Ashley Down new station

[jazzy]

Does anyone know of any progress with the new Ashley Down station in Bristol? When might work start?

 

[The exile]

Lots of people in orange in evidence at the site when I last passed though in the light (a couple of weeks ago) - but couldn't tell what they were actually doing.

 

[Dr Day]

Lost track a bit but has the funding been fully authorised and does it have the necessary planning consent?

Nothing against the locals who will benefit from this new station but having the four tracks at Filton Bank has been great for performance and trains slowing down to stop there risks making things worse again.

Please remind me - what is supposed to be stopping there?

 

[Baxenden Bank]

As far as I can tell, it is part of the Henbury Spur proposal, part of MetroWest Phase Two. Given the speed at which Phase One (Portishead) is progressing.....

 

[pdeaves]

As far as I can tell, it is part of the Henbury Spur proposal, part of MetroWest Phase Two. Given the speed at which Phase One (Portishead) is progressing.....

Phase 2 may happen before phase 1 (seriously; not being facetious).

Lots of people in orange in evidence at the site when I last passed though in the light (a couple of weeks ago) - but couldn't tell what they were actually doing.

No 'on the ground' work is under way yet so I suspect the orange people were doing something unrelated.

 

[Dr Day]

Can Ashley Down not be de-coupled from the Henbury element? Presumably phase 2 doesn’t need anything like the same legal and capital funding as phase 1 as it doesn’t involve building any brand new railway? Even though upgrading probably still doesn’t come cheap, and GWR will still need to be paid to operate the service.

 

[Annetts key]

A large part of the upside platform is still there. Although horribly overgrown and the edging has all been removed. BR did try to demolish it, but the contractors did not know about a buried cable route under the surface of the platform. When they found they had cut the cables the contractors all disappeared from site…. BR made no further attempt to demolish it.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Can Ashley Down not be de-coupled from the Henbury element? Presumably phase 2 doesn’t need anything like the same legal and capital funding as phase 1 as it doesn’t involve building any brand new railway? Even though upgrading probably still doesn’t come cheap, and GWR will still need to be paid to operate the service.

You asked the question:

Please remind me - what is supposed to be stopping there?

I answered the question. You now seem to be disputing that answer.

Do the current proposers wish to decouple it and promote it as a standalone proposal?
Are there any other serious persons or organisations who wish to promote it as a standalone proposal?

I don't know the answer to either question. It would appear that background studies have been undertaken and that a package proposal which includes a new passenger service over an unused line serving a handful of new stations is seen as the best way forward.

Things do change. Alternative options always exist, the Metrowest documents probably discuss them.

It might be possible to decouple it from the Henbury element, in theory. Any service which currently passes through the station might be able to call there with some minor timetable adjustments - even long distance IEP services with selective door opening!

 

[contrex]

I note the 'location map' on the Travelwest site calls my home location St Werburgh's. I have lived there for 30 years, and nearby for another 20, and I am not aware of any apostrophe. The Wikipedia page, I see, hedges its bets by having both versions.