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Mangotsfield - Bristol?

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Tobbes

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A question to Bristolians - is there demand to relay as heavy rail or light rail from a Park & Ride A4174 at Mangotsfield along the old Midland line to Temple Meads?
 
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JonathanH

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A question to Bristolians - is there demand to relay as heavy rail or light rail from a Park & Ride A4174 at Mangotsfield along the old Midland line to Temple Meads?

Isn't it used as a cycle path?
 

Tobbes

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It is, and very successfully.

I can't see that changing.
As a cyclist, I don't dispute its usefulness, but I was wondering about public transport demand (which, as I cyclist, I'd remove the cycleway for).
 

yorkie

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I can't see any prospect of completely removing the path without a replacement.

What sort of transit would you be proposing?
 

Tobbes

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I can't see any prospect of completely removing the path without a replacement.

What sort of transit would you be proposing?
I was actually only asking a question about whether there was demand - it's not a part of the country I know at all, and simply looking at Google Earth got me thinking - this isn't a crayons expedition to extend it to Chilicompton!

If it were Mangotsfield P&R by the ringroad just into Bristol Temple Meads (BRI), then it probably doesn't make sense as heavy rail, but if it were able to be paired with terminating local services then you may choose to do that.
 
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edwin_m

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It's been investigated at least twice (second time on rather cursory basis by yours truly) in connection with various Metro schemes. I seem to recall it would be technically feasible as light rail (which would be in conjunction with an extension to the centre of Bristol) but would run into vociferous objections from the cycling lobby.
 

JohnRegular

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Although it has been said plenty already, it bears repeating- the Bristol-Bath cycle path is extremely well used, especially at the Bristol end. I don't have figures to hand but I would be surprised if light rail on the alignment would have more effective capacity than currently, and even if it did you'd be spending a good chunk of money mostly to frustrate a lot of people and remove some of the best cycling infrastructure in the entire country.

If you had money to spend on local rail services in Bristol, then Severn Beach line doubling & electrification, Portishead and Filton loop come much higher up the list.
 

yorkie

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Airdrie-Bathgate trackbed was also a cycle route. They just moved it over and built a new one beside the reopened line. Nae bother.
Are you suggesting the same could be done beside this urban route?
 

yorkie

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Yes. if the will is there although I haven't been that way since 1972.
How much do you think that would cost? Do you really think clearing buildings to make the width greater is going to be remotely feasible? Or is this pure fantasy?
 

deltic08

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How much do you think that would cost? Do you really think clearing buildings to make the width greater is going to be remotely feasible? Or is this pure fantasy?
Why is suggesting doing something to improve woefully inadequate public transport by relaying railways a fantasy?
Buildings should not have been allowed to encroach on old railway routes as there are many cases where they are needed now and can't be rebuilt because of buildings.
Bath was so easy for me to get to by changing at Mangotsfield instead of the extra time needed going into Bristol and back out. Bath and Gloucester direct is still a route much missed in southeast Bristol as in Bristol-Mangotsfield-Gloucester-Birmingham and Bath in Bath-Gloucester-Birmingham to the North direct trains.
15-20 houses and workshops were demolished in rebuilding the Borders Railway. Was this a fantasy of Borders Council? Real enough now as the footfall figures prove. Also between Airdrie and Bathgate and that is very popular now.
500 homes have to be demolished for HS2. That is sheer fantasy then isn't it?
 
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