The Chancellor's Autumn Statement...
Ooohhh, that makes sense, thanks (I don't normally bother with 'the news'...)
www.bbc.co.uk
Is an hourly service really going to be very transformational?The BBC report
Portishead to Bristol rail line gets final approval
The long-delayed Portishead to Bristol line has been signed off after years of setbacks.
Finally. ..... I interpret the timing as giving approval before Thursday rather than next April, thus making it harder politically to cancel it.
However, it may well turn out to be the last reopening, if the axe is to fall on spending generally.
No, it's been watered down too much. But I suppose improving an existing service should be easier than implementing a new one
Has Ivanhoe ever actually been approved though?
Getting the line open in the first place is the key, because then there is a motivation to see it get used and increase revenue. 1tph could be transformational if it gives people a service they're willing to use.
It's not ideal but as zwk500 says above just getting it built is the biggest hurdle. Once its open and if it proves successful it will be far easier to open stations at Ashton Gate (muted phase 2) and potentially restoring the double track at Pill to allow half hourly.
His constituency isn't very far away and whilst it won't benefit he is a west of england MP so should want to support.
This is the first time I’ve ever seen it mentioned that Ashton Gate station is actually proposed to be reopened as Phase 2. Given that this is the home of Bristol City FC, such a station is likely to be incredibly busy on match days with the right service provision.
No, this is all the approval that is needed on the planning side. There is a full funding plan in place, so they can let the contracts now, if they haven't already got contractors on board.
Not 'poached', no. However, in the immediate plan it's 165/166 interworking with Severn Beach and Westbury.
And Bristol Bears (still find that rebrand awful!)RFC too! In fact, Quite a lot of top flight rugby is played there including the European Champions Cup final. It is also an area where a lot of Development is due to happen in the near distant future too, with the Ashton Gate Sports Quarter + New housing all proposed (levelling Wicks & a few other retail places in the process). Not being from Bristol, I was amazed how far out from Temple Meads it actually is so a station there cant come soon enough!
The point is that there was always one there as well as at Portishead until the line closed!
They'll probably build the station and then close it on match days as the hourly 2-car trains will be insufficient to deal with the crowds
Am I right in saying that happened with the Station by Coventry s ground?
Yep. Coventry Arena is the station name.
Exactly!
