North Filton / Brabazon

[The Planner]

Isn't a spot bid and 'STP them in' is essentially the same thing?

Not really, depends on your viewpoint. STP would be bidding them every week where the spot bid covers longer.

 

[Snow1964]

There is new photo on this link of Bristol Brabazon station

The colour pallet seems to be black and various shades of grey

The platforms look fairly short for a station due to serve an arena, no chance of 3+3car units (or longer) to clear post event crowds

It is advertising a drop in event 3pm - 7pm Tuesday 22 September for further information

Community invited to drop-in event as Bristol Brabazon station enters final stages of construction

Residents are being invited to a community drop-in event later this month to find out more about progress on the new station at Brabazon- the new city district being built on the former Filton Airfield- and the next steps ahead of its opening this Autumn.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

...With the project now entering its final stages ahead of opening, Network Rail and its partners are inviting residents to a community drop-in session to find out more about progress on the new station and what comes next.

The drop-in event will take place from 3pm to 7pm on Tuesday 22 September at the Pegasus Room, Spitfire Hangar (first floor), Frise Street, Brabazon, BS34 4SE.

Residents and anyone with an interest in the project are invited to pop in any time to find out the latest information and speak with the project team.

Bristol Brabazon station will open to passengers this autumn, with further work planned ahead of the opening of the new Aviva Arena in 2028...

 

[John R]

I'm looking at that platform canopy with envy, given what some of the existing stations in the area with a reasonable footfall have as shelter. (Nailsea & Backwell, Filton Abby Wood to name but two.

 

[WelshBluebird]

There is new photo on this link of Bristol Brabazon station

The colour pallet seems to be black and various shades of grey

The platforms look fairly short for a station due to serve an arena, no chance of 3+3car units (or longer) to clear post event crowds

It is advertising a drop in event 3pm - 7pm Tuesday 22 September for further information

Community invited to drop-in event as Bristol Brabazon station enters final stages of construction

Residents are being invited to a community drop-in event later this month to find out more about progress on the new station at Brabazon- the new city district being built on the former Filton Airfield- and the next steps ahead of its opening this Autumn.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

The platform length has been known about for a while now - long enough for 5 carriages.

I'm looking at that platform canopy with envy, given what some of the existing stations in the area with a reasonable footfall have as shelter. (Nailsea & Backwell, Filton Abby Wood to name but two.

Agreed, do find it interesting they have included that!

 

[John R]

The platform length has been known about for a while now - long enough for 5 carriages.

So maybe 600 at a squeeze. Yeh, that'll be helpful in handling the surge after a capacity 20,000 audience streams out.

And remind me how many trains per hour they are planning. Oh wait...

 

[Parallel]

So maybe 600 at a squeeze. Yeh, that'll be helpful in handling the surge after a capacity 20,000 audience streams out.

And remind me how many trains per hour they are planning. Oh wait...

Yeah, it’s not ideal really, see also Coventry Arena.

But not all 20,000 will be taking the train - many will drive or take local bus services. Some passengers who have come from further afield (i.e. towards London or Wales) may be more likely to use Bristol Parkway.

Personally, I don’t think stations catering for large events are all that useful unless they are on a main line, or main line services can stop there. And even then, that requires careful planned management and often a lot of additional trains, such as at Cardiff Central, or Castle Cary.

But I guess this station will also serve local housing and the planned shopping area, so has a purpose away from events.

 

[bigmanaiq]

So maybe 600 at a squeeze. Yeh, that'll be helpful in handling the surge after a capacity 20,000 audience streams out.

And remind me how many trains per hour they are planning. Oh wait...

In fairness surely it would be easy in theory to put additional trains on (although i don’t know how congested the part after filton abbey wood)

 

[SaltAndVinegar]

long enough for 5 carriages.

As long as they can fit in an IET for special events, that sounds positive. If the service isn’t already rammed…

There’s nearby Patchway for heading towards Cardiff. BPW might be a bit of a faff to get to after an event.

