New Platform Bristol Parkway

[Mojo]

The new platform at Bristol Parkway was opened earlier in the week by Tom Harris, Alison Forster, Doug Naysmith MP & someone from NR. I passed through it yesterday on a train and saw that the new platform was numbered 4, so the platforms are now numbered 2, 1 and 4 (in that order). I suppose it makes sense when they add the other platform, so only 1 platform will need renumbering.

Couldn't get much of a view from the train, but it might be a bit windswept with little of the original back of the platform remaining, except in 1 area. Although there are still 2 waiting rooms - the new one includes automatic doors, but it looks a bit narrow to put a wheelchair in!

I know there are TV screens which display platform numbers, but the LED scrolling display remains in the same location, displaying the next 3 trains with no idea what platform they'll be on. Unless it just displays plat 1 by default, but there didn't appear to be signage to this effect.

There are things hanging from the platform roof covered in black bags which I presume are the OFF indicators.

Could help out during the day, as the xx01 and xx31 HSTs to Paddington are often a few minutes late, meaning the following Voyager at xx09 and xx39 sometimes has to wait outside the station.

 

[PeterH]

I use parkway a lot cant say i can see the point of it just that now the walls gone you get wet a lot quicker

 

[Mojo]

You could always stand at either end of the platform, or in the waiting room where there *are* walls

The point of it is to ease capacity constraints, either when trains terminate there (lots of talk about the FIT terminators will be extended to here & a few years later to Yate when they get the turnback sorted). Another issue is the one I've mentioned, allowing 2 trains in each direction to load/unload.

 

[PeterH]

Sorry forgot about the 2 small waiting rooms that are full up when there are a platform full of ppl waiting for a Padington train plus only train ive seen in new palatform on a morning are EWS coal trains

 

[Techniquest]

So does p4 actually get used yet?

 

[Mojo]

I've never seen it used, but it can be, by trains in either direction.

 

[PeterH]

So where is Platform 3

 

[Mojo]

It doesn't exist... yet When the other platform is built by platform 2 in the same way they did plat 4, they will renumber.

 

[devon_metro]

The 31 tour the other week used it.

 

[Mintona]

Are there any photos of it, coz I've yet to be to Bristol Parkway since the completion of the platform.

 

[Mojo]

From the NR website:

 

[devon_metro]

http://antony-christie.fotopic.net/p42298762.html

 

[Mintona]

Looks nice, thanks guys.