Portishead Approved - Construction Updates Thread - No speculation

[tumbles]

I suspect the passenger service if only hourly or thereabouts will not result in significantly more disruption compared to when the line was being used at maximum capacity for long freight trains (a mix of car trains and coal trains). The long freight trains took a while to pass over the crossing (especially fully loaded trains) because every single one had to stop so that the driver could collect a token or replace a token at the relevant signal (one token hut at the protecting signal either side of the level crossing). Hence the train was always pulling away from a stand...

With the removal of the token instruments (replaced with TCB but with axle counters), two or three car DMUs will take far less time to pass over the crossing (having no need to stop) therefore the road closed time will be significantly less per train.

Agreed. The traffic lights on that crossroads probably causes longer waits. Another entrance into the industrial estate will probably cure lot of the problems as discussed.

On other news passed over the RPD road and no significant progress on clearing and old track still in place between the bridge and Portbury station. Guess they might pick up the pace after the weekend

 

[JKF]

There were works going on at the Ashton crossing again last night. I spoke to one of the NR staff, they replaced all the track, ballast and crossing surface last weekend, total renewal, and were tamping it last night - Tamper DR73924 doing the work after running from Kingsland Rd to the start of possession at Ashton Jn. There was also supposedly a road rail vehicle working to that had come from the nearest access point at Portbury Dock. That’s quite a drive!

The fencing around the crossing has all been renewed, but the gates have not been replaced.

When I’ve been down at the crossing videoing steel trains over the last year I have noticed the ground moves quite a bit as the heavy wagons pass, I don’t know if the renewal will reduce this vibration!

Below are photos of the tamper after arrival at the work site.

 

[Annetts key]

Tamper

Known by S&T in some parts as machines of mass destruction... (because when the prongs/forks hit something that they are not suppose to, whatever it is, be it a cable or signalling equipment, it's wreaked, sometimes they even damage concrete sleepers or rails...).

Mind, 360 RRV can also be destructive, damaging both GPLs and main signals...

 

[tumbles]

BT/Openreach still very busy (10+ vans!) rerouting stuff around the Portishead Station site today (Quays Avenue). Couldn't see anymore clearance work taking place looking up towards the first Sheepway hump back bridge.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

There was also supposedly a road rail vehicle working to that had come from the nearest access point at Portbury Dock. That’s quite a drive!

What's the maximum speed for them running on rail?

 

[Yindee8191]

I’ve looked into the proposed western entrance to the trading estate, which is supposed to mitigate concerns about increased crossing closure times, and it is going ahead. I guess it will need to be in place ahead of the passenger service starting. The connection will be near to the slip road on the Long Ashton bypass by the current park and ride site. It’s part of a larger scheme which includes the creation of 500 new homes on the land between the park and ride and the trading estate. I imagine this will contribute to the case for a station at Ashton which isn’t part of current plans but has been earmarked for the future. Land for the housing was sold last July, with outline permission, detailed planning permission was due for submission in the autumn.

One to keep an eye on as it forms part of the railway development, albeit peripheral.

Do you have a link to the proposal? Spent a bit of time googling and I couldn't find anything about it happening.

 

[Barclay]

This is the housing development - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz7rlezrgq0o

There isn't a lot of room for a road linking the industrial estate to the road linking the A370 with the park and ride, but it would be possible with some land-take. No new road is shown on the images in the BBC article.

 

[JKF]

Do you have a link to the proposal? Spent a bit of time googling and I couldn't find anything about it happening.

I’ve found a Metrowest report from Jan 2017 on the access road. It doesn’t appear that any of the options are shown on the housing plan above.

This contained the following diagrams showing the access options:



From:

https://metrowestphase1.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/micro-consultation-ashton-report-draft-for-website.pdf

This also talks of a pedestrian/cycle ramp down from the A370 bridge on the west side of the railway, which would make sense if the crossing were to be closed, which is one of the proposals.

I would imagine the housing developer would want to keep an industrial access road separate from a residential area hence why it probably isn’t shown on the plan someone posted above - though I could foresee the council putting it in as a condition of the development. One of the issues complicating matters will also be that the A370 road is in North Somerset but the housing development site falls under Bristol - a fact Bristol City fans will be aware of as there was a proposal for a new stadium on the site several years back which was killed off when North Somerset refused consent for the site access despite Bristol City Council being in favour!

 

[Annetts key]

Based on what I have seen when I have been there, the amount of pedestrian traffic across the level crossing at Ashton Crossing is fairly small compared to the number of cars, vans and lorries that use it. So I don't see much point for a new footbridge.

Any proposals to close the level crossing are likely to fail as most traffic going into or out of the industrial estate is going to/from Bristol and many won't want to use the already very busy A370, especially during "rush hour" (or more like three hours for each in the morning and the evening).

 

[JKF]

Quite a lot of bikes use that crossing to access the cycle path that runs alongside the guided busway, and there are also links from that path to new housing at the south of Ashton Vale. Given Baron’s Close foot crossing was closed a couple of years ago they will need to retain some means of access from Winterstoke Rd direction if they want to shut the crossing. Though I don’t think there are any current proposals for closure.

