Road, Rail & Access Issues

[tpm]

If it was posssible to build a railway link to Bristol Airport - given its elevation at above 600 feet AMSL it would be a mammoth civil engineering task to link the main line several hundred feet below but within about three miles distance. If it was viable there would then be the need to find rolling stock and pathways on the main line to reach Temple Meads. At best the frequency would be no more than half-hourly.

I still think there must be solutions to the engineering challenges, e.g. build the airport station much lower and have escalators/lifts going up to the airport terminal.

According to the latest draft of the Joint Local Transport Plan (JLTP4) a heavy rail "Bristol Airport Rail Link" is also part of the Bristol South West Economic Link (BSWEL) scheme which is still in early development stage. Not just one, but two phases:

• Package 6: Rail options: Bristol Airport Rail Link Phase One: Bristol Airport to Bristol Temple Meads
• Package 7: Rail options: Bristol Airport Rail Link Phase Two: Bristol Airport to Bristol Temple Meads, Severn Beach/Bath Spa, Bristol Airport to Weston-super-Mare/Taunton

If the plan was simply to come up with an updated feasibility study for a heavy rail link in order to be able to exclude it based on cost or cost-benefit ratio and bolster alternative schemes like the fabled mass-transit scheme to the airport, then why even consider two phases?

 

[tpm]

.. a heavy rail "Bristol Airport Rail Link" is also part of the Bristol South West Economic Link (BSWEL) scheme ..

Correction: This is actually either a heavy rail link or a light rail link according to the BSWEL Option Development Report from a few years ago.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I still think there must be solutions to the engineering challenges, e.g. build the airport station much lower and have escalators/lifts going up to the airport terminal.

According to the latest draft of the Joint Local Transport Plan (JLTP4) a heavy rail "Bristol Airport Rail Link" is also part of the Bristol South West Economic Link (BSWEL) scheme which is still in early development stage. Not just one, but two phases:


If the plan was simply to come up with an updated feasibility study for a heavy rail link in order to be able to exclude it based on cost or cost-benefit ratio and bolster alternative schemes like the fabled mass-transit scheme to the airport, then why even consider two phases?

Over the years there have been so many public transport 'schemes' proposed for the Bristol area.

Remember the Advanced Transport for Avon metro being pushed by local tv reporter turned MEP Richard Cottrell in the late 1980s/early 90s? He described it as 'a free gift for the people of Avon'. Nothing is usually free.

Or The Westway, a light rail system thought up by Avon County Council in the 1990s before that short-lived county ceased to exist? It would have linked the central area with North Bristol with another loop line around South Bristol.

Then there was the Bristol Supertram of the early 'noughties' that went nowhere (literally) after Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire failed to agree on the site of the northern terminus.

The local authorities then turned to the bus with the Showcase bus routes - some were started but I'm not sure if they still run as such. There was talk that the buses would be equipped to switch traffic lights to green as they approached. The later metrobus idea did get off the ground and is moderately successful although take-up out of peak hours is said to relatively low and frequencies have been reduced on all routes during the non-peak periods.

The fact that there are options being considered for heavy rail and a mass transport system to the airport from the city might mean they aren't sure what is truly viable and are looking at both.

The MetroWest system is struggling to get off the ground with the Portishead branch still awaiting confirmation of a definite start date, although after many years money is said to have been allocated by the government. The Henbury route has been relegated to a spur as far as the proposed metro is concerned although the line between Filton and Avonmouth remains open for freight traffic. One positive measure that has taken place is the re-quadrupling of the Ashley Hill bank with four tracks now running from Dr Day's Junction outside Temple Meads to Filton.

Chris Grayling the former transport secretary when speaking of the cancellation of the rail electrification to Bath and Bristol a few years ago justified it partly on the grounds that money would be better spent on local rail projects around the area. Perhaps he was speaking the truth and there is a large windfall awaiting. I'll believe it when I see it.

