Filton Bank 4-tracking visualisation

[D60]

I believe that the only service to regularly avoid TM was the Portsmouth(+Brighton)-Cardiff, and that was largely as it had had a loco change at Salisbury and reversal would involve another one. Horribly slow train, one of the few that made a mandatory stop at Dilton Marsh.

If I recall correctly it used Platform 1 at Newport (High Street) and the relief line between Newport and Cardiff.

There is a daily Bristol Parkway to Bath Spa service (2R98 1553 from Parkway, usually formed of a 3-car 158) which avoids Temple Meads... I am led to believe that this is principally to serve staff at MOD Abbey Wood... the building of this site being the reason for the relocation of the station from Filton Junction to Filton Abbey Wood... Many of the staff transferred from an MOD site in Bath, and many still live in Bath... Though there does not appear to be a corresponding direct morning service from Bath..

 

[Henbury Loop]

I had a few spare minutes today, so I thought I would go take a look at the railway, and see if there is any sign of work on the four tracking. And there was! It wasn't easy to photograph at Bonnington Walk because of the enhanced bridge for the electrification that isn't coming:

Looking towards Filton Abbey Wood:

Looking towards Temple Meads, it seems that the northbound platform of what was Horfield station has gone, although the southbound remains:

There is now a cycle and pedestrian pathway:

Looking north from Constable Road, the clearance work is obvious:

A crafty change of lens to the 75-300 mm gives us more of an insight into what is happening:

Looking the opposite way, towards Ashley Down, the access road can be seen:

More orange army in the distance:

Finally for today, I am on the site of the former Ashley Down station, where work progresses. Looking north:

and south, towards Narroways:

 

[D6975]

I believe that the only service to regularly avoid TM was the Portsmouth(+Brighton)-Cardiff, and that was largely as it had had a loco change at Salisbury and reversal would involve another one. Horribly slow train, one of the few that made a mandatory stop at Dilton Marsh.

If I recall correctly it used Platform 1 at Newport (High Street) and the relief line between Newport and Cardiff.

No, there was a period when nearly all CF- Pompeys called at Stapleton Rd and went round the curve. Connections at Stapleton Rd were mainly Severn Beach services plus a shuttle used to run up and back when there wasn't a suitably timed local.

 

[QueensCurve]

Thank you for a very informative set of photos.

 

[Ash Bridge]

As above, I shall be watching out of the window with interest as we pass through on route to Cornwall this July.

 

[KN1]

Excellent pictures.

 

[HowardGWR]

Echoed. If you felt like going back every fortnight or so, you would be as popular on here as the good people documenting stuff in the Manchester area. I go to Bristol sometimes for family reasons so will ensure I always have my camera with me. The foreshortening on some photos may lead people to think that e.g. Ashley Hill station was on a curve, but I don't think it was, at least, not much of one.

 

[absolutelymilk]

Is December 2018 still the expected completion date?

 

[snowball]

Is December 2018 still the expected completion date?

According to page 105 of the December update, yes.

 

[Sean Emmett]

Looking the opposite way, towards Ashley Down, the access road can be seen:

I understood the former (confusingly named) Ashley Hill footbridge at 3m 11c was due to have been replaced by Jan 2017. No sign of it yet. Can anyone advise present situation?

 

[absolutelymilk]

Any idea how much the four-tracking will cost and what distance it will cover?

 

[snowball]

Any idea how much the four-tracking will cost and what distance it will cover?

Don't know the cost but it's about four miles. It's descibed as Dr Day's Junction to Filton Abbey Wood.

 

[swt_passenger]

Any idea how much the four-tracking will cost and what distance it will cover?

The contractor for the four tracking mentioned £33 million in their original PR. Distance will be about 4 miles, rounded.

 

[Henbury Loop]

Stapleton Road Viaduct is being demolished this weekend as part of the 4 tracking project.

Some great photos on Network Rail's feed.

 

[Hellzapoppin]

Plenty of press attention today including filming for a C4 documentary I believe. Not sure when that's being aired but as soon as I find out I'll post the info. Sad to see the viaduct go as its a lovely structure but sadly too far gone to save.

 

[Henbury Loop]

1st span is gone...

 

[HowardGWR]

Plenty of press attention today including filming for a C4 documentary I believe. Not sure when that's being aired but as soon as I find out I'll post the info. Sad to see the viaduct go as its a lovely structure but sadly too far gone to save.

Many thanks.
About 1891 according to my track map (Dr Days to Stapleton Road quadrupling) that ended just before Narroways Hill Junction*. The rest up to Filton followed in the 1930s modernisation scheme, to relieve unemployment.

