Yate Station - new turnback siding

[Annetts key]

As I understand it, Network Rail has plans for a new siding off the down line just north of the current Yate Station platform. This new "turnback" siding will allow up trains from Bristol (which will use the current crossover just south of the up platform) to terminate in the down platform. Then move forward and stop in the new siding clear of the main lines.

The driver can then change ends, ready for the next booked down direction service.

As well as new points to access the new siding, there will be two new signals. One just north of the down platform for controlling entry into the siding and one in the siding controlling the exit. Plus alterations to one of the existing signals.

There is an aspiration for a half hourly service to and from Yate.

I don't have any dates.

 

[The exile]

As I understand it, Network Rail has plans for a new siding off the down line just north of the current Yate Station platform. This new "turnback" siding will allow up trains from Bristol (which will use the current crossover just south of the up platform) to terminate in the down platform. Then move forward and stop in the new siding clear of the main lines.

The driver can then change ends, ready for the next booked down direction service.

As well as new points to access the new siding, there will be two new signals. One just north of the down platform for controlling entry into the siding and one in the siding controlling the exit. Plus alterations to one of the existing signals.

There is an aspiration for a half hourly service to and from Yate.

I don't have any dates.

Interesting - and, together with Henbury, getting towards “turn up and go” for North Bristol/ South Glos.

 

[mds86]

Yate already receives a half-hourly service for most of the day made up of the Bristol - Worcester and Weymouth/Westbury - Gloucester services. Is the turnback siding for times of disruption where a train can more easily be terminated early or plans for a further increase in services?

 

[The exile]

Yate already receives a half-hourly service for most of the day made up of the Bristol - Worcester and Weymouth/Westbury - Gloucester services. Is the turnback siding for times of disruption where a train can more easily be terminated early or plans for a further increase in services?

The turn back would chime in with WECA’s stated aim for 4tph across its network

 

[zwk500]

As I understand it, Network Rail has plans for a new siding off the down line just north of the current Yate Station platform. This new "turnback" siding will allow up trains from Bristol (which will use the current crossover just south of the up platform) to terminate in the down platform. Then move forward and stop in the new siding clear of the main lines.

The driver can then change ends, ready for the next booked down direction service.

As well as new points to access the new siding, there will be two new signals. One just north of the down platform for controlling entry into the siding and one in the siding controlling the exit. Plus alterations to one of the existing signals.

There is an aspiration for a half hourly service to and from Yate.

I don't have any dates.

Do you know how long the siding is planned to be? There doesn't look to be too much room between the end of the down platform and the housing north of the station. Also interesting it's off to the side and not between the running lines, but I guess flaring out the up track would penalise non-stop trains.

 

[Annetts key]

Do you know how long the siding is planned to be? There doesn't look to be too much room between the end of the down platform and the housing north of the station. Also interesting it's off to the side and not between the running lines, but I guess flaring out the up track would penalise non-stop trains.

Off the top of my head, no, I don't know the length. Although I may be able to find out.

But do keep in mind that where this siding is planned for is the location of the former Yate North Ground Frame sidings. These only came out sometime after the late 1990s (long after Yate station reopened, although it saw almost no use over the last 30 odd years).

There is also some space on the up side, as there was (maybe still is) a long redundant disconnected siding there.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jul 2025 ==

Yate already receives a half-hourly service for most of the day made up of the Bristol - Worcester and Weymouth/Westbury - Gloucester services. Is the turnback siding for times of disruption where a train can more easily be terminated early or plans for a further increase in services?

I'm only referencing the information that I have. Maybe they actually mean throughout the day?

The idea of this scheme is far from new. This idea has been around for at least ten years.

Of course it would be useful in times of disruption.

I don't know what any new services would look like. It may be that it is used to add additional Bristol area "metro" services that will not go further north. We will have to wait and see.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jul 2025 ==

Do you know how long the siding is planned to be? There doesn't look to be too much room between the end of the down platform and the housing north of the station. Also interesting it's off to the side and not between the running lines, but I guess flaring out the up track would penalise non-stop trains.

The length of the siding is planned to be approximately 140 metres. The buffer stop is planned to be very approximately 470 metres from the end of the platform.