It would certainly be a huge step forward if some form of permanent way link was made between the city and the airport and it would have to include Temple Meads for onward connectivity.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

A1 Airport Flyer

People left waiting at bus stop that doesn't exist

The sign incorrectly says m2 and A1 buses will stop on Clift House Road in Southville

www.bristolpost.co.uk

During the continuing closure of Cumberland Road, which means the Ashton busway cannot be accessed, the Flyer was using Coronation Road on the other side of the river before joining the Cumberland Basin flyovers to eventually reach the South Bristol Link Road and the A38.

Usage has found the Coronation Road diversion route unreliable leading to delays so the A1 is now operating non-stop between Bedminster Bridge and the airport using its previous route via Bedminster (that the A2 uses) to and from the airport.

That will cause some inconvenience because I've seen A1 passengers board and alight at the stops along Cumberland Road and on the busway. When Coronation Road was being used as the diversion route temporary bus stops were put in place along that road and Clift House Road.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Part of BRS's commitment if their planning application is eventually approved (assuming they appeal) is a requirement (see below in italics) that all current bus and coach services will be kept operating. The A1 and A3 are operated by the airport albeit on their behalf by First West of England under contract. The others are commercial services although some might have some form of airport subsidy.

As I read this, if one of the commercial operators decided their service had become untenable the airport would have to either support them or find an alternative operator, possibly also with airport support. That could become quite an open-ended commitment and might be an interesting tactical opportunity for a commercial operator to exploit.

Continuation and underwriting of all current commitments and conditions from the 10mppa planning consent, including minimum frequencies (as at consent of the 12mppa application). This will require a commitment to ensure the continuation of all strategic bus and coach services that are currently operating, whether they are operated or contracted by the Airport or otherwise. This includes the services currently identified as A1, A2, A3, A4 (Bath), plus the currently named Falcon (to Exeter and Plymouth) and National Express (to Cardiff), and ensures services continue to serve Weston-super-Mare, Bristol, Bath, the South West (Somerset / Devon / Cornwall) and South Wales.

(I've highlighted the relevant part in bold).

The A5 service that serves the airport and surrounding villages doesn't seem to be included in the list of strategic services.

 

[superking]

Dont know any details. The airport flyer is to loose a few rotations per day due to less pax around at this very bad time.

 

[kraktoa]

The A1 flyer. Hourly service
A2 and A3 . Standard timetable
A4 standard timetable...review on 23 Mar

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Bus and coach services

Plan your bus journey to and from Bristol Airport quickly and easily. View the Bus and Coach services available. You can even book online!

www.bristolairport.co.uk

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I note tbat BRS is putting in real-time digital displays on the bus stops at the airport.

Previously there was one digital master display outside the terminal showing the times of all departing services and another showing departing train times from Temple Meads Station.

 

[superking]

I just hope these wont get hacked,as if they do then whats showing on screens will always showing wrong info or not showing updates.We live in hope these screens will be ok.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

BRS press release.

News releases

Read the latest news, press releases and events for Bristol Airport

www.bristolairport.co.uk

The comment about face coverings has obviously been superseded by today's government announcement.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Changes planned for Bristol Airport bus services

First West of England is making changes to its A2 service (Broadmead - Bristol Airport) for the benefit of customers who need to travel to Bristol Airport. This comes as the Government confirms that holidaymakers will soon be able to travel abroad, with an announcement on the selected air...

www.bristolairport.co.uk

The A2 service that operates from Broadmead to/from the airport via the city centre and Bedminster will see its frequency increased from this coming Sunday (5 July).

Additionally, it will serve Temple Meads station.

This is because the A1 Flyer service between the airport, Temple Meads station and the country bus & coach station remains suspended until January 2021. The A3 Weston Flyer between the airport and Weston-super-Mare remains suspended until then as well.

It seems very odd that the A1 remains suspended given that it carries the bulk of the passengers who use buses from and to the airport. The A2 is a commercial service operated by First West of England whereas the A1 and A3 are operated by First West of England on behalf of the airport. Bus companies are currently receiving financial assistance from the government to maintain services and it might be that this does not apply to the services operated on behalf of the airport.

