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Campaign for an appropriate TransWilts train service This is page http://www.wellho.net/mouth/3873_Hen ... tial-.html Our email: info@wellho.net • Phone: 01144 1225 708225 |
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Henbury loop, Bristol - a freight railway line with passenger potential?
Today offered a chance to travel on some unusual railway lines in the Bristol area as part of the Community Rail Festival, and I was lucky enough to get a seat on the 11:08 train, which turned out to run from Bristol Temple Meads up the main line north to Filton, across the freight only line via Henbury to St. Andrew's Road on the Severn Beach line, then back into Bristol Temple Meads via Avonmouth and Clifton Down. For many, this was an opportunity to travel on a line they had never been on before; it was more than that for me, it was also an opportunity to take a look at a section of track and think how existing rail resources can be used - perhaps with relatively small works - for much more than they do at present.  The abandoned platform at Henbury. It's just off the A38 trunk road, and very close to Filton College. And it's neighbouring the BAE Systems plant which is where Concode was built. The site has shrunk. Much more is changing as I read of mergers and takeovers, and I see areas of industry cleared for redevelopment in the immediate area, and across the road at the huge old Roll Royce plant which has shrunk into a section near to Patchway station across the far side of the Rolls area. The railway line crosses right over one of the taxiways on the Filton airfield and - my goodness - what an opportunity that should be (or have been) for a well linked airport for Bristol; the motorway is quite close too, with rail access direct to the terminal direct from the suburban rail network. Alas, international flights land and take off instead at Lulsgate, to the south of the city and far from the railway line and far from the motorway, and this looks like an option that's already been lost in planning - I'm sure Bristol's planning and development experts have good reasons. The railway drops off the higher land that the airfield is on and crosses over both the M5 and the M49 - and here's yet another opportunity for a park and ride transfer; it may be one opportunity too many, as others are available nearby on the current Avonmouth line (work being done at Shirehampton for opening next year) and in the future at Pill / Gordano if the Portishead line re-opensAnyway - a fascinating trip and a learning experience. Campaigners are talking about a half hourly service on lines in the Bristol area such as this one; in oder for that to work, there would need to be some extra tracks relayed between the main line at Narrowways Junction and Avonmouth as the passing loops are 10 minutes apart - great for an "every 20 minutes" service and great for "every 40 minutes", but impractical for "every 30 minutes". We'll see what happens on that, as the next natural step up would be from every 40 minutes as it is at present, with the problem of remembering which hour you're in, to a 30 minute service which would be "clockface" within each hour. (written 2012-09-29, updated 2012-10-06) Associated topics are indexed as below, or enter http://melksh.am/nnnn for individual articles Z501 - Public Transport - Rail[4110] TransWilts meeting ... - (2013-06-07) [4105] Our day trip by train from Swindon, Chippenham and Melksham to Weymouth - (2013-05-28) [4104] Weymouth vis the TransWilts - the day out today - (2013-05-27) [4080] Fancy a day at the seaside? Weymouth from Melksham - (2013-05-06) [4040] Report on the last year - Melksham Railway Developement Group for Melksham Without Parish Council - (2013-03-11) [4022] A request for all of Melksham transport groups to work integrated - (2013-03-01) [3995] Onward from Brussels - (2013-02-04) [3994] On board Eurostar - a running commentary - (2013-02-04) [3993] Two trains a day ... how many fares to London? Guess! - (2013-02-04) [3986] Rail services in Wiltshire - up in the air? We need to say what is best required. - (2013-01-20) [3942] Santa Trip - Melksham Railway Development Group, 2012 - (2012-12-03) [3938] A long overdue meeting - a steeping stone towards coordinate transport user inputs - (2012-12-02) [3937] Agenda for Wiltshire Link Travel groups meeting, Saturday 1st December 2012 - (2012-11-27) [3923] 35 minutes is only a slight delay on our railway service - (2012-11-15) [3904] Want to help us improve transport in Wiltshire? Here is how! - (2012-10-26) [3899] Father Christmas to be on train in Melksham - (2012-10-19) [3893] Public Transport across Wiltshire - a new map - (2012-10-13) [3890] Here comes Santa - on the train from Melksham to Swindon on 2nd December 2012 - (2012-10-13) [3882] Community Transport - Pewsey, Taunton, and the whole picture too - (2012-10-06) [3881] Wiltshire Public Transport User Group co-ordination - (2012-10-05) [3879] Mixed mode travel - Information systems - (2012-10-03) [3872] Trains across Wiltshire - an update on the TransWilts - (2012-09-28) [3860] Melksham to Steam in Swindon, by train - great day out - (2012-09-16) [3826] TransWilts trains - what the next franchise period will bring - (2012-08-04) [3815] The Melksham News - July 2012 - Part 2, TransWilts Rail, Wilts and Berks Canal - (2012-07-23) [3804] Scenes from commuting by train - (2012-07-14) [3802] What a difference a year makes - (2012-07-10) [3795] Like a bathroom company with no plumbers - (2012-07-04) [3793] Excellent Rail News - what it really means - (2012-07-01) [3786] Improving Wiltshire Rail Offer - it WILL be happening - (2012-06-28) [3784] Steam train calls at Melksham - Pictures - (2012-06-26) [3765] Christmas in June? Melksham hotel bookings and Santa train - (2012-06-15) [3761] Melksham - placed 2254 out of 2255. What can be done about it? - (2012-06-11) [3736] Abstraction - (2012-05-19) [3728] The future needs for rail services to Melksham - change needed; current service an insult - (2012-05-11) [3699] Bristol 50? Bristol 25? - (2012-04-17) [3671] Future train services in Wiltshire - please write in to support a better service - (2012-03-24) [3668] Kings Cross - new concourse - between Python in Cambridge and Objective C in London - (2012-03-22) [3642] Wiltshire Travel Times - Chippenham, Trowbridge, Salisbury and other places too - (2012-03-07) [3631] Getting around Dublin by public transport - some observations - (2012-03-01) [3626] There is so much to see travelling by train - (2012-02-26) [3601] Rail Travel - has it become more unreliable? - (2012-02-02) [3579] Transport in Cambridgeshire - seen by an outside observer. What can Wiltshire learn? - (2012-01-15) [3565] What would an appropriate train service on the TransWilts line mean - (2011-12-31) [3564] I wish I was not a special case - (2011-12-29) [3550] Provide a useable train service, and people will use it! - (2011-12-11) [3538] Santa Train - another successful trip - 4th December 2011 - (2011-12-04) [3501] Santa Claus - on the train from Melksham on 4th December 2011 - (2011-10-30) [3493] West Wilts Rail User Group - Walk yesterday from Bradford-on-Avon to Trowbridge - (2011-10-23) [3487] Public transport - road and rail - (2011-10-19) [3486] How important is public transport to people in the Melksham area? - (2011-10-19) [3452] Which or ATOC - who reads train fares right? - (2011-09-22) [3434] Sundays - and over eating - (2011-09-11) [3410] A review of the Summer Sunday extra trains on the TransWilts line - (2011-08-29) [3408] Journey home by public transport for a Bank Holiday - (2011-08-27) [3403] Last chance this summer - Swindon and North Wiltshire to Weymouth by through train - (2011-08-22) [3392] What costs 8.20 from Melksham, or 22.30 via Chippenham? - (2011-08-14) [3378] New product - ensuring that supply matches demand - (2011-08-03) [3371] From Wiltshire to Weymouth on Sundays - (2011-07-27) [3370] Standing Challenge - (2011-07-26) [3364] Dogs Legs on the Dogleg - (2011-07-20) [3362] Swindon, Chippenham and Melksham to Weymouth - Sunday Train Service Starts - (2011-07-19) [3336] Efficient