What if the Severn Railway Bridge hadn't been destroyed?

[Eddd]

The bridge formerly crossed the river Severn downstream of Gloucester, between Lydney and Sharpness. It was demolished following barge collisions and partial collapse.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severn_Railway_Bridge

Would it have been demolished anyway?
Would it now be the basis of a thriving North-South Gloucestershire metro service?
Or an extension of the Dean Forest Railway maybe.

 

[6Gman]

It would have gone anyway.

It was low speed (AIUI) and hugely expensive to maintain.

 

[MarkyT]

The north-east chord at Westerleigh/Yate and a south facing branch connection near Berkeley would also need to have been retained.
The other 'Severn Tunnel Avoider' rail route to Newport from Swindon, via Stroud and Gloucester, is marginally longer (by less than 10%), but probably faster. Going between Newport and Bristol via Sharpness more than doubles the distance however, so especially now with the two road bridges for resilience, bus substitution on this section makes far more sense in the event of a tunnel closure.
The complete lack of road bridges in the area suggests there's no local cross river demand to tap into that doesn't already go via Chestow or Gloucester. As a huge liability and with little income, I doubt the rail bridge could have survived much longer, even without the collision. Perhaps it might more usefully have been converted into a road bridge, a Lydney feeder to get onto the M5 to the south of Gloucester. Perhaps the Vale of Berkeley and Dean Forest Railways could team up to launch a new 'bridge the gap' appeal!

 

[PeterC]

From the Wikipedia account the original intention had been to rebuild, the decision to demolish was only made after the options were costed. However the nature of the river makes it very likely that another ship would have overshot the docks and hit it in just the same way.

 

[tiptoptaff]

It would probably be open, with line speeds upped to make it a viable diversion for the tunnel. At the time of the barge strike that condemned it, BR were in the process of strengthening it, there are photos of Castles (RA Red, with the bridge being Blue) passing over on loaded tests to gauge what was required to do so.

I reckon there would be regular passenger services over it, possibly 1tph peak and 1tp2h off peak in each direction on the loop, leaving Cardiff in opposite half hours - Cardiff-Cardiff loop calling Newport, Severn Tunnel Jcn, Caldicot, Chepstow, Lydney, Sharpness?(if it remained open by virtue of the branch being there) Yate, Bristol Parkway, Patchway, Severn Tunnel, Newport and Cardiff - increased to include the proposed Metro stops at Ely, Maindee and Llanwern as they opened in time. Possibly the TfW foray in to Bristol, more likely a GWR service.

 

[PeterC]

It would probably be open, with line speeds upped to make it a viable diversion for the tunnel. At the time of the barge strike that condemned it, BR were in the process of strengthening it, there are photos of Castles (RA Red, with the bridge being Blue) passing over on loaded tests to gauge what was required to do so.

I reckon there would be regular passenger services over it, possibly 1tph peak and 1tp2h off peak in each direction on the loop, leaving Cardiff in opposite half hours - Cardiff-Cardiff loop calling Newport, Severn Tunnel Jcn, Caldicot, Chepstow, Lydney, Sharpness?(if it remained open by virtue of the branch being there) Yate, Bristol Parkway, Patchway, Severn Tunnel, Newport and Cardiff - increased to include the proposed Metro stops at Ely, Maindee and Llanwern as they opened in time. Possibly the TfW foray in to Bristol, more likely a GWR service.

If the bridge survived (there was another barge strike on the remains before they were demolished) I think that it would still be in use. I don't think that a metro service would run back through the tunnel though but Cardiff - Bristol providing commuter services from Chestow, Lydney and Sharpness to Bristol, Newport and Cardiff.

 

[tiptoptaff]

If the bridge survived (there was another barge strike on the remains before they were demolished) I think that it would still be in use. I don't think that a metro service would run back through the tunnel though but Cardiff - Bristol providing commuter services from Chestow, Lydney and Sharpness to Bristol, Newport and Cardiff.

I think the loop would be to provide an extra train between Parkway and Cardiff that calls at Severn Tunnel - it's a reasonably busy market currently and has the potential for further tapping for the London trade. So a service like this would provide for passengers to travel Tunnel Jcn to Paddington, without doubling back at Newport or driving to Parkway, without the need to stop HSTs there. It would do this in addition to the commuter traffic

 

[4141]

It would probably be open, with line speeds upped to make it a viable diversion for the tunnel. At the time of the barge strike that condemned it, BR were in the process of strengthening it, there are photos of Castles (RA Red, with the bridge being Blue) passing over on loaded tests to gauge what was required to do so.

...and here's a YT clip to prove it...

