North Filton / Brabazon

[-Colly405-]

Runway Ave is ripe for young scallywags to do a bit of racing...!

Anyway, I noticed that the m4 routemap shows that the final routing will include a further stop on Runway Ave, to the west of where it currently heads north to join Hayes Way. I was expecting a bit of a diversion in future to serve Brabazon station (and, perhaps more importantly if they want to get us there using publi transport, the Avival Arenal), but apparently not...

 

[Stompehh]

No service buses will go that close to the arena, as pedestrian footfall will be huge so it's safer to be a short walk away. It was a deliberate choice to site the station a little way away as well to allow space for crowds to disperse.

 

[The exile]

No service buses will go that close to the arena, as pedestrian footfall will be huge so it's safer to be a short walk away. It was a deliberate choice to site the station a little way away as well to allow space for crowds to disperse.

That will work less well out in the suburbs where there’s less to disperse to than in a city centre-ish environment where a) there’s plenty of pubs, restaurants etc to slow down the rush home and b) people are more likely to be wanting to fan out in all directions. Those getting to Brabazon using their own transport will be doing that, but those using public transport will in the main be heading in one of two basic directions.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

I've lived in Bristol since 1971, and for most of that time less than a mile from the M32, and I've never heard anyone call it the Parkway. I live now round the corner from Parkway Methodist Church, founded 1970, though.

The railway station of the same name, could always be renamed Stoke Gifford (Bristol Parkway), whereas Brabazon really could (or should, to avoid confusion) be named Brabazon North Filton.

AFAIK it was the early term for the M32 (probably before it was built) to make it sound “nice” (taking its inspiration from the Portway- a name which has stuck). Naming the station after it ironically provably killed off any remaining use of the name for the road.

The M32 was suppose to go further into Bristol by terminating at the former roundabout outside of OVO Energy / Temple Meads.

 

[The exile]

The M32 was suppose to go further into Bristol by terminating at the former roundabout outside of OVO Energy / Temple Meads.

Hence presumably the "temporary" flyover which actually lasted about 30 years. Guessing it was just meant to bridge the gap (sorry) until the entire junction was remodelled in connection with the M-Way. Thank goodness sense prevailed (a rare event in Bristolian transport policy until recent years!)

 

[cce]

As a 'railway neighbour' in Filton I've had a letter saying driver training will be beginning soon, presumably by turning back the abbey wood/temple meads shuttles at brabazon instead of on the curve.

 

[Snow1964]

As a 'railway neighbour' in Filton I've had a letter saying driver training will be beginning soon, presumably by turning back the abbey wood/temple meads shuttles at brabazon instead of on the curve.

Is there a turn back at Brabazon, or is it initially going to be operated as a single platform with one line being used reversibly.

Otherwise would have to continue beyond Henbury to a reversal place (from memory is a facing crossover just beyond M49 bridge)

 

[Annetts key]

Is there a turn back at Brabazon, or is it initially going to be operated as a single platform with one line being used reversibly.

Otherwise would have to continue beyond Henbury to a reversal place (from memory is a facing crossover just beyond M49 bridge)

There is no turn back at Brabazon. And no reversible / bi-directional signalling there apart from a shunting move very near the single lead points under the road bridge at Filton West.

I believe the plan is to run the train ECS to Hallen Moor where there are two crossovers. Then reverse and return to the station where it will form the next departure.

 

[jazzy]

I believe the plan is to run the train ECS to Hallen Moor where there are two crossovers. Then reverse and return to the station where it will form the next departure.

Hallen Marsh (just from looking at Traksy)? Will there be time for this extra movement in the existing 1tph timing or will it need more trains on the service? Do you have any idea whether 2tph might be on the cards at this point?

 

[cce]

The trains currently wait for around 20 minutes at a signal on filton chord before reversing.