On another part of the airport website it states that the A4 Air Decker (Bath Bus Company) between the airport and Bath and the Stagecoach South West Falcon between the airport and Somerset and Devon as far as Plymouth are operating restricted timetables, with the A5 'village bus' (Carmel Coaches) and the South Wales National Express (Edwards Coaches) service currently not operating.

 

[superking]

Do we know if the coach service from Wales has started yet.I ask as seen a couple of coaches in weston this morning at 8am.They were Edwards coaches in national express logo,and drivers were having a cup of tea. They found a cafe open for tea.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Do we know if the coach service from Wales has started yet.I ask as seen a couple of coaches in weston this morning at 8am.They were Edwards coaches in national express logo,and drivers were having a cup of tea. They found a cafe open for tea.

According to the airport website the South Wales coach link has not yet restarted. Edwards operate all the London National Express services from Bristol using coaches from their Avonmouth depot, so they might also operate Nat Exp routes south of Bristol too.

 

[superking]

I mentioned it as it was strange to see these 2 coaches parked on Weston seafront. Never seen them there before. Drivers drinking tea and coaches empty and it looked like they were not going any here soon. Time of day was 06.30 in the morning.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Everything we know about sinkhole which has closed main route

The A38 Bristol Road, near Bristol Airport, remains closed between the A371 Sidcot Lane and Oakridge Lane

www.bristolpost.co.uk

A38 at Sidcot is blocked because of a burst water main in the early hours of today.

The linked report contains a picture of a South West Falcon airport bus stuck in the hole. Drivers of vehicles from the south-west wishing to access BRS are advised to leave the M5 at junction 21 (Weston-super-Mare) and use the A370.

 

[superking]

There was 5 passengers on the falcon coach and no one hurt.Reports say the road could be shut for 4 days. Its chaos around the area as every one going here there and every where to get past the problem. I went into Bristol this morning and temporary lights at churchill gate as main traffic lights turned off for maintainence and then from Churchill to the airport was a further 4 sets of temporary traffic lights, with 1 set of temporary traffic lights at Barrow tanks hill at the Winford junction. All in all the A38 was/is a total nightmare.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Direct Airport coach service returns to Cardiff

Direct Bristol Airport coach service returns to Cardiff As demand for post-covid domestic travel grows, a direct airport coach service from Cardiff has been added back onto the National Express network of scheduled coach services. The 216 service from Cardiff to Bristol Airport will run five...

forums4airports.com

So the National Express 216 service from/to South Wales is to resume, albeit at half the previous frequency for the time being; the A4 Bath Air Decker is operating again at half frequency - every hour; the South West Falcon is operating - at its full 19 return journeys every 24 hours; the commercially operated First West of England A2 service between the airport and city centre is operating.

The only ones that aren't (except possibly for the A5 'village bus' - I'm not sure about that) are the airport's own services - A1 and A3 - which are operated for them by First West of England under contract. The A1 is the major public service between the airport and Temple Meads/Bristol bus station at mainly a 10-minute frequency throughout each 24 hours and the A3 the only service between the airport and Weston-super-Mare.

Given that the other routes suggest an upsurge in passenger traffic - the stated rationale for the return of the South Wales 216 - and an airport spokesman is praising the 216's return as a means of reducing the airport's carbon emissions, mothballing the A1 and A3 until January is really quite inexplicable.

 

[superking]

I seen the A2 decker on its way into Bristol today. It looked as far as i could see had a fair few passengers on it.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I had an email from BRS today with the present frequencies of buses serving the airport:

The A2 to the city centre has a 20-minute frequency (normally every 30 minutes) and will call at Temple Meads in the absence of the A1
The A4 to Bath has an hourly frequency (normally every 30 minutes)
The South West Falcon to/from Taunton, Exeter and Plymouth is operating seven return journeys every 24 hours (normally 19 return journeys)
The National Express service from Cardiff will operate 10 return journeys every 24 hours which I think is the normal schedule

The A1 Flyer to Temple Meads and the bus station (normally six return journeys per hour) and the A3 Weston Flyer (normally one return journey per hour) remain suspended until January.

No mention of the A5 'village bus'.