The path between Babcock and the railway wouldn’t be a full footbridge, it would just be a ramp down from the existing road/pedestrian bridge, on that side only. Still a bit of a shlep round if you were on foot and wanted to be heading north on Winterstoke.

 

[Snow1964]

Some gas works have been taking place ahead of relocating the roundabout nearer Portishead.

Plan shows roundabout will be about half way along building with NHS Family Practice in Harbour Road. Quays Road will be diverted to curve behind the curved building facing Quays Cresent.

Looks like station building and buffer stop will be where existing roundabout is. I think plan is to have 2 car parks, one near station off Phoenix Way, and other a long linear car park along former track bed behind Sainsbury's.

 

[tumbles]

Some gas works have been taking place ahead of relocating the roundabout nearer Portishead.

Plan shows roundabout will be about half way along building with NHS Family Practice in Harbour Road. Quays Road will be diverted to curve behind the curved building facing Quays Cresent.

Looks like station building and buffer stop will be where existing roundabout is. I think plan is to have 2 car parks, one near station off Phoenix Way, and other a long linear car park along former track bed behind Sainsbury's.

Map for clarity:

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

This from Construction Enquirer today

https://www.constructionenquirer.co...patrick-gets-start-date-for-new-railway-line/

The go-ahead has been given to start main construction in April on the restoration of the Portishead Line.

The passenger rail link between Bristol and Portishead was closed in 1964 but 5.5km of disused line will now be restored and new stations built.

The restored railway will provide an hourly direct train from Portishead to Bristol Temple Meads in around 25 minutes.

The deal was originally let to VolkerFizpatrick in 2023 but Morgan Sindall will carry out the work as part of the wider £80m Metrowest 1b Scheme.

Preparatory work began last autumn to remove trees to create the space for site compounds, car parks, the two new stations at Portishead and Pill, and the railway line itself. Utility diversions are currently underway in Portishead, with some temporary traffic lights in use.

Interesting they've swapped lead contractor hopefully there was no extra cost for that.

 

[JKF]

There is work going on at the moment, some of which may just be related to the ongoing freight use.

There was a tamper out on the line again overnight on Saturday, and I saw a road-rail excavator with a trailer heading north under the suspension bridge just before four on Sunday afternoon, likely heading back to the road access point at Portbury Dock. This would suggest works at the south end of the line, perhaps still related to the relaying work at the level crossing in Ashton.

I’ve also seen line blocks shown on Traksy in the last couple of weeks, maybe taking advantage of a pause in the steel trains.

 

[trainlogger]

...saw a road-rail excavator with a trailer...likely heading back to the road access point at Portbury Dock...

A fair assumption based on the December/January work, but in the last couple of weeks a compound/access has been cleared at Pill Monmouth Road where the road-rail vehicle (RRV) and trailers are currently based. The current RRV is operated by "QTS Group" who specialise vegetation clearance, which ties in with a recent update on Network Rail's website:

Vegetation along the railway will also be cleared to enable the land either side of the railway to be surveyed.

--
Elsewhere, last week a section of hedge along The Portbury Hundred was removed ready for work to create a new construction compound there.

 

[InOban]

I think hedge clearing would have to have been completed by Saturday because March 1st is the official start of nesting season.

 

[Barclay]

Passed the RRV near the site of Clifton Bridge station while out on my bike on Saturday, I think there were drainage works being done.

 

[Web4160]

There has been a lot of work, which finished on Friday, clearing the area between Quays Avenue and Sainsbury's in Portishead, again for a work's compound.

 

[tumbles]

There has been a lot of work, which finished on Friday, clearing the area between Quays Avenue and Sainsbury's in Portishead, again for a work's compound.

Yeah really have cut a lot back on the approach to the roundabout, gives you a good scope of the station site. Clearance work on the disused line had reached the Portbury Dock Stop Junction when I passed in earlier this week.

 

[StompinBallast]

Nice to see this progressing after doing the original Land/Track Survey in 2015, then again in 2019 then again in 2022

Taken them an absolute age to get things sorted

 

[JKF]

Has the recovered track all been taken somewhere? I understand the Avon Valley was having some. The bit near Portbury was continuous welded rail with concrete sleepers, laid in the 70s and barely used, although I suspect five decades of weather would have had some effect.

 

[Snow1964]

Been told there is a 9 day blockade scheduled for October 2027 covering line south of Bristol Temple Meads through the junction near Ashton Gate towards Nailsea. No idea what work is happening during the blockade.

Not work on the Portishead branch itself (but obviously part of the route trains will take), hopefully allows track and crossings to be sorted ahead of the proposed reopening with December 2027 timetable (haven't heard any changes to that target date, so assuming still Dec 2027 opening)

For those not familiar with the area south of Temple Meads, it was a 1930s quadrupling, where the two intermediate stations were rebuilt with island platforms around 220m long. Rationalised about 40 years ago to 3 running tracks, it ideally needs the southbound track arranged so any Portishead train waiting at junction for a northbound train can be passed by trains heading towards Exeter or Weston super Mare etc.

