The Bristol S-Plan


Why the S-Route?


This is but one option, but think of it - a major public transport route serving many commercial centres around Bristol. Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway would enable connections to long distance routes and the proposed Bradley Stoke light rail transit scheme could also be integrated with it, Parts of the route either already are or could be used for freight travel - removing lorries from the roads

The main point to consider is that this route already exists The capital costs required would not be enormous and the scheme would be certainly far cheaper than any road-based solution to our traffic problems
 

What needs to be done NOW


Very soon, important decisions will be taken by your Council on the transport strategy for the next 15 years. Government insists that local transport plans are drawn up with community participation. This gives you the chance to insist that the railways around Bristol should be used to best effect for passengers and freight

We need to lobby the Council to make a commitment, in the new 'Bristol Transport Plan', to establishing the S-Route.  So write to your local councillors and to your MP to show support for the S-Route or at least to demand that all use be made of the existing rail network around Bristol. Remind them that Government policy encourages local authorities to enhance rail services by improving train frequencies, improving track, re-opening disused stations and opening new ones.

We should use this opportunity to press for an integrated public transport policy - for our benefit as well as for future generations.
 

For more information, contact:

Friends of Severn Beach Railway Tel: 0117-9428637
Avon Transport 2000                      Tel. 0117-9770297
 

Trains can cut  congestion

The only way to reduce traffic congestion, while also permitting our city to prosper as a commercial/cultural centre is to provide a satisfactory alternative to the car, Rail travel can provide a large part of the solution. At last the government has recognised this and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) sees rail transport as a central element in solving our transport problems'.

Bristol and its surroundings are already served by local rail services, a legacy of the Victorian era. They are not used as much as they could be. There are many reasons for this such as infrequent services, poor timetabling and, most importantly, the fact that they do not form a coherent network. However, with a little imagination and at a relatively small cost, they could be joined up to form a much wider local rail network around Bristol that could serve the needs of the travelling public.
 

Which routes already exist?

 

Temple Meads - Severn Beach (the 'Severn Beach' line):

Local service with its stations already in use.
 

Temple Meads - Abbey Wood - Bristol Parkway - Yate:

Mainly used by intercity trains. Stops at Ashley Hill and Horfield should be reinstated. The large increase in passengers using Filton (Abbey Wood) shows what can be achieved with investment.
 

Avonmouth - Henbury - North Filton - Bristol Parkway:

This is only used by coal trains from Avonmouth Docks but could be used for
passenger services. It passes close to the Regional Shopping Centre at Cribbs
Causeway to which it could be linked.
 

Portishead - Ashton - Temple Meads/Wapping Wharf:

The Bristol Port Co. and Railtrack PLC are negotiating freight. The link to Wapping Wharf is now used by the Railway and the Bristol Electric Railbus, its reopening for Harbour (Steam).
 
 

Weston S Mare to Temple Meads/Wapping Wharf:

Local services operate alongside intercity trains. More use should be made of Parson St and Bedminster stations. Diverting some services via Avonmeads Retail Park would provide a new public transport service - a South Bristol Loop'.
 

Bath - Saltford - Keynsham - Temple Meads - Filton:

There is currently a regular intercity service, serving London and the South Coast. The Saltford stop should be reinstated to relieve the A4, and a Park and Ride station established to the west of Bath.
 

Temple Meads - Abbey Wood - Patchway - S. Wales:

This is served by intercity trains to S. Wales and the Midlands; with the exception of Abbey Wood, there is only a nominal service to local stations. The potential to attract back to rail the many people who work at Filton and
Patchway has been ignored up to now.
 

Links to the City Centre

The relative remoteness of Temple Meads from the Centre discourages use of local rail services. However links could be provided via a railbus or light rail transit scheme. A route from the West (Weston/Portishead) directly to the Centre at Wapping Wharf already exists and it connects with the Long Ashton park and ride.

Integrating these routes


There are many ways by which these different routes could be linked up to form a local rail network. One way could be the 'S Route' - following an S-shaped route through the Bristol commuter area from, say, Portishead to Yate. This would consist of frequent 'light transit' type trains operating as follows:
 
 
 

Portishead* » Portbury* » Pill* » Ashton Gate * »
Parson St » Bedminster » Temple Meads » Lawrence Hill »
Stapleton Rd » Montpelier » Redland » Clifton Down »
Sea Mills » Shirehampton » Avonmouth » St Andrews Rd »
Hallen* » Henbury* » North Filton » Bristol Parkway » Yate
* new or re-opened stations

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