travel - from Melsksham to Edinburgh by Sleeper Train - (2011-06-26) [3331] Comparing Alloa and Melksham - stations and services - (2011-06-23) [3328] Summer Sundays - days out by train from Swindon on the TransWilts - (2011-06-18) [3318] Summer Sunday Trains - outings from Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge and Westbury - (2011-06-05) [3274] Small scale improvement - big scale gain. And they CAN be done with local knowledge - (2011-05-02) [3273] Wanted - a look to the future - (2011-05-02) [3198] TransWilts rail - coming together, wanted and needed - (2011-03-10) [3187] Past and Present - Melksham Station - (2011-02-27) [3178] The cost of roadworks on the economy of our town - 1800 pounds per hour? - (2011-02-20) [3176] Comparing German, Dutch and British Railways - (2011-02-19) [3171] Train and boat journey - the passenger accommodation - (2011-02-15) [3167] Can I take my dog by train? And other questions - (2011-02-12) [3161] TransWilts rail - what picture represents us - (2011-02-08) [3141] Wiltshire Rail services - a golden opportunity - (2011-01-21) [3135] A time to be brave? We should ask for what is best for our area. - (2011-01-16) [3119] TransWilts - some things to see and do - (2011-01-03) [3114] Transwilts Link - both Wiltshire and beyond - (2010-12-30) [3113] Trowbridge and Melksham to Chippenham - more roadworks, even slower journey over the winter - (2010-12-30) [3111] TransWilts Link - Days out from Swindon to Weymouth? - (2010-12-28) [3080] Santa Special - rather more special than usual - December 2010 - (2010-12-07) [3079] TransWilts Rail News ... Melksham (Santa Special) Edition ... 5th December 2010 - (2010-12-04) [3033] Rail services back to Radstock? - (2010-11-07) [3031] Get all your ducks in a row ... and they may turn into swans - (2010-11-06) [3017] Seventh day traveller on the six day railway - (2010-10-27) [3006] Santa announcement, 5th December 2010, Melksham - (2010-10-20) [2982] Travel, Transport and Tourism - A vision for Melksham, 2026 - (2010-10-03) [2955] Melksham Railway Station - new information point - (2010-09-13) [2954] Railway meetings, trips and meetups this autumn - (2010-09-12) [2931] Syncronise - software, trains, and buses. Please! - (2010-08-22) [2930] Walk - Tilehurst to Pangborne - (2010-08-21) [2919] London to Calne, Corsham, Melksham, Bradford-on-Avon, Chippenham by public Transport - (2010-08-13) [2908] How Green is my train? - (2010-08-07) [2901] Ambassador or Anorak? - (2010-08-03) [2855] Train Services - Melksham to Bath and Bristol (and airport) - (2010-07-05) [2808] From home to Nurnberg - journey pictures - (2010-06-13) [2696] Garlic bread without garlic - (2010-03-27) [2678] Reaching out to the community - a good case for support - (2010-03-15) [2664] Oliver Cromwell at Bristol Temple Meads - (2010-03-06) [2662] Is Melksham public transport actually used? - (2010-03-05) [2658] Save the Train - a significant change in approach - (2010-03-03) [2634] London to and from Melksham by public transport - (2010-02-13) [2627] Saturdays out from Melksham - to Oxford, to Didcot or to Swindon - (2010-02-07) [2626] On Malachite Green - (2010-02-06) [2568] Forums for your Melksham and open source discussions - (2010-01-09) [2557] Rail Campaign - response to core consultation - (2009-12-31) [2556] Railway Station Survey - please complete today or tomorrow - (2009-12-30) [2533] Five guests, three groups, one car - (2009-12-11) [2529] Santa Special, 2009 - (2009-12-06) [2522] Integrated public Transport - what could be done for Melksham - (2009-12-01) [2513] Wiltshire Council purchases Melksham Station Land - (2009-11-26) [2511] The story of the railway land at Melksham Station - (2009-11-24) [2486] Santa Special - Trowbridge and Melksham to Swindon - (2009-10-31) [2477] By train ... - (2009-10-25) [2473] Exploring Old Railways - (2009-10-24) [2457] Railway Arithmetic - (2009-10-16) [2438] Listening to The Minister - (2009-10-05) [2395] From Lymington by train - last of the slammers - (2009-09-05) [2391] Great Western Route Utilisation Strategy - Draft for