Yep, I know there's been news for a while that a new platform was being built at Parkway, so hearing that it was to open this month I went down earlier to take a look at things and grab a few pics.
At present the new platform (backing onto what is currently platform 1 - making it an island now) is numbered 4!
After speaking to the station staff it appears they are indeed going to apply the same principal on platform 2 also making that an island. He pointed out that the existing platforms will be re-numbered to make life a little less confusing than it looks now with 1 & 4 next to each other!
Not sure about the existing rails tho, no work has taken place there as yet. Still, at least it'll reduce congestion a hell of a lot with slower stopping trains no longer backing up the HST's and Voyagers![/img]
Parkway getting 4th Platform!
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Rich_Eason
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Was thinking about that after I left. Can only assume that seeing as the new Platform 4 is now closest to the station buildings, that the existing ones will be numbered 3 and 2, and the next one to be built will be platform 1.
Looks like they'll be doing what they did at Temple Meads years back and reversing all the platform numbering.
Looks like they'll be doing what they did at Temple Meads years back and reversing all the platform numbering.
If the down reception line is to be uprgraded and a new platform created, I hope Network Rail thinks laterally and provides a connection from the down reception to the Filton curve so that trains could proceed towards Bristol without tying up the down main. A facing crossover on the curve would also create some flexibilty to turn local services around at Parkway without affecting the main lines. Or is that too much to ask for?
They may take that option, although that brings us back to the age old problem of Filton Bank and the fact that whatever happens past Abbey Wood, there's still only the main up and down lines.
It made me laugh on the news report last nite when the platform was opened, and it was stated that First Great Western need to improve their services.
All very well, but when network rail have already predicted a substantial increase in passenger numbers in the future, along with a distinct freight increase, we STILL only have 2 main lines from Parkway to Dr Days, and the same in the other direction back to the Midland Junction at Westerleigh. Obviously there's little can be done east of Parkway due to the limitations of the existing embankments, but Filton Bank is still there and ready and waiting to be quadrupled again.
Surely this is the only option to enable improved services throughout Bristol, or am I the only one who thinks so?!!!
It made me laugh on the news report last nite when the platform was opened, and it was stated that First Great Western need to improve their services.
All very well, but when network rail have already predicted a substantial increase in passenger numbers in the future, along with a distinct freight increase, we STILL only have 2 main lines from Parkway to Dr Days, and the same in the other direction back to the Midland Junction at Westerleigh. Obviously there's little can be done east of Parkway due to the limitations of the existing embankments, but Filton Bank is still there and ready and waiting to be quadrupled again.
Surely this is the only option to enable improved services throughout Bristol, or am I the only one who thinks so?!!!
When I was a freight guard in Bristol many years ago, I worked some of the engineer's trains involved in lifting the redundant track between Dr. Day's and Filton junctions. I thought then that it was unwise to "Dequadrify" (a British Rail buzzword of that era), the line between these two junctions. The bridge at Stapleton Road was to blame: BR had no money to strengthen it, so the up and down Filton Mains had to go.
At the same time Filton Junction became a single lead affair: I recall shunting the coal yard up there one day when a Portsmouth - Cardiff service passed a signal at danger and came to a stand just yards away from a Cardiff - Portsmouth service which had also slammed the brakes on. A close call, that one.....
At the same time Filton Junction became a single lead affair: I recall shunting the coal yard up there one day when a Portsmouth - Cardiff service passed a signal at danger and came to a stand just yards away from a Cardiff - Portsmouth service which had also slammed the brakes on. A close call, that one.....
The bridge at Stapleton Road was to blame
What a surprise! The bridge is weak so we'll just reduce half of the running tracks to make things more congested, and - as you pointed out - rather more dangerous!
And now to put things back to how they were it'll cost them probably 10 times what it would have done back then to just strenghten the bridge!
Of course, another thing to remember is that up until the late 60's there were 4 running lines up Filton Bank, AND they didn't have to contend with all of the midland traffic as that ran through Westerleigh and Mangotsfield onto Temple Meads.
So not only did they divert all of that existing traffic through the twin line Coalpit Heath to Filton junction section, they then lifted the additional lines to congest things even further!
And now to put things back to how they were it'll cost them probably 10 times what it would have done back then to just strenghten the bridge!
Of course, another thing to remember is that up until the late 60's there were 4 running lines up Filton Bank, AND they didn't have to contend with all of the midland traffic as that ran through Westerleigh and Mangotsfield onto Temple Meads.
So not only did they divert all of that existing traffic through the twin line Coalpit Heath to Filton junction section, they then lifted the additional lines to congest things even further!
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tugboatcharly2
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THE Bridge at Stapleton road on the down main
At the time it was proposed to close the down and up main lines it was believed that it was the bridge that was the problem, however attending a consultation meeting with the management it was finally got out from the chairman that the track on the the Berks&Hants in the Patney area was in a bad way so to kill to birds with one stone the track was lifted and transferred to the B&E and the bridge left in situ maybe waiting for this day to be reinstated and the up & down main lines put back. I have always hoped that after what the Tories done destroying the system so their friends in the road business would gain that the railway would come back with a vengence now that oli is running out!!! and it looks good for the future. 
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bristolian
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Evenin' all,
From memory, the last day that the old Down Main from Filton to Lawrence Hill was used was Saturday 18th February 1984. Prior to that date, the Up main through Lawrence Hill was disused, although still signalled, as that line, together with the old Down Relief, had been cut and slewed at just north of Ashley Down Station site, in readiness for the taking out of use of the former 'Main' lines.
On that last Saturday, I had a 50 to Parkway from BTM, whilst on a trip to Newport to see 5690 Leander (an ex- Barrow Road Jube). I had a 31 back from Newport, this became my last trip over the old Down Main.
Can anyone recall why the old Down Relief through Horfield platform was still laid with 60' panels until closure? I made many cassette recordings down that stretch of line.
I also took many photographs of the track-lifting trains throughout 1984, I'll have to scan the negs in and upload them someplace. If you go to http://www.class47.co.uk/c47_intro_v2.php and search for 47144, you'll see a couple of my pics there of her at Stapleton Road on one such train.
Very Best Wishes,
Bob.
From memory, the last day that the old Down Main from Filton to Lawrence Hill was used was Saturday 18th February 1984. Prior to that date, the Up main through Lawrence Hill was disused, although still signalled, as that line, together with the old Down Relief, had been cut and slewed at just north of Ashley Down Station site, in readiness for the taking out of use of the former 'Main' lines.
On that last Saturday, I had a 50 to Parkway from BTM, whilst on a trip to Newport to see 5690 Leander (an ex- Barrow Road Jube). I had a 31 back from Newport, this became my last trip over the old Down Main.
Can anyone recall why the old Down Relief through Horfield platform was still laid with 60' panels until closure? I made many cassette recordings down that stretch of line.
I also took many photographs of the track-lifting trains throughout 1984, I'll have to scan the negs in and upload them someplace. If you go to http://www.class47.co.uk/c47_intro_v2.php and search for 47144, you'll see a couple of my pics there of her at Stapleton Road on one such train.
Very Best Wishes,
Bob.