Bristol to Cheltenham diversion

[BlueFox]

I'm on a Crosscountry service from Bristol to Birmingham, and we've been stationary at Bristol Parkway for the last 20 minutes due to a bridge strike.

We've been told we're going to reverse and take a diversionary route to cheltenham.

What would this diversionary route be?

 

[pdeaves]

I'm on a Crosscountry service from Bristol to Birmingham, and we've been stationary at Bristol Parkway for the last 20 minutes due to a bridge strike.

We've been told we're going to reverse and take a diversionary route to cheltenham.

What would this diversionary route be?

Swindon and reverse, I expect. The other possibility is via Severn Tunnel Junction (reverse just west or in Newport) then through Lydney to Gloucester.

Edit: it looks like it's Severn Tunnel.

 

[Mag_seven]

Swindon and reverse, I expect. The other possibility is via Severn Tunnel Junction (reverse just west or in Newport) then through Lydney to Gloucester.

Probably the latter as the OP has been told they are going to reverse at Parkway. Route knowledge will be the decisive factor.

 

[BlueFox]

Swindon and reverse, I expect. The other possibility is via Severn Tunnel Junction (reverse just west or in Newport) then through Lydney to Gloucester.

We've just been through the Severn tunnel.

 

[Mag_seven]

Question now is will they reverse at STJ or Newport.

 

[BlueFox]

Question now is will they reverse at STJ or Newport.

It was to the West of Severn Tunnel junction, just after going under the M4.

 

[PHILIPE]

Probably the latter as the OP has been told they are going to reverse at Parkway. Route knowledge will be the decisive factor.

XC crews have the requisite route knowledge to divert via Lydney. It is used as diversionary route for Engineering work quite often

 

[CC 72100]

Sometimes it's STJ, sometimes Newport. I've done Newport (timetabled due to engineering) before, so can now cross the STJ reversal off the list :P

 

[Smethwickian]

Bridge damage is at Yate, I hear.
This is not going to be helpful if delays persist by the time crowds pour out of the Cheltenham Festival after the last race at around 6pm. And I have to get home from work... Grrr.

 

[PHILIPE]

I'm on a Crosscountry service from Bristol to Birmingham, and we've been stationary at Bristol Parkway for the last 20 minutes due to a bridge strike.

We've been told we're going to reverse and take a diversionary route to cheltenham.

What would this diversionary route be?

From what I can gather from various posts, damage to bridge but not caused by strike.

 

[455driver]

Booked reversals are normally done in stations but adhoc ones like this are usually done at the earliest convenient point so as to minimise delays.

 

[D1009]

Announced at Bristol Parkway as being a structural issue with a bridge. XC and GWR services being diverted via Severn Tunnel Jn, with the latter serving Bristol Parkway. XC running direct Temple Meads to Severn Tunnel. The Tracksy signalling map indicates the block as being between Charfield and Berkeley Road Jn. A replacement coach is running Bristol Parkway to Yate and Cam and Dursley.

 

[D1009]

This is not going to be helpful if delays persist by the time crowds pour out of the Cheltenham Festival after the last race at around 6pm. And I have to get home from work... Grrr.

Line reopened around 1715. First trains 2E25 1528 Warminster to Great Malvern going north, and 1V60 0820 Aberdeen to Penzance going south.

 

[BestWestern]

Was allegedly something to do with work being undertaken on the bridge, resulting in masonry falling.

 

[father_jack]

Was allegedly something to do with work being undertaken on the bridge, resulting in masonry falling.

Berkeley road overbridge 108m 5ch. Hit and run. Bricks bulging out. Bridge shored up. NWR before racing folk in borrowed tweed jackets came back with empty pockets.

 

[anti-pacer]

Is it quite a nice route between Chepstow and Gloucester?

 

[30907]

Is it quite a nice route between Chepstow and Gloucester?

Yes, partly along the Severn

 

[Envoy]

Is it quite a nice route between Chepstow and Gloucester?

Yes, it is a lovely line with the estuary on one side and the Forest of Dean to the north. You also get a view of Chepstow Castle if you are quick. The only XC services that use this route are Nottingham > Birmingham > Cardiff which have 170’s with nice big windows. In addition ATW, Cheltenham > Gloucester > Cardiff and (usually) Maesteg stoppers use the line.

 

[LordCreed]

Is it quite a nice route between Chepstow and Gloucester?