 

[Torfaen]

As long as they can fit in an IET for special events, that sounds positive. If the service isn’t already rammed…

There’s nearby Patchway for heading towards Cardiff. BPW might be a bit of a faff to get to after an event.

At least there are bus routes that go to to Parkway. How are people supposed to get from the arena to Patchway?

 

[SaltAndVinegar]

At least there are bus routes that go to to Parkway. How are people supposed to get from the arena to Patchway?

Walking 30-40mins v.s. 50-60 for Parkway. After events, public transport tends to get saturated very quickly. Some may need or prefer a bus to get to one of the other nearby railway stations, so it's good they have that option to wait for one.

 

[Annetts key]

Walking 30-40mins v.s. 50-60 for Parkway. After events, public transport tends to get saturated very quickly. Some may need or prefer a bus to get to one of the other nearby railway stations, so it's good they have that option to wait for one.

From Brabazon to Patchway station is about 35 minutes.
To Filton Abbey Wood it's also about 35 minutes.
To Parkway, it's about 55 minutes.

The trouble with getting to Parkway is that there isn't a direct route, you have to either go north or south and back again due to the railway diamond (four junctions with lines interconnecting with each other and the land inbetween being privately owned) in the way... Ironically, the railway line is the most direct route between Brabazon and Parkway

 

[Smwrff]

The Arena only has planning permission for 17,000, which is restricted by travel arrangements. The travel plan submitted with planning permission included train travel but it was only a nominal amount with assumption that roads would take the strain.

 

[Western Sunset]

The trouble with Patchway is that it's an hourly service and if one gets cancelled (not unknown...) then the wait is much longer. Filton AW would be a better option to walk to with way more services calling.

 

[zwk500]

The trouble with Patchway is that it's an hourly service and if one gets cancelled (not unknown...) then the wait is much longer. Filton AW would be a better option to walk to with way more services calling.

Patchway also is a bad place for an event train to stop because of the signal being in rear of platform, meaning trains towards Filton Abbey Wood lock up the junction while dwelling in the platform.

Filton Abbey Wood has a similar constraint but it's mitigated by the 4-track so there's less need to use the move that locks up the Up Main, and there are signals on the end of platforms protecting Horfield Jn so the Bristol-bound dwell doesn't lock up the ladder.

 

[Torfaen]

The trouble with Patchway is that it's an hourly service and if one gets cancelled (not unknown...) then the wait is much longer. Filton AW would be a better option to walk to with way more services calling.

Very hit and miss whether a Portsmouth service gets a Patchway stop added in compensation.

Is an event days shuttle from Brabazon to Bristol Parkway a possible option? That would give the best connectivity to other destinations.

 

[The exile]

Very hit and miss whether a Portsmouth service gets a Patchway stop added in compensation.

Is an event days shuttle from Brabazon to Bristol Parkway a possible option? That would give the best connectivity to other destinations.

Would require the “curve” (actually a straight!) to be signalled / approved for passenger use.

 

[Snow1964]

The problem is where should the shuttles actually go, I have looked at origin- destination matrix for stations mentioned and it can be seen that South Wales, Gloucestershire and North Somerset are up there with Bristol

As for which of these stations is best for some journeys, it is worth looking at top destinations on origin - destination matrix for each.

Patchway also is a bad place for an event train to stop because of the signal being in rear of platform, meaning trains towards Filton Abbey Wood lock up the junction while dwelling in the platform.

Patchway is 1) Bristol Temple Meads, 2) Cardiff Central, 3) Newport (South Wales), 4) Bath Spa, 5) Weston super Mare, 6) Bedminster, 7) Nailsea and Backwell, 8) Parson Street, 9) Lawrence Hill, 10) Severn Tunnel Junction, 11) Bridgewater, 12) Worle, 13) Chippenham

Filton Abbey Wood has a similar constraint but it's mitigated by the 4-track so there's less need to use the move that locks up the Up Main, and there are signals on the end of platforms protecting Horfield Jn so the Bristol-bound dwell doesn't lock up the ladder.

