Now the new station is open and the timetable is out, does anyone have any thoughts on whether the timetable could be improved?
Realistically (rather than what I'd actually want), at the very least I think they need to add in an earlier first train and a later last train. Not sure what could make up the earlier train but for the last one theres a few Cardiff to Bristol stoppers that already stop at all the other stations which mean they have to run through the slow lines where Ashley Down has platforms - those seem like a no brainer to me. And they need to sort out the Sunday timetable so it's more regular, even if they aren't able to change the number of services - it's roughly a two hourly service but with some oddities so would be good to even those out - maybe actually running the shuttle on a Sunday instead of relying on other services could help there?
Of course I'd actually like if they'd also stop more services there in general to make it a roughly half hourly service in the week and at worst hourly on a Sunday only or ideally even more frequent than any of that, but I feel that is a much more difficult ambition!
For those of us* unfamiliar with the service patterns in the Bristol area
- what passes through?
- what demand is there - where do people from Ashley Down want to go?
- what constraints (e.g. tight pathing, train already full, short platforms) are there that might stop trains calling there?
*Or maybe just me.
The passing through has already been answered.
At least from seeing the local commentary over the last few weeks I'd probably guestimate local demand is mainly a mix of temple meads, Parkway (demand which isn't really served by the current timetable) and connecting into longer distance service, especially for London (which in theory can be provided by having a link to Parkway and having more frequent services to temple meads).
Constraints I'd imagine are mainly timetable and pathing related. For a start anything that usually uses the fast lines can't call as the station only has platforms on the slow lines, and obviously moving services to the slow lines has an impact on pathing of all the services that use Filton Bank. There is a potential short platforms issue - the station can take a 5 car turbo at most but that is usually fine as I've not known GWR to run 6 car formations and the IETs have selective door opening.
Yeah it would be evil stopping those trains at Ashley Down. I think we should instead increase the frequency of the Filton Abbey Wood to Bristol train and maybe open a new station at Horfield so we can provide a Bristol Metro Service.
Evil? Really?
The Cardiff to south West services already are all shacks stoppers so adding an extra station onto them won't really make a difference to passengers.
And the same for the Westbury / Weymouth services - again very much all / most stations stoppers.
The problem with your suggestion is that you need more rolling stock and more staff, neither are going to be quick to happen. Stopping existing services that are already all stations stoppers is a much more realistic way to increase frequency, at least for the time being.