 

[John R]

Been told there is a 9 day blockade scheduled for October 2027 covering line south of Bristol Temple Meads through the junction near Ashton Gate towards Nailsea. No idea what work is happening during the blockade.

Not work on the Portishead branch itself (but obviously part of the route trains will take), hopefully allows track and crossings to be sorted ahead of the proposed reopening with December 2027 timetable (haven't heard any changes to that target date, so assuming still Dec 2027 opening)

For those not familiar with the area south of Temple Meads, it was a 1930s quadrupling, where the two intermediate stations were rebuilt with island platforms around 220m long. Rationalised about 40 years ago to 3 running tracks, it ideally needs the southbound tracks (fast, relief) swapped, so any Portishead train waiting at junction for a northbound train can be passed by trains heading towards Exeter or Weston super Mare etc.

There is only the one southbound track south of Bedminster, so I think it should read “it ideally needs the second southbound track reinstated, with the new line enabling trains headed towards Nailsea and beyond are not held up by a Portishead bound train awaiting access to the branch line.”

 

[zwk500]

it ideally needs the southbound tracks (fast, relief) swapped, so any Portishead train waiting at junction for a northbound train can be passed by trains heading towards Exeter or Weston super Mare etc.

There's only one Southbound track.

There is only the one southbound track south of Bedminster, so I think it should read “it ideally needs the second southbound track reinstated, with the new line enabling trains headed towards Nailsea and beyond are not held up by a Portishead bound train awaiting access to the branch line.”

It doesn't need the Down Relief reinstating. It needs a crossover to the West of Parson Street to allow late-running stopping trains from Weston to clear the Up Main quicker, and it could do with the Up Relief being made bi-di so that trains to Portishead can use the northernmost line between the train from Weston to Severn Beach.

But tbh the additional 1tph on the Down Main will be fine, you have 1tph Weston to Severn Beach Stopper, 1tph Crosscountry, 1tph GWR to Cardiff stopper, and 1tp2h (0.5tph) Weston/Taunton-London via Bath. That's not that much northbound traffic.
You can hold the slow train at Bristol Temple Meads or Bedminster Up Main (P2) if required to allow faster trains to overtake.

 

[Annetts key]

Been told there is a 9 day blockade scheduled for October 2027 covering line south of Bristol Temple Meads through the junction near Ashton Gate towards Nailsea. No idea what work is happening during the blockade.

Most likely only maintenance and (like for like) renewal work will be taking place. There's no money allocated in the current control period for any changes to the layout of signalling.

Most parts of this section of the route haven't had any heavy maintenance or ballast formation work for many years.

 

[John R]

But tbh the additional 1tph on the Down Main will be fine, you have 1tph Weston to Severn Beach Stopper, 1tph Crosscountry, 1tph GWR to Cardiff stopper, and 1tp2h (0.5tph) Weston/Taunton-London via Bath. That's not that much northbound traffic.
You can hold the slow train at Bristol Temple Meads or Bedminster Up Main (P2) if required to allow faster trains to overtake.

Except for the period between 0630 and 0830 when there are 4 IETs to London. So a bit more than 1tp2h.

 

[brad465]

Also worth noting that there is not an even distribution in trains, given the calling pattern: in the Up Direction the GWR Cardiff service is only 5-7 minutes ahead of the XC service, while in the down direction a GWR Taunton/Exeter stopper leaves 5-10 minutes after the down XC service (normally not an issue but if the XC service is late, the GWR sits at Bedminster for the XC to overtake). I don't know what the planned Portishead timings are, but if they're every 40 minutes I suspect that is harder to path than if they were hourly/half-hourly.

 

[zwk500]

Except for the period between 0630 and 0830 when there are 4 IETs to London. So a bit more than 1tp2h.

Yes, peak usage is higher. But there's still capacity for the 1 crossing movement an hour to take place. Especially with the flexibility already available at Bedminster.

I don't know what the planned Portishead timings are, but if they're every 40 minutes I suspect that is harder to path than if they were hourly/half-hourly.

Believe it's hourly all day. Half-hourly doesn't work with the single line. I'm not across the latest plans though so maybe the peaks are a bit less than hourly.

 

[tumbles]

Has the recovered track all been taken somewhere? I understand the Avon Valley was having some. The bit near Portbury was continuous welded rail with concrete sleepers, laid in the 70s and barely used, although I suspect five decades of weather would have had some effect.

Some went to Harbourside who are replacing the track down the chocolate path in anticipation of completion of Vauxhall bridge refurbishment being finished. Some has also gone to South Devon. A lot of the CWT seemed to have been chopped up into tiny pieces however so looks like scrap.

 

[Web4160]

Latest update from network rail. I'm getting in touch to let you know about our latest stage of work to rebuild the Portishead to Bristol railway, including new stations at Portishead and Pill. Main construction is about to begin. The table below and the attached maps shows upcoming work in your area as we prepare to realign Quays Avenue and build a new roundabout. This will create space for the new station. The nature of our work means some noise in unavoidable. We’re very sorry for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we rebuild your railway. Kind Regards Niall Spencer Senior sponsor, Network Rail