Filton Abbey Wood top destinations are : 1) Bristol Temple Meads, 2) Cardiff Central, 3) Bath Spa, 4) Yate, 5) Newport (South Wales), 6) Gloucester, 7) Weston super Mare, 8) Oldfield Park, 9) Lawrence Hill, 10) Severn Tunnel Junction, 11) London Paddington, 12) Cam and Dursley, 13) Trowbridge

Is an event days shuttle from Brabazon to Bristol Parkway a possible option? That would give the best connectivity to other destinations.

Bristol Parkway top few destinations : 1) London Paddington, 2) Cardiff Central, 3) Bristol Temple Meads, 4) Cheltenham Spa, 5) Swindon, 6) Birmingham New Street, 7) Bath Spa, 8) Yate, 9) Newport (South Wales) 10) Gloucester, 11) Exeter St David's, 12) Reading, 13) Manchester Piccadilly

So Parkway seems popular to reach far away places, not the best guide for serving a regionally local event arena, but what the others show is fair proportion don't want central Bristol, they want other towns 10-30 miles away. Places where current proposed service doesn't go.

 

[zwk500]

Would require the “curve” (actually a straight!) to be signalled / approved for passenger use.

There's trapping protection already in place on the Patchway Chord and Depot entrance, and the Henbury line upgrade will be upgrading Filton West Jn and the line west to passenger standard anyway, so there wouldn't appear to be too much to do other than checking overlap lengths and fitting AWS/TPWS if not already present?

 

[The exile]

The problem is where should the shuttles actually go, I have looked at origin- destination matrix for stations mentioned and it can be seen that South Wales, Gloucestershire and North Somerset are up there with Bristol

As for which of these stations is best for some journeys, it is worth looking at top destinations on origin - destination matrix for each.



Patchway is 1) Bristol Temple Meads, 2) Cardiff Central, 3) Newport (South Wales), 4) Bath Spa, 5) Weston super Mare, 6) Bedminster, 7) Nailsea and Backwell, 8) Parson Street, 9) Lawrence Hill, 10) Severn Tunnel Junction, 11) Bridgewater, 12) Worle, 13) Chippenham


Filton Abbey Wood top destinations are : 1) Bristol Temple Meads, 2) Cardiff Central, 3) Bath Spa, 4) Yate, 5) Newport (South Wales), 6) Gloucester, 7) Weston super Mare, 8) Oldfield Park, 9) Lawrence Hill, 10) Severn Tunnel Junction, 11) London Paddington, 12) Cam and Dursley, 13) Trowbridge


Bristol Parkway top few destinations : 1) London Paddington, 2) Cardiff Central, 3) Bristol Temple Meads, 4) Cheltenham Spa, 5) Swindon, 6) Birmingham New Street, 7) Bath Spa, 8) Yate, 9) Newport (South Wales) 10) Gloucester, 11) Exeter St David's, 12) Reading, 13) Manchester Piccadilly

So Parkway seems popular to reach far away places, not the best guide for serving a regionally local event arena, but what the others show is fair proportion don't want central Bristol, they want other towns 10-30 miles away. Places where current proposed service doesn't go.

In terms of destinations, Patchway offers nothing that Filton AW doesn’t. Parkway loses out on inner-Bristol connections but is good for moving larger quantities into Wales. It also has a large car park which may well have capacity at the sort of times many events take place. Presumably the “normal” Henbury service (once it exists) would still be running.

 

[cce]

Patchway station is up a fairly narrow poorly lit side road with narrow pavements. Far from ideal for a late night volume crowd.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Feels like a 2tph Henbury shuttle plus event specifc services to Parkway would probably be the best we could ask for. No idea if even that is realistic though!

 

[thelongestroad]

Feels like a 2tph Henbury shuttle plus event specifc services to Parkway would probably be the best we could ask for. No idea if even that is realistic though!

At present no crew sign the line from Filton West to Parkway so not realistic.

 

[Snow1964]

At present no crew sign the line from Filton West to Parkway so not realistic.

