Gloucester-Bristol via Severn Tunnel

[TheWalrus]

Here is my idea on this RUS proposal.

It could be a joint operation, with ATW crew from STJ-GLO/CNM and FGW crew between STJ-BRI. Or have them alternating - ATW do one, then FGW do the next; this would help route knowledge of crew. This demonstrates how co-operation makes good direct links work opposed to competition, and would also be beneficial to both operators.

This service could be achieved by extending the Weston-Bristol Parkway services. This would provide Patchway and STJ with links to Bristol Parkway, where they can connect to services to London and the North (rather than going to Filton then back up to Parkway). By extending a current service, it doesn't take up another path on the TM-Filton stretch.

However another better link it could provide would be Lydney/Chepstow/Caldicot-Bristol, which would be good to transport Bristol commuters from these settlements to the city.

Therefore this proposal would cater for more than just one market, but two!

That's my thinking on it. Does anyone else have any ideas on how this could work?

 

[anthony263]

It is possible to reverse trains at Severn tunnel jct and i think the local users group have proposed a similar idea to what you are proposing

 

[devon_metro]

They would need to shunt out of the station and reverse.

Not sure whats wrong with simply changing at STJ anyway

 

[TheWalrus]

It is possible to reverse trains at Severn tunnel jct and i think the local users group have proposed a similar idea to what you are proposing

Sounds interesting...what have the user group proposed?
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Not sure whats wrong with simply changing at STJ anyway

Because that doesn't involve the fun of starting a new service!

 

[anthony263]

I think the probelm at severn tunnel jct is the bad connections ie passengers wanting to travel from Chepstow to Bristol have to wait at least 35 minutes at Severn tunnel jct plus the fact that there are sometimes 2 hour gaps in the cheltenham service. my opinion is that there should have a hourly Cheltenham servie and make the Nottingham and all the Portsmouth Hbr trains call at Severn Tunnel Jct so that the maximum time passengers have to wait to connect between trains is 15 minutes.
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these websites might be good for you to have a look at:

http://www.bettertrains4chepstow.co.uk/bristolfgw.html

http://www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk/

 

[Mojo]

Where's the "it's a stupid idea" option? I can think of many places that need a far better service. The journey times between Birmingham & Bristol and Cardiff are too long anyway, stopping extra trains IMO would be a retrograde step.

Bear in mind all this would do would be for passengers from Lydney, Chepstow & Caldicot to have a direct service to Bristol, something that might not really be needed, and would also have to cross across all lines on the level at Severn Tunnel Jct.

 

[TheWalrus]

I think the probelm at severn tunnel jct is the bad connections ie passengers wanting to travel from Chepstow to Bristol have to wait at least 35 minutes at Severn tunnel jct plus the fact that there are sometimes 2 hour gaps in the cheltenham service. my opinion is that there should have a hourly Cheltenham servie and make the Nottingham and all the Portsmouth Hbr trains call at Severn Tunnel Jct so that the maximum time passengers have to wait to connect between trains is 15 minutes.
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these websites might be good for you to have a look at:

http://www.bettertrains4chepstow.co.uk/bristolfgw.html

http://www.saveseverntunnel.co.uk/

Thanks for the links, will have a look at these

However there's no use CDF-NOT calling at STJ because they don't stop at Lydney, Chepstow or Caldicot!
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Where's the "it's a stupid idea" option? I can think of many places that need a far better service. The journey times between Birmingham & Bristol and Cardiff are too long anyway, stopping extra trains IMO would be a retrograde step.

Bear in mind all this would do would be for passengers from Lydney, Chepstow & Caldicot to have a direct service to Bristol, something that might not really be needed, and would also have to cross across all lines on the level at Severn Tunnel Jct.

How exactly could you make Birmingham-Bristol/Cardiff any faster?

And where's the "get rid of rude moderators" option? That would be a useful service lol..

 

[anthony263]

I am sure but there 1 at least 2 crosscountry services that call at lydney, chepstow etc per day i know that there is 1 that arrives into cardiff at around 07:40 which i think there quickly reverse and does the 07:45 back to Nottingham, but i will have to check the timetable

 

[TheWalrus]

I am sure but there 1 at least 2 crosscountry services that call at lydney, chepstow etc per day i know that there is 1 that arrives into cardiff at around 07:40 which i think there quickly reverse and does the 07:45 back to Nottingham, but i will have to check the timetable

I'm aware of those, but that's only 1 or 2 per day, which call at STJ. I would propose an hourly STJ-GLO

 

[devon_metro]

Not to mention a lack of paths through the Severn Tunnel

 

[The Planner]

There are potentially 15 paths an hour through the tunnel if you were mad enough to try it, its just the freight that knackers the job, especially if its "dangerous" goods.

You can reverse at Severn Tunnel Jn, but like mentioned, you need a shunt and to cross all 4 lines (infact Id need to double check the plans, as I think you would have to go through platform 3 in the wrong direction if you were going Chepstow to the tunnel). The shunt blocks the Down Relief line and crossing all 4 tracks back to platform 4 or 2 would need a margin of around 8 minutes, more if it involves going through 3.

 

[Greenback]

Is there a huge, or even a small, uncatered for demand between Lydney, Chepstow, Caldicot and Bristol?

In my experience, Lydney residents look to gloucester as their nearest centre for employment - this may not be true of Chepstow and Caldicot, but how many people are there in these towns, and would it be desirable to block Severn Tunnel Junction for 8 minutes to allow them the opportunity of travelling direct to Bristol?

 

[TheWalrus]

Is there a huge, or even a small, uncatered for demand between Lydney, Chepstow, Caldicot and Bristol?

In my experience, Lydney residents look to gloucester as their nearest centre for employment - this may not be true of Chepstow and Caldicot, but how many people are there in these towns, and would it be desirable to block Severn Tunnel Junction for 8 minutes to allow them the opportunity of travelling direct to Bristol?

I don't know. However it's just an idea I have picked up from the RUS. Yet I do believe the planner has a valid point here; 4 tph through the tunnel without freight paths, and a margin of 8 mins may not work.

 

[Greenback]

I'm all in favour of better connections at Severn Tunnel Junction. The station has become more important and I cna understand how local inhabitants can choose to commute in either direction. this should be acknowledged by more calls, which would have the spin off benefit of allowing better journey opportunities from Lydney, Chepstow and Caldicot.

Haviung said that, I would have to vote 'no' to the current proposal - if there was such an option available

 

[Drsatan]

make the Nottingham and all the Portsmouth Hbr trains call at Severn Tunnel Jct

Cardiff-Portsmouth Harbour trains are slow enough already with a journey time of 204 minutes for just over 120 miles without adding in an extra call at Severn Tunnel Junction (quite a few Cardiff-Pompey trains stop there anyway).

I read somewhere (possibly an old edition of RAIL) that NR wanted to install a signal in the middle of the Severn Tunnel to increase capacity, but decided not to since it was decided passengers would be frightened by seeing an ominous red light if their train was stationary in the tunnel. Is this true or not, because if it is true, it seems like an absolutely pathetic reason not to install a signal.

 

[The Planner]

There is a signal in each direction in the tunnel but they are "distant" types and can only show a yellow or green aspect as far as Im aware.

 

[devon_metro]

And plenty of White lights, how a red one would spook anybody is beyond me!

 

[The Planner]

The white ones are gradient markers.