Consultation - (2009-09-02) [2372] Public Transport from (and to) Melksham on Sundays - (2009-08-23) [2328] Melksham - no trains, no southbound buses through the town - (2009-08-08) [2318] For Lua Programmers AND for Town Planners - (2009-08-02) [2268] Westbury Bypass Refused - looking forward - (2009-07-04) [2133] Bigger and better this year! - (2009-04-20) [2057] Train and Coach fares from London (and airports) to Melksham - (2009-02-26) [2042] Wiltshire Rail Service Update - (2009-02-15) [2026] Melksham Climate Friendly Group - (2009-02-05) [2024] Carry on Training - in spite of the weather - (2009-02-03) [1999] How low can you sink? - (2009-01-17) [1966] Background to the TransWilts Train Fiasco - (2008-12-29) [1965] How much does a train service actually cost - (2008-12-29) [1964] Why hasnt the fiasco been put right - (2008-12-29) [1905] A Gold Star for First Great Western Customer Service - (2008-11-24) [1858] Camera with night vision, youth with no vision - (2008-10-28) [1848] 30th November - Santa Trip from Melksham - (2008-10-19) [1757] Preserved railways - struggling to the future? - (2008-08-17) [1729] Back from the future - (2008-07-30) [1708] A Train Service Update for Melksham Party in the Park - (2008-07-13) [1616] Not daring to be an anorak - (2008-04-19) [1567] Melksham - Swindon. Train v Bus v Car - (2008-03-07) [1558] Getting somewhere with the train service - (2008-02-28) [1530] Railway Acronyms and Abbreviations - (2008-02-03) [1452] Santa on the train to Melksham - (2007-12-01) [1428] Travel Across Wiltshire - the game - (2007-11-11) [1424] Closer than you think - the next step - (2007-11-08) [1382] First Great Western - information for customers - (2007-10-07) [1358] Look forward with a new broom - Wiltshire Train Service - (2007-09-19) [1314] Business travel by train in the USA - (2007-08-22) [1303] Heading Upstate New York - (2007-08-14) [1291] Day trip to Weymouth - (2007-08-05) [1274] Radio coverage for railway issues - (2007-07-23) [1273] Melksham or Weymouth? Meal or day out? - (2007-07-23) [1228] Some progress on the train campaign - (2007-06-10) [1139] Overcrowded trains around Bristol - (2007-04-08) [1097] Train and business balls all in the air! - (2007-03-02) [1093] Wiltshire Train - can YOU come on 5th March? - (2007-02-25) [1076] Save the Train - an update - (2007-02-12) [1069] Rail trouble forced me to buy hotel - (2007-02-07) [1063] Bradford-on-Avon - 150 years of passenger trains - (2007-02-03) [1045] Bang! Train campaign hits home - (2007-01-19) [1044] Call for appropriate train services - Swindon, Bristol, Bath, West Wilts, Severn Beach etc - (2007-01-18) [1033] Empty at Easleigh, Missing at Melksham, Overflowing at Oldfield - (2007-01-14) [976] Santa at the station - (2006-12-09) [974] The last commuter train through Melksham - (2006-12-09) [952] Coming from London to Melksham by train for a course - (2006-11-28) [877] Yes, but what do we do now?? - (2006-09-24) [814] Melksham Railway Calendar 2007 - (2006-07-25) [803] Not shouting - (2006-07-16) [790] Shadow Transport Minister to visit Melksham - (2006-07-02) [697] For any North and West Wilts and Swindon Readers - (2006-04-23) [688] Are you free on Friday evening? - (2006-04-18) [648] West Wilts Railway Users Group and trains to Lacock - (2006-03-16) [634] Real chance to make a difference - (2006-03-05) [632] Moral dilemma - (2006-03-04) [527] Greater Western Franchise Awarded - (2005-12-13) [524] Santa comes to Melksham - (2005-12-11) [521] Proof needed? Please just use common sense! - (2005-12-08) [488] Looking for railway groups and users - Swindon, Salisbury, Southampton - (2005-11-06) [486] Rail services under threat - Swindon, Melksham ... and Newquay and Bicester too - (2005-11-05) [447] Tomorrow's meeting. - (2005-09-19) [434] Through public transport connection, Chippenham to Salisbury, to cease - (2005-09-02) [428] Swindon - Chippenham - Melksham - Trowbridge - Westbury train service - (2005-08-29) [154] Railway train service, Melksham station - (2004-12-17) 1b94
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