Portishead Approved - Construction Updates Thread - No speculation

[John R]

Because the Up Main line through Bedminster station is fully bidirectional, two down direction trains can pass one another here after leaving Bristol Temple Meads station if required. Obviously that depends on there being no up direction train approaching that needs to use the Up Main line.

And indeed that frequently happens.

I guess one potential cause of congestion will be Portishead bound trains waiting at Parson St because of a train heading towards Temple Meads on the Up Main (and potentially the Portishead train then holding something up behind it). That would be alleviated by reinstating the Down Relief.

However, I can see why, in the drive to get the business case over the line, the cost involved wasn't considered justifiable.

 

[brad465]

There are currently two island platforms, each serving one of the main lines with the other side of each platform not in use for passenger trains.

If you mean the platform edge for the Up Relief line (previously called the Up Goods line up to point where the Up Main to Up Goods / Up Relief crossover is located, but the name was changed when this area was resignalled when it came under control of TVSC at Didcot), then trains coming off the branch travelling in the up direction to Bristol Temple Meads can already use this platform. So I think you can be certain that this platform will be used for passenger trains.

Yes this is what I'm hoping for.

Because the Up Main line through Bedminster station is fully bidirectional, two down direction trains can pass one another here after leaving Bristol Temple Meads station if required. Obviously that depends on there being no up direction train approaching that needs to use the Up Main line.

Usually this happens if a slightly late-running XC causes the Cardiff-Taunton/Exeter, which usually leaves 8-10 minutes after, to leave first, where the latter is held at Bedminster to let the former through. Of course where the XC is really late, the overtaking occurs in the Weston-super-Mare area.

 

[John R]

Of course where the XC is really late, the overtaking occurs in the Weston-super-Mare area.

Or Yatton loops.

 

[PP57601]

Neither the bi-di route through Bedminster, the loops at Yatton or the Weston-SM avoider will help when a train is sat at the junction waiting to turn right on to the Portbury/Portishead branch.


Also, I’ve been delayed many times coming into Bristol whilst the signallers put a stopper through the Up Relief (then cross into p5/6) and then delay an XC on the Up Main, waiting to access p3/4.

Why not make the Up Relief reversible all the way from Bristol East Gantry to Ashton Gate Jn and run the Portishead trains that route (both directions).