Mare – off-peak services will run but won’t call at Bristol Temple Meads

Other than running through the centre roads at Temple Meads, I can't think of any other way stoppers can run from Parkway to Weston with the only "non-calling" station being Temple Meads. OK, it does also say "buses replace trains between Bristol Temple Meads and Parkway - but that appears to be a consistent feature throughout the works (haven't checked all dates). I suppose if they're doing something drastic that involves having all the "domestic" power off at Temple Meads, they might have the entire station closed but with trains still able to run through.... all will no doubt be revealed before long.

 

[43 302]

However unlikely it seems, GWR's own "Bristol" pages has this for 9th - 13th August:

• Bristol Parkway to Weston-super-Mare – off-peak services will run but won’t call at Bristol Temple Meads

Other than running through the centre roads at Temple Meads, I can't think of any other way stoppers can run from Parkway to Weston with the only "non-calling" station being Temple Meads. OK, it does also say "buses replace trains between Bristol Temple Meads and Parkway - but that appears to be a consistent feature throughout the works (haven't checked all dates). I suppose if they're doing something drastic that involves having all the "domestic" power off at Temple Meads, they might have the entire station closed but with trains still able to run through.... all will no doubt be revealed before long.

That comment was in reference to it appearing on RTT right now. It is planned to happen.

 

[The exile]

That comment was in reference to it appearing on RTT right now. It is planned to happen.

OK - got you. So much the better - been waiting for that bit of track for 35 years....

 

[Annetts key]

However unlikely it seems, GWR's own "Bristol" pages has this for 9th - 13th August:

• Bristol Parkway to Weston-super-Mare – off-peak services will run but won’t call at Bristol Temple Meads

Other than running through the centre roads at Temple Meads, I can't think of any other way stoppers can run from Parkway to Weston with the only "non-calling" station being Temple Meads. OK, it does also say "buses replace trains between Bristol Temple Meads and Parkway - but that appears to be a consistent feature throughout the works (haven't checked all dates). I suppose if they're doing something drastic that involves having all the "domestic" power off at Temple Meads, they might have the entire station closed but with trains still able to run through.... all will no doubt be revealed before long.

There will be NO trains through Bristol Temple Meads on any line during the time that the whole station is closed as (1) all lines will be under a T3 blockade and (2) all the signalling in the area will be unavailable because the interlocking is being taken off-line for the interlocking data to be changed and then the altered signalling will require to be fully tested to ensure the design is safe.

 

[Horizon22]

There will be a GWR shuttle service running between Weston Super-Mare <> Bristol Parkway that will go via St Phillips Marsh. It will run on the following dates:

• 9th - 14th August
• 31 August - 3rd September

 

[tel]

That's good, I've booked to go to Bristol Parkway on Tues 10 just to see what happens and hopefully get the line via PM. Just checked on RTT and the services are uploaded and there is Parkway to WSM trains via SP.

Tel

 

[D6975]

It's a bit random, most are buses between TM and Parkway. Showing as trains (09 Aug) are:

ex BPW

09:15
11:14
12:15
14:15
15:14


ex WSM

09:29
10:29
12:29
13:29
15:29

PS If you live in Bristol, this FREEDOM TRAVELPASS ticket will get you to/from BPW on the bus and on the train to WSM too (unlimited travel for 1 day in the area)
Zone A B D: Bristol & Weston-super-Mare

1-day Peak Travelpass (any time, any day)	£13.50

 

[TheLastMinute]

There is, however, a proposal for some GWR to be routed that way at certain times.

Well I never! Those proposed services running via St Philips Marsh for week commencing 9/8/21 have actually appeared in Real Time Trains.

I'm genuinely shocked at the outbreak of common sense on the modern railway. I'm pretty sure there is no way something like this would have happened 10 years ago. If it comes off, I'll be much impressed and will say a hearty well done to all concerned.

I'd imagine that these trains will be busy with people coming from all over to bag very rare track mileage.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...09/0200-0159?stp=WVS&show=passenger&order=wtt

 

[ABB125]

I'd imagine that these trains will be busy with people coming from all over to bag very rare track mileage.

Now there's an idea!

 

[43 302]

Interesting that when I looked the other day it showed the Bridgwater Flask path too! Admittedly RAR.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Not as exciting but it looks like some of the other diversions have been confirmed too (e.g. Bristol Parkway to Bath services calling at Lawrence Hill and then going via the curve avoiding Temple Meads - I think the route was previously confirmed anyway but nice to see they will be serving Lawrence Hill).

PS If you live in Bristol, this FREEDOM TRAVELPASS ticket will get you to/from BPW on the bus and on the train to WSM too (unlimited travel for 1 day in the area)
Zone A B D: Bristol & Weston-super-Mare

1-day Peak Travelpass (any time, any day)	£13.50

If you are happy to bail out at Nailsea or Yatton, you can save a couple of quid and get the Zone A B one instead (it won't be valid out to Weston as the more expensive one is though).

 

[pdeaves]

It's a bit random, most are buses between TM and Parkway. Showing as trains (09 Aug) are:

ex BPW

09:15
11:14
12:15
14:15


ex WSM

09:29
10:29
12:29
13:29
15:29

PS If you live in Bristol, this FREEDOM TRAVELPASS ticket will get you to/from BPW on the bus and on the train to WSM too (unlimited travel for 1 day in the area)
Zone A B D: Bristol & Weston-super-Mare

1-day Peak Travelpass (any time, any day)	£13.50

Also add 15:14 ex BPW.

 

[D6975]

Thought I must have missed one when I saw the unbalanced workings. I've added it to my o/p.

If it's a nice day when I do it I'll get the ABD travelpass and go for a swim in the newly renovated Marine Lake at Weston.

 

[The exile]

One thing that is confusing me - back in April there were reports (in the original thread) that Bedminster was being fettled up because it was going to act as a temporary terminus during the works. I admit I haven't searched through all the dates, but I can't find any trace of trains terminating at Bedminster - indeed the SPM diversions don't even stop there, although the BPW - WSM service normally would.

 

[D6975]

Still too far in the future, they won' t appear until closer to the time when they're going to happen.

 

[pdeaves]

Still too far in the future, they won' t appear until closer to the time when they're going to happen.

Sorry, what won't appear... (etc.)? Not sure what you're replying to!

 

[Southern Dvr]

Still too far in the future, they won' t appear until closer to the time when they're going to happen.

Realtime Trains - 1V44 0611 Leeds to Plymouth

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[The exile]

Sorry, what won't appear... (etc.)? Not sure what you're replying to!

Would guess it was an answer to my “question” about Bedminster terminators.

 

[D6975]

Sorry, what won't appear... (etc.)? Not sure what you're replying to!

The post immediately in front of course. Bedminster terminators won't appear for a while, the West end is being done last. SPM and Bath/Westbury diversions only appeared in the system less than a week ago and that's right at the start of the works.

 

[The exile]

The post immediately in front of course. Bedminster terminators won't appear for a while, the West end is being done last. SPM and Bath/Westbury diversions only appeared in the system less than a week ago and that's right at the start of the works.

GWR.com has now been updated with more details up to and including the bank holiday weekend - which is when Bedminster gets its few days of glory!

 

[tiptoptaff]

It should be happening yes. Hopefully an HST will find its way onto one of the services vice DMU...

It won't.

 

[43 302]

It won't.

It might. It is possible on the first and last services.

 

[JonathanH]

It might. It is possible on the first and last services.

What makes it possible on the first and last service? There is no need for a GWR HST to be north of the blockade whilst it is in place - eg no Cardiff to Bristol element of Taunton services.