Regulator Approves New Go-op Train Service Between Swindon, Taunton and Weston-super-Mare
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from the Office of Rail and Road.
This is the sub-heading.
The rail regulator has given the go ahead for new train services between Swindon, Taunton and Weston-super-Mare from the end of 2025. The regulator has also set conditions on its approval to ensure the new, co-operatively owned operator has sufficient finance and rolling stock in place in good time.
These paragraphs from the press release give more details.
Go-op plans to operate return weekday and weekend services between Taunton and Weston-super-Mare, Taunton and Westbury, Taunton and Swindon, and Frome and Westbury.
It will compete with Great Western Railway (GWR), a public service operator. Go-op plans to start in December 2025 at the earliest, and must do so no later than December 2026 in order to use the capacity ORR has granted.
As part of ORR’s decision, Go-op must provide evidence to ORR of the necessary finance to start operations, fund level crossing enhancements, and that the necessary rolling stock has been secured. ORR’s decision requires Go-op to do this without delay, and no later than November 2025.
I must admit I’m a little surprised at the Office of Rail and Road giving approval.
There is more on the Go-op web site.
Portway Park & Ride Station – 10th August 2023
Portway Park & Ride station, opened on the first of this month, so I went to visit today.
Note.
- The Portway Park & Ride is served by both buses and trains.
- Buses serve the City Centre and rugby and football at Ashton Gate stadium.
- Trains serve Avonmouth, Bristol Temple Meads, Severn Beach, Weston-super-Mare and a large number of other Bristol stations.
The M5 crosses over the railway to the West of the station.
This Google Map shows the M5 and the Portway Park & Ride.
Note.
- The M5 goes diagonally SW-NE across the map.
- The wide river is the Avon.
- Portway Park & Ride with its station is in the middle of the bottom of the map.
- Avonmouth station is in the North-West corner of the map.
The Portway Park & Ride seems to be an extremely well-connected Park & Ride.
These are my thoughts.
Are There Any Other Park & Ride Sites, Where A Station Could Be Added?
Consider.
- I wrote about a possible new station at Leicester Forest East in A Station At Leicester Forest East.
- In A Look At New Station Projects, several possible Park & Ride stations are mentioned.
Has Portway Park & Ride been developed to see if sites served by buses and trains are a good idea?
Is Portway Park & Ride The Solution To Big Matches At Ashton Gate?
Consider.
- Ashton Gate Stadium has a capacity of 27,000.
- Wikipedia says that buses from Portway Park & Ride are used to bring supporters to games.
- The platform at Portway Park & Ride might be able to take a five-car Class 802 train for a big match.
I wouldn’t be surprised that Portway Park & Ride has been designed for large crowds at big matches at Ashton Gate.
Bath Spa Station – 28th July 2020
I took these pictures as I twice passed through Bath Spa station.
These are my thoughts.
Electrification Gantries On The Platforms
As somebody, whose eyesight is on the wane, I am not a lover of electrification, where the gantries are bolted to the platforms. These pictures show some installations of this type at Crouch Hill station.
Would electrification gantries like these, be appropriate in Bath Spa station?
Could Lightweight Electrification Gantries Be Placed Between The Tracks?
These pictures show the wide gap between the two tracks in Bath Spa station.
Could double-track lightweight structures, based on a design like this be placed between the tracks?
These structures are made out of laminated wood and are surely a possibility.
A Makeover For Bath Spa Station
If you look at much of the woodwork and paint in the fabric of the station, it appears tired and in need of refurbishment.
Whether the station is electrified or not, the station will need a high-class makeover.
Services Through Bath Spa Station
Three train companies run services through Bath Spa station.
- CrossCountry which only operates diesel trains.
- Great Western Railway operates Class 800 electro-diesel trains and some assorted diesel trains.
- South Western Railway only operates Class 159 diesel trains.
There are also some freight services hauled by diesel locomotives.
Trains leave Bath Spa station using one of three routes via either.
- Bristol Temple Meads station, which is 11.5 miles away without electrification.
- Chippenham station, which is where the electrification to London starts and is 13 miles away.
- Westbury station, which is on the Reading and Taunton Line and 17 miles away without electrification.
Most trains seem to go via Bristol Temple Meads station.
- The distance between Bristol Temple Meads and Chippenham stations are 24.5 miles.
- The distance between Bristol Temple Meads and Westbury stations are 28.5 miles.
Neither distance is that long.
An Alternative To Full Electrification
When I look at the distances between Bristol Temple Meads, Chippenham and Westbury stations, they tell me that they are within the range of Hitachi’s Class 800 train with a battery electric capability or Regional Battery Train, which is described in this infographic from the company.
The proposed 90 km or 56 mile range would even be sufficient take a train between Chippenham and Bristol Temple Meads stations on a return trip.
Notes for each station follow.
Bristol Temple Meads
Charging facilities would be needed.
Destinations in battery range would include.
- Bristol Parkway – 6 miles
- Cardiff Central – 5 miles to the electrified Great Western Main Line.
- Cheltenham Spa – 41 miles
- Gloucester – 39 miles
- Taunton – 45 miles
- Weston-super-Mare – 19 miles
Note.
- Return trips to Bristol Parkway and Western-super-Mare would be possible.
- The other destinations will need charging facilities.
Bristol Temple Meads station could become a major hub for battery trains.
All local services and all passing longer distance services could be trains with a battery capability.
I write more about Britol Temnple Meads station as a battery train hub in Bristol Temple Meads Station – 28th July 2020.
Chippenham
A train would leave Chippenham station with a full battery after charging on the fully-electrified route from London.
Chippenham and Weston-super-Mare would be in battery range with a charging facility at Weston-super-Mare station.
It should be noted that every extra mile of electrification past Chippenham, can be added to the distance electric trains with a battery capability can reach.
Westbury
Charging facilities would be needed.
Destinations in battery range would include.
- Salisbury – 24 miles.
- Southampton – 49 miles to the electrified South Western Main Line, at Southampton Central station.
- Weymouth – 53 miles to the electrified South Western Main Line at Dorchester Junction.
Note.
- A return trip to Salisbury would be possible.
- Trains would need to have the capability to access 750 VDC third-rail electrification.
- A few extra miles of electrification may make operation South from Westbury station easier, more reliable and allow more destinations to be included.
Westbury station could be a major hub for battery trains.
This Google Map shows Westbury station and the lines around it.
I would probably electrify a few miles either side of Westbury, so that passing trains could be in contact with the overhead wires for perhaps five to ten minutes and take a good long drink.
- Electrification could be either 25 KVAC overhead or 750 VDC overhead.
- Newbury, where the electrification to London starts is 42 miles away and trains can pick it up at speed.
- Taunton is 47 miles away and could be electrified to Exeter St. Davids.
Great Western Railway could run all their services between London Paddington and the South-West using Class 800 trains with a battery capability.
Conclusion
The prolitical, heritage and engineering problems of electrifying through Bath Spa station can be voided, by electrification and charging facilities at stations like Bristol Temple Meads, Taunton, Westbury and Weston-super-Mare.
The Anonymous Widower 