 

[geoffk]

My guess is that it would have survived for a few more years carrying trains but afterwards as a footpath/cycle route, maybe also for buses. When the collision happened, children from Dursley and Berkeley attended school in Lydney, and these had to go via Gloucester for the remainder of their studies.

 

[PartyOperator]

Some speculative ideas reported in the local news on a possible replacement bridge:

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/another-bridge-over-river-severn-3389047

"Another bridge over the River Severn? Proposal to link Stroud and Forest of Dean being explored

But is a rail bridge, which could also provide pedestrian and cycle links, feasible?

Work to explore whether to build a new rail bridge over the River Severn connecting Stroud and the Forest of Dean is being drawn up, according to a council document.

The proposal is being explored to connect to metro systems in Bristol and South Wales through Gloucestershire - as well as for people to walk and cycle across the River Severn.

Gloucestershire County Council is exploring the feasibility of a rail crossing in a brief for its rail investment strategy, a Stroud District Council report said.

The report adds that a new rail bridge "might also present an opportunity to provide better pedestrian and cycling links between existing/new communities" on either side of the severn.

Stroud District Council Leader Doina Cornell said the there are "huge challenges to face", such as public transport and dealing with a climate emergency, but a new rail bridge is "a long way down the line".

The exploration of a new Severn connection is tasked by a new board set up to look at improving infrastructure and connectivity between the two districts, called the Severn Vale Board, as part of the Gloucestershire Vision 2050 project.

...

 

[deltic08]

From the Wikipedia account the original intention had been to rebuild, the decision to demolish was only made after the options were costed. However the nature of the river makes it very likely that another ship would have overshot the docks and hit it in just the same way.

It lasted 81 years without damage.

My guess is that it would have survived for a few more years carrying trains but afterwards as a footpath/cycle route, maybe also for buses. When the collision happened, children from Dursley and Berkeley attended school in Lydney, and these had to go via Gloucester for the remainder of their studies.

It would not have shut in the Beeching cuts because a replacement bus service could not be provided and money had just been spent on upgrading for heavier trains.
I was a schoolboy at that school when the accident happened. Most of the children were from Sharpness. The service from Sharpness via Gloucester to Lydney Town station only continued until the end of the 1962 academic year when places were made available at Dursley.

 

[geoffk]

It lasted 81 years without damage.

It would not have shut in the Beeching cuts because a replacement bus service could not be provided and money had just been spent on upgrading for heavier trains.
I was a schoolboy at that school when the accident happened. Most of the children were from Sharpness. The service from Sharpness via Gloucester to Lydney Town station only continued until the end of the 1962 academic year when places were made available at Dursley.

A Councillor I knew when working in Gloucester told me he was playing skittles in the nearby pub and heard the noise made by the collision. Thanks for the information about schools.

 

[deltic08]

A Councillor I knew when working in Gloucester told me he was playing skittles in the nearby pub and heard the noise made by the collision. Thanks for the information about schools.

The nearest pub was the Severn Bridge Hotel, no longer a pub. About 150yards away. He should not have been in the pub that late as the accident happened an hour after closing time!
I was staying with my sister on her farm as my parents were away and I was to young to be left home alone. Her nearest land is only one field away from the cliffs at Gatcombe. We were awoken by the blast and screaming of the men in the water. A very haunting experience even to-day 59 years on.

 

[geoffk]

The nearest pub was the Severn Bridge Hotel, no longer a pub. About 150yards away. He should not have been in the pub that late as the accident happened an hour after closing time!
I was staying with my sister on her farm as my parents were away and I was to young to be left home alone. Her nearest land is only one field away from the cliffs at Gatcombe. We were awoken by the blast and screaming of the men in the water. A very haunting experience even to-day 59 years on.

I read that the fire service was called at 22.35 that night, so surely only just after closing time. My uncle was landlord at the Prince of Wales, Berkeley Road. I dimly remember a trip to Lydney across the bridge, before I became interested in railways (August 1958). My cousin and I would have been 9 or 10.

 

[deltic08]

I read that the fire service was called at 22.35 that night, so surely only just after closing time. My uncle was landlord at the Prince of Wales, Berkeley Road. I dimly remember a trip to Lydney across the bridge, before I became interested in railways (August 1958). My cousin and I would have been 9 or 10.

Sorry, assumed that as the accident was near the north bank your uncle was here when he was on the Sharpness side.
22.35 is about right because a worker on the bridge had just locked up the signalbox at Severn Bridge station after taking possession of the line at 22.30 and was walking towards the bridge on the track to continue with repairs when the accident happened with flames reaching higher than the bridge. He ran back to the signal box and raised the alarm.
I was in bed at the time and woken by the blast.