 

[Annetts key]

Hallen Marsh (just from looking at Traksy)? Will there be time for this extra movement in the existing 1tph timing or will it need more trains on the service? Do you have any idea whether 2tph might be on the cards at this point?

No. Hallen Moor is between Hallen Marsh Junction and Henbury.

One of the two images below shows the relevant locations on the line:
Avonmouth - Hallen Marsh Junction - Hallen Moor - Henbury - Brabazon - Filton West Junction.
The second image shows the two crossovers at Hallen Moor and the relevant signals

 

[jazzy]

No. Hallen Moor is between Hallen Marsh Junction and Henbury.View attachment 204701View attachment 204703

Apologies, I should realised you had a richer source of information! Do you have insight on the frequency?

 

[-Colly405-]

No. Hallen Moor is between Hallen Marsh Junction and Henbury.

That's quite an empty run - looks to be about 3.75 miles each way Brabazon - Hallen MOor - Brabazon just to get across to the other platform!

 

[cce]

It's not entirely wasted though, it should cover most of the route learning needed for when Henbury opens in 2028

 

[Snow1964]

That's quite an empty run - looks to be about 3.75 miles each way Brabazon - Hallen MOor - Brabazon just to get across to the other platform!

That's what I was thinking if can't use one platform at Brabazon and reverse, stuck with about 7-8 miles extra (or nearer 9 miles extra from current reversing point).

Assuming they will only do 30-50mph, that is probably going to take about 15-16 minutes. Perhaps 17-18 minutes once Brabazon station stops added. Not a lot of catch up time if running late, whereas currently have 20 minutes to turn around

 

[John R]

That's what I was thinking if can't use one platform at Brabazon and reverse, stuck with about 7-8 miles extra (or nearer 9 miles extra from current reversing point).

Assuming they will only do 30-50mph, that is probably going to take about 15-16 minutes. Perhaps 17-18 minutes once Brabazon station stops added. Not a lot of catch up time if running late, whereas currently have 20 minutes to turn around

Presumably if they are running late they won’t do the extra mileage though.

 

[Gloster]

Presumably as there is only a shunt signal leading back towards Filton (6602?) they are unable to just turn back a train in the Down platform at Brabazon and run with passengers back eastwards. They therefore have to go Hallen Moor and turn back there so that they can go into the Up platform at Brabazon, whence the line towards Filton is signalled for passengers. They could have converted 6602 (?) to a full running signal, but I suspect that that was considered too costly if the termination at Brabazon was only a temporary arrangement.

 

[Snow1964]

Rachel Reeves (Chancellor) and Housing Secretary was at a meeting with West of England Mayor last week and the first MDZ (Mayoral Development Zone) was announced for Brabazon area and West Innovation Arc (roughly an area from near Patchway to Lyde Green, effectively upto where former Midland Rail line ran). Eventual aim is 40,000 new homes in the area

The Chancellor and the Housing Secretary have backed plans for the country's fastest-growing regional economy to soon become home to its first Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ), covering the West of England's emerging new town: Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc, in South Gloucestershire and north Bristol.

Mayoral Development Zones are non-statutory designations made by a Mayor to focus effort on a priority regeneration area, providing the vision, oversight, direction and enablers to unlock housing and economic growth delivery, and to leverage in inward investment. This MDZ underpins a direction of travel towards establishing a statutory Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) for the Brabazon and West Innovation Arc new town, with the details of any MDC to be developed through significant local and political engagement.

https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/news/regions-first-mayoral-development-zone-announced/

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

"The country's fastest-growing regional economy" sounds like more of a slogan than something rooted in fact. Does anyone know what the claim is based on? I've checked the Centre for Cities website which has a wealth of data and Bristol is mid-table at best by their calculations and doesn't feature at all in some of the tables.

 

[The exile]

"The country's fastest-growing regional economy" sounds like more of a slogan than something rooted in fact. Does anyone know what the claim is based on? I've checked the Centre for Cities website which has a wealth of data and Bristol is mid-table at best by their calculations and doesn't feature at all in some of the tables.