*Edit. Had another look and technically, the 1891 quadrupling from Dr Days ended just after the viaduct we are discussing, which is being dismantled. It joined an earlier extension southwards of the line through Narroways Hill, which itself had been doubled from a single line in 1886, when the junction w now see, was eliminated and the junction made instead at north of where the beginning of the viaduct was eventually constructed. It's a complex story and you need the excellent R.A Cooke publication to follow it.

 

[Hellzapoppin]

I was hoping that the viaduct had a plate with the date and manufacturer on it but alas no, would have made a nice addition in the office. Forgot to mention that Ashley Hill footbridge is receiving some attention tonight, I believe the cill beams are going in tonight.

 

[contractor1]

digging for the track bed starts 22 august!

 

[contractor1]

sorry week 22
26th august

 

[HowardGWR]

sorry week 22
26th august

Not quibbling about 4 days -hurrah!

 

[Henbury Loop]

Network Rail has posted one of their time lapse videos on YouTube showing the demolition of the Stapleton Road viaduct

https://youtu.be/F2E2v8PhzpE

 

[snowball]

Press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds...way-following-stapleton-road-viaduct-removal/

Following the successful removal of the Stapleton Road viaduct in Bristol, the site is now being prepared for the installation of a new bridge next year. This will enable more train services and a more reliable railway for passengers as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan.

The replacement of the Victorian viaduct is a crucial part of Network Rail’s Filton Bank Four Tracking project, which is an expansion of the track between Dr Days Junction and Filton Abbey Wood station.

The removal of the viaduct was completed successfully ahead of schedule and was documented with time-lapse and drone footage:

The new bridge is a key component to allow for the doubling of railway lines through the area, enabling an increase in train services to meet expected growth in passenger numbers. It is also required to allow the delivery of a new post-2018 timetable and will enable an increase in freight services.

This upgrade work will also help reduce disruption to rail services caused by maintenance, with four lines operational rather than two.

Network Rail will now carry out works to get ready for the installation of the new viaduct next summer, including sheet piling work at Fox Park, from mid-October into December.

Sheet piling consists of inserting metal sheets into the ground vertically as a protective measure for buried services e.g. cables.

Working hours will mostly be Monday to Friday during daytime hours only. Local residents and businesses will be informed in advance of any works outside of these hours, and of any future road closures that may be required to allow this work to take place.

A public drop-in event for residents to bring their questions or concerns about this work to the project team will be held next month at a date and location to be confirmed.

Chloe Allen, project manager for Network Rail, said: “The replacement of the viaduct is vital as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a better rail service for passengers travelling through Bristol.

“Now that the viaduct has been successfully removed, we are turning our attention to preparing the site for the installation of the new bridge next year, which will enable us to deliver the benefits of the Filton Four-Tracking scheme to passengers.

“I encourage local residents to come along to our drop-in event, which we will confirm and advertise in the coming weeks. Anyone that is unable to make this event can contact Network Rail’s national helpline on 03457 11 41 41 or contact crwest@networkrail.co.uk to find out more about this work.”

 

[Chris M]

Are there any artists impressions of what the new viaduct will look like?

 

[swt_passenger]

Are there any artists impressions of what the new viaduct will look like?

I'm thinking fairly bog standard reinforced concrete beams on concrete piers. It would be odd if they did something amazing aimed at winning prizes.

In fact here's a NR leaflet with an image on the front: https://16cbgt3sbwr8204sf92da3xxc5m...tapleton_Road_viaduct_factsheet_July_2017.pdf

 

[Tom Quinne]

There is a T3 tomorrow night to enable ballast to be dropped on the new formation ready for slewing across at the required locations.

 

[Chris M]

I'm thinking fairly bog standard reinforced concrete beams on concrete piers. It would be odd if they did something amazing aimed at winning prizes.

In fact here's a NR leaflet with an image on the front: https://16cbgt3sbwr8204sf92da3xxc5m...tapleton_Road_viaduct_factsheet_July_2017.pdf

Thanks for that image. I wasn't thinking of prize winning, just hoping for something with at least some consideration for aesthetics.

 

[Hellzapoppin]

The council had some input into the design of the new structure because of the local issues. The piers had to be designed in such a way that they didn't present a hiding place for muggers, drug pushers, addicts etc.

 

[HowardGWR]

The council had some input into the design of the new structure because of the local issues. The piers had to be designed in such a way that they didn't present a hiding place for muggers, drug pushers, addicts etc.

That sadly sums up what folk think of the area. I have been told it is not as bad as that but I understand some remedial work for the park is planned. I think it is called Fox Park?

 

[Hellzapoppin]

We're not allowed to work in that area on our own and when Easton Road bridge was done several guys were threatened with shooting, they had to lock themselves in the welfare cabin. It's not a good area and we have had to have police protection on a couple of occasions. We also have regular issues getting the large amounts of used syringes removed which get dumped trackside.I feel sorry for the good people in the area. From what I've seen Fox Park is the name.