A few months ago generally didn't sign Filton West to Henbury, but it has been added to some crews knowledge

Similarly don't yet sign the Portishead line either, but like the above, it doesn't mean it can't ever be added at some point.

 

[John R]

A few months ago generally didn't sign Filton West to Henbury, but it has been added to some crews knowledge

Similarly don't yet sign the Portishead line either, but like the above, it doesn't mean it can't ever be added at some point.

No, but the difference is that both the lines you quote are going to be used for regular scheduled services. Whereas the suggestion to use Filton West to Henbury would be for infrequent specials for a couple of hours.

Other factors are to consider are:-

How realistic would it be to resource additional trains during the late afternoon/early evening when people will be arriving for the concert? Admittedly it may be more spread than the post concert rush, but nevertheless, a lot of people will expect to work a full day and then travel to the event, which will mean much more pressure on services for the couple of hours preceding the event.

What sort of service (and with what capacity offered) is going to be offered at 2230 onwards to move people not only out of Brabazon to Filton AW or Parkway, but on to their final destination. Will it need to be enhanced?

Different events will have different finish times. Is GWR expected to tailor any post show service accordingly, resulting in a lot more work for timetable and resource planners?

 

[Ashley Hill]

A few months ago generally didn't sign Filton West to Henbury, but it has been added to some crews knowledge

Route learning Filton to Hallen Moor is actively taking place for guards and drivers.

 

[matt99001]

No, but the difference is that both the lines you quote are going to be used for regular scheduled services. Whereas the suggestion to use Filton West to Henbury would be for infrequent specials for a couple of hours.

Other factors are to consider are:-

How realistic would it be to resource additional trains during the late afternoon/early evening when people will be arriving for the concert? Admittedly it may be more spread than the post concert rush, but nevertheless, a lot of people will expect to work a full day and then travel to the event, which will mean much more pressure on services for the couple of hours preceding the event.

What sort of service (and with what capacity offered) is going to be offered at 2230 onwards to move people not only out of Brabazon to Filton AW or Parkway, but on to their final destination. Will it need to be enhanced?

Different events will have different finish times. Is GWR expected to tailor any post show service accordingly, resulting in a lot more work for timetable and resource planners woul

No, but the difference is that both the lines you quote are going to be used for regular scheduled services. Whereas the suggestion to use Filton West to Henbury would be for infrequent specials for a couple of hours.

Other factors are to consider are:-

How realistic would it be to resource additional trains during the late afternoon/early evening when people will be arriving for the concert? Admittedly it may be more spread than the post concert rush, but nevertheless, a lot of people will expect to work a full day and then travel to the event, which will mean much more pressure on services for the couple of hours preceding the event.

What sort of service (and with what capacity offered) is going to be offered at 2230 onwards to move people not only out of Brabazon to Filton AW or Parkway, but on to their final destination. Will it need to be enhanced?

Different events will have different finish times. Is GWR expected to tailor any post show service accordingly, resulting in a lot more work for timetable and resource planners?

I would imagine they will match the trains to suit event times etc.

It's done at regional stations all over the country, helps to encourage public transport if its available when you need it and reduce congestion/emissions.

 

[-Colly405-]

Just thinking about how much of this conversation would have been unnecessary if the arena had been built in its original planned location. Sigh...

 

[jazzy]

Assuming that one considers September to be autumn, we’re now at autumn 2026 which is the most recently published opening date. Has anybody heard a more accurate date for opening?

 

[contrex]

But not all 20,000 will be taking the train - many will drive or take local bus services.

When I lived in Eastville in 1972-73, on Rovers match days there'd be green Bristol crewed double deckers parked along Stapleton Road from the Muller Road junctiom almost all the way back to the station.

 

[TastyMaltesers]

Assuming that one considers September to be autumn, we’re now at autumn 2026 which is the most recently published opening date. Has anybody heard a more accurate date for opening?

I wonder if this could end up being an Okehampton Interchange type situation where the opening date isn't known until a couple of days beforehand...