One of my favourite routes. Supposedly Severn Tunnel will be shut later this year, so the ideal time to do it on a HST for the best view.

 

[duffield]

Yes, it is a lovely line with the estuary on one side and the Forest of Dean to the north.

And don't forget: Change at Lydney for the Dean Forest Railway!

 

[Mag_seven]

One of my favourite routes. Supposedly Severn Tunnel will be shut later this year, so the ideal time to do it on a HST for the best view.

Not forgetting the picturesque "Golden Valley" if you travel Swindon-Gloucester-Newport. One of those "best kept secrets" scenic rail trips.

 

[Envoy]

Not forgetting the picturesque "Golden Valley" if you travel Swindon-Gloucester-Newport. One of those "best kept secrets" scenic rail trips.

I agree - I did it last August bank holiday. So, going west to east > look out for the Severn bridges > then around the bend to Chepstow - castle on N side > now along the Severn estuary with Forest of Dean on N side. Next > through Gloucester with a short burst of speed before swinging off left through Storehouse and Stroud. Now you go relatively slowly through the Golden Valley with huge trees and Cotswold stone cottages. The train then goes through the Sapperton tunnel under the Cotswold ridge before belting across undulating farmlands via Kemble to Swindon.

PS. If you are travelling out from London/Reading to do this trip - might as well go all the way to Cardiff. (Don’t bother with Newport).

 

[SwindonBert]

I agree - I did it last August bank holiday. So, going west to east > look out for the Severn bridges > then around the bend to Chepstow - castle on N side > now along the Severn estuary with Forest of Dean on N side. Next > through Gloucester with a short burst of speed before swinging off left through Storehouse and Stroud. Now you go relatively slowly through the Golden Valley with huge trees and Cotswold stone cottages. The train then goes through the Sapperton tunnel under the Cotswold ridge before belting across undulating farmlands via Kemble to Swindon.

PS. If you are travelling out from London/Reading to do this trip - might as well go all the way to Cardiff. (Don’t bother with Newport).

The Golden Valley is the service I use the most, it's so easy to forget to look out at the scenery when you travel so often!

There has been a serious cutting back of the trees along the route after the Sapperton tunnel recently

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The Golden Valley is the service I use the most, it's so easy to forget to look out at the scenery when you travel so often!

The northern bit of the Golden Valley between Sapperton and Standish always struck me as out of place down there as it reminds me so much of the runs through the Pennines with the towns down in the valley below and the railway being really hemmed in. The southern bit however is a belter between Sapperton and Swindon. Wiltshire is alas very sadly overlooked when it comes to scenery. Some of the stuff in the North Wessex Downs is amongst the best scenery I've ever been in in England.

 

[Chris M]

PS. If you are travelling out from London/Reading to do this trip - might as well go all the way to Cardiff. (Don’t bother with Newport).

Newpot Transporter Bridge is worth a visit (but not a trip on it's own). If you're interested in Roman history then Caerwent (museum, Roman fort) and Caerleon (largest and best preserved Roman amphitheatre in Britain, largest outside Italy according to some sources), just outside Newport, are a must. I don't know how easy they are to get to by public transport these days though.

 

[Envoy]

Newpot Transporter Bridge is worth a visit (but not a trip on it's own). If you're interested in Roman history then Caerwent (museum, Roman fort) and Caerleon (largest and best preserved Roman amphitheatre in Britain, largest outside Italy according to some sources), just outside Newport, are a must. I don't know how easy they are to get to by public transport these days though.

Agreed - and I have been to all the places you mention. Caerleon is difficult to reach from the M4 and it is a pity that they have not re-opened the rail station - which is on The Marches Line. (This is the line that you see heading north just east of the bridge over the Usk. It is also very scenic).

On the west side of Newport is:> https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tredegar-house

 

[Envoy]

For those of you wishing to do these routes when the Severn Tunnel is not closed and coming from Swindon & points east:> put in for a journey from your start point to Gloucester (GCR) and note your arrival times. Then put in for Gloucester > Chepstow. (You could of course choose to travel further to maybe Cardiff).

Chepstow has a castle but you may wish to take a bus up the Wye Valley to see Tintern Abbey. Bus Schedules here:>https://www.traveline.cymru
http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/tinternabbey/?lang=en

You could, of course, always have a look around Gloucester on the outward or return leg.