AVR - Northern Extension

BristleGWR · Post by **BristleGWR** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 1:45 pm

I noticed on the Avon Valley Railway page of wikipedia the other week, a comment about a proposed extension north to Ram Hill Colliery.

Quote: Work continues to extend the railway south-east towards Kelston, Weston and a proposed "Bath Riverside" railway station in Bath. Especially to a proposed Ram Hill train station at Ram Hill Colliery via Warmley.

Is this being considered or is the person who added this to the article being a bit too enthusiastic?

Post by **madhattie** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 3:31 pm

Well, Ram Hill isn't near the previously closed railway route, so I can't see any extension going near the place. The closest would be Brandy Bottom or Parkfield, but that route is earmarked for a dual-carriageway to link the Avon ring road to the motorway. I don't think any extension north past the main road at Warmley is ever likely to happen myself. It's just too busy a road for a crossing.

Post by **James** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 9:07 pm

Extending north is a waste of time. The current northern section is the most unwelcoming, miserable, and pointless part of the entire line. Personally I think they should rip up the track north of Bitton and relay it as part of the Bath extension, as the river valley to the east is a million times more attractive than the overgrown rock cutting full of rubbish, and the housing estate...whose younger residents like to hurl abuse and bricks at the trains when they reach Oldland Common.

horace · Post by **horace** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 11:37 pm

North of Warmley Embankment on Siston Common the route is under the ring road, as far as Shortwood so whoever wrote this must of had one or two to many over the christmas.

get_that_bus_out · Post by **get_that_bus_out** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:41 pm

Well, the extension to Ram Hill Colliery is new to me. Never even heard of the place. Until a few years ago it was in our future plans to extend beyond Oldland but only as far as Warmley. This plan was subsequently dropped, for a combination of reasons. The local residents were not overly enthusiastic about the idea and, with the best will in the world it's not the most scenic stretch of line going (by the way, thanks James for your usual positive take on matters AVR!

). It was felt that the railway's time and effort would be much better spent extending south given that the countryside in that direction is much more pleasant and there is also the potential (some distance in the future, admittedly) to tap into the Bath tourist honeypot.

We do get some funny things appearing on the wikipedia page every now and again: a few months ago persons unknown added a note advising cyclists to boycott the station facilities in protest at the railway's expansion. Whether this was connected with the "Boycot (sic) Bitton" messages that were painted on the cycle path at around the same time I don't know.

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:46 pm

get_that_bus_out wrote:
We do get some funny things appearing on the wikipedia page every now and again: a few months ago persons unknown added a note advising cyclists to boycott the station facilities in protest at the railway's expansion. Whether this was connected with the "Boycot (sic) Bitton" messages that were painted on the cycle path at around the same time I don't know.

I saw those messages when I was taking the dogs for a walk down there. I laughed out loud at them at one point when I saw them describe steam locomotives as "coal trains." Clearly put there by somebody not old enough to have seen a real "coal train" going to Stapleton Road Gas Works!

andy hole · Post by **andy hole** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:20 pm

Latest news on the Plans to extend towards Bath
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8020017.stm

WR Tim · Post by **WR Tim** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:22 am

Robin Summerhill wrote: I saw those messages when I was taking the dogs for a walk down there. I laughed out loud at them at one point when I saw them describe steam locomotives as "coal trains." Clearly put there by somebody not old enough to have seen a real "coal train" going to Stapleton Road Gas Works!

I was a bit upset/annoyed on Saturday morning to see that the 4F tender has been vandalised in the same way*. The other graffiti is childish and irritating but painting on a historic artifact (albeit unrestored) is well beyond that.

*I assume it's the 4F tender - the Fowler looking one that is split into two pieces with the crane and bogies just north of Bitton station (beyond the pedestrian crossing).

john2006 · Post by **john2006** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:05 pm

You may be interested to read the following:

http://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/cgi-bi ... cle_id=208

simon · Post by **simon** » Mon May 04, 2009 9:57 pm

andy hole wrote:Latest news on the Plans to extend towards Bath
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8020017.stm

Gosh that's an old pic.

I'm sure I'm in there somewhere

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Tue May 05, 2009 6:35 pm

andy hole wrote:Latest news on the Plans to extend towards Bath
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8020017.stm

article wrote: Bristol and Bath could be connected by steam train within a decade

Where do these idiots in the newsrooms get their ideas for headlines from?

Firstly, the article doesn't mention extending towards Bristol at all.

Secondly, the likelihood of the authorities allowing a level crossing to be reinstalled at Warmley is remote to say the least.

Thirdly, as Horace has posted, Mangotsfield South junction is under a ring road.

Fourthly, in some of their other recent reports they have mentioned the opposition to using the Bristol-Mangotsfield formation for anything other than a cycle track and footpath (in my mind completely unjustifiably because the line was built to double track broad guage width, so there is plenty of room for a footpath and a railway)

Fifthly, Fishponds and sixthly Kingswood Junction. I shall say no more!

And our licence fees pay these idiots' wages