Ah - but the Filton - Lyde Green arc isn’t (administratively) Bristol. Precisely because of it, South Glos may well be outperforming Bristol by quite a lot.

 

[JKF]

There is no turn back at Brabazon. And no reversible / bi-directional signalling there apart from a shunting move very near the single lead points under the road bridge at Filton West.

I believe the plan is to run the train ECS to Hallen Moor where there are two crossovers. Then reverse and return to the station where it will form the next departure.

There is now an ECS train (5H35) from Filton Abbey Wood to Hallen Marsh Jn and back on the timetable.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:G15652/2026-07-17/detailed#allox_id=0

I spotted this while waiting for 99011 to come out of the docks this afternoon. It terminates just past the signal for the crossover, which almost immediately went green for it to go back the other way. It was formed from an incoming BTM - Abbey Wood service, and on arriving back goes forward to Temple Meads. It was about 15 minutes late turning round, which would have delayed the onward service to Temple Meads (and also delayed the inbound 6C03 stinkliner).

Below is a picture of it where it stopped and reversed, just past the signal gantry.



Is this likely to be a route learner / refresher for Brabazon and Henbury trains? I can’t think of any operational reason for sending it all the way down this far, unless it was to get out of the way of the bin train which is running via Bath this week. A shame they don’t sell tickets for the round trip, some of us would love a ride!

 

[Ashley Hill]

Is this likely to be a route learner / refresher for Brabazon and Henbury trains? I

Yes. Some Filton AW terminators run down to Hallen Moor rather that waiting on Filton Chord.

 

[dmncf]

No doubt carefully chosen so that on ticket buying sites, anyone typing in Bristol sees it first (because they are shown alphabetically), and those little used, minor wayside Halts (Bristol Parkway, and Bristol Temple Meads) appear after it in alphabetical list.

Name chosen with customer convenience in mind ?

On the National Rail website I just noticed that Bristol Brabazon appears in the stations list, and it does appear first. The website wouldn't find any journeys though.

 

[Phillipimo]

Already mentioned in the December 2026 timetable change thread but for those here.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:BRI/to/gb-nr:ASD/2026-12-14/0200-0159?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

From the timetable change Realtimetrains shows the current Filton Abbey Wood terminators extended to Brabazon as an unadvertised stop, which a shunt move to reverse at Hallen Moor before the return trip. It's still an hourly service but with extended operating hours, and running on Sundays too.

So the timetable will be ready for whenever the station is complete and ready to open.

 

[jazzy]

Already mentioned in the December 2026 timetable change thread but for those here.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:BRI/to/gb-nr:ASD/2026-12-14/0200-0159?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

From the timetable change Realtimetrains shows the current Filton Abbey Wood terminators extended to Brabazon as an unadvertised stop, which a shunt move to reverse at Hallen Moor before the return trip. It's still an hourly service but with extended operating hours, and running on Sundays too.

So the timetable will be ready for whenever the station is complete and ready to open.

Bristol Brabazon first appears on RTT on 13th December which I think is when the timetable changes. Given that an autumn opening date is mentioned in the various official website, how will a service be provided if the timetable doesn’t change until the winter? I think of December as winter.

 

[The Planner]

Bristol Brabazon first appears on RTT on 13th December which I think is when the timetable changes. Given that an autumn opening date is mentioned in the various official website, how will a service be provided if the timetable doesn’t change until the winter? I think of December as winter.

You just put in a spot bid or STP them in.

 

[jazzy]

You just put in a spot bid or STP them in.

Could you explain those terms for a lay person?

 

[The Planner]

Could you explain those terms for a lay person?

You don't have to wait for a timetable change to make alterations. You can add them whenever in the short term plan or put a longer term addition in that runs up to the timetable change if they are not substantial. Its the major recast and structural changes you do in December or May, normally December.