84-464: * via Patchway † via Henbury The Severn Beach line is a local railway line in Bristol and Gloucestershire , England, which runs from Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach , and used to extend to Pilning . The first sections of the line were opened in 1865 as part of the Bristol Port Railway and Pier ; the section through Bristol was opened in 1875 as the Clifton Extension Railway . The line has faced several threats of closure over
168-652: A 100-minute gap in the timetable. First Great Western declined an option to continue the Greater Western franchise beyond 2013, citing a desire for a longer-term contract due to the impending upgrade to the Great Western Main Line . The franchise was put out to tender , but the process was halted and later scrapped due to the fallout from the collapse of the InterCity West Coast franchise competition . A two-year franchise extension until September 2015
252-504: A dedicated approach road, as it was adjacent to a road connecting Gloucester Road to the west and Gypsy Patch Lane to the south; this road subsequently became known as Station Road. At the time of construction, the station was mostly surrounded by fields, with the Bristol conurbation almost 3 miles (5 km) away. In 1900, almost all trains from London to Wales travelled via Bath and Bristol, with some still routed via Gloucester . However,
336-521: A growing seaside resort, and some on to Pilning , then back to Temple Meads via Patchway . The Second World War saw the end of services to Fishponds and Mangotsfield, the last operating on 31 March 1941. By 1947, just before the start of the British Rail era, there were 33 services each direction between Avonmouth and Temple Meads, and 18 on Sundays. Some trains made circular trips to and from Temple Meads via Clifton Down and Henbury or Pilning . When
420-419: A mile east of Bristol Temple Meads , as far as the landward end of New Passage Pier on 8 September 1863, a distance of 11 miles (18 km). The distance by rail between Bristol and Cardiff was reduced from 94 miles (151 km) to 38 miles (61 km). The Bristol and South Wales Union Railway built new piers for the ferry, with the one at New Passage being 546 yards (499 m) long. A steam ferry,
504-467: A particular day every June and the 2014 count had an increase in passenger usage of 16% over the 2013 count, indicating that the high growth on this line seen in previous years continues. 51°29′05″N 2°40′23″W / 51.4848°N 2.6731°W / 51.4848; -2.6731 Patchway railway station Patchway railway station is on the South Wales Main Line , serving
588-403: A service at Clifton Down of one train approximately every 30 minutes in each direction. Services start alternately from Bristol and Weston-super-Mare . There is a similar level of service on Saturdays. Sunday sees a roughly hourly service to and from Bristol, with all daytime services extended to Severn Beach. Clifton Down is the line's main passing point, so trains to Avonmouth usually arrive at
672-468: A size that navigating the Avon was not possible any more, and so ships would have to dock at the head of the river at Avonmouth instead. The Bristol Port Railway and Pier company (BPRP) was founded in 1862 with the intent to build a single-track standard gauge railway the 5.75 miles (9.25 km) from Avonmouth to the city centre alongside the Avon. The railway's act of parliament was passed on 17 July 1862, and
756-606: Is 13 minutes and 45 minutes to Cardiff Central. Patchway railway station first opened on 8 September 1863 when services began on the Bristol & South Wales Union Railway (BSWUR), which ran from Bristol Temple Meads to New Passage Pier , north of Bristol on the banks of the River Severn . At New Passage, passengers were transferred to a ferry to cross the Severn to continue on into Wales. The line, engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel ,
840-558: Is on the South Wales Main Line between Bristol Parkway and Newport (South Wales) , and just off the Cross Country Route north of Filton Abbey Wood and the east end of the Henbury Loop Line . It is 5 miles 77 chains (9.6 km) from Bristol Temple Meads and 114 miles 5 chains (183.6 km) from London Paddington via Bristol Parkway. The station is just north of Patchway Junctions 1 and 2, where
924-423: Is on the east side of the station on Station Road. CCTV cameras are in operation at the station. Step-free access is available to both platforms following completion of a new footbridge with lifts. From 2002 to 2014, annual passenger numbers at Patchway more than quintupled, from 16,898 to 92,540, and the station was noted in 2013 as having a high growth trend. However, these numbers are still fairly low; Patchway
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#17328518562291008-827: Is one early morning service to Portsmouth Harbour and a late night service to Westbury , with similar return workings. On Saturdays, there is a similar level of service throughout most of the day, with one train per hour in each direction between Cardiff and Taunton. On Sundays, a more limited service operates with roughly one train every three hours between Cardiff and Westbury, with trains terminating at either Portsmouth Harbour, Brighton or Warminster . Throughout each day, Great Western Railway services between London Paddington and South Wales pass through non-stop, with two trains per hour in each direction on weekdays and one train per hour at weekends. All trains southbound call next at Filton Abbey Wood , and almost every train westbound calls next at Severn Tunnel Junction . Despite being
1092-604: Is the 1,730th busiest station in Great Britain (of 2,540) and the fifth busiest station in South Gloucestershire, busier only than Pilning. Patchway is managed by Great Western Railway , which operates all services from the station. The basic service from Monday to Friday is one train per hour in each direction between Cardiff Central and Taunton , with some trains extended beyond Taunton to Exeter St Davids , Paignton , Plymouth and Penzance . In addition, there
1176-579: Is the line's main passing point, as it is one of the few remaining places with double track. The line then enters the mile-long Clifton Down Tunnel , reappearing in the Avon Gorge . It follows the Avon , passing through Sea Mills before heading inland to Shirehampton and Portway Park & Ride , under the M5 Avonmouth Bridge and through an industrial estate before reaching Avonmouth . Beyond Avonmouth,
1260-504: The 21st-century modernisation of the Great Western Main Line . The main access to the station is from Station Road to the east; however, there is also a set of steps and a turnstile into the industrial estate to the west. Facilities at the station are minimal – there are small brick shelters on each platform, but no facilities for buying tickets. There are customer help points, giving next train information for both platforms. A small car park with 15 spaces, and racks for four bicycles,
1344-537: The 21st-century modernisation of the Great Western Main Line . Patchway railway station is located in the Patchway area of South Gloucestershire , within the Bristol conurbation . There is a large Rolls-Royce industrial area to the west of the station, while the area to the north and east is primarily residential. To the south is a large amount of railway land, including the Filton Triangle depot . The station
1428-418: The Bristol and South Wales Union Railway in 1863 with a single platform, 0.5 miles (0.8 km) west of the current location, but was resited in 1885 when the line was widened to double track. The station once had large buildings and a goods yard, but these were demolished in the late 20th century, with small brick shelters built in their place. The line through Patchway has recently been electrified as part of
1512-632: The Chepstow arrived from the same shipyard on 11 February 1875. These two continued in service until the Severn Tunnel was opened in 1886. They were sold to WS Ogden at Cardiff in 1880, the Chepstow being renamed the Rover . The funnels were generally painted black with a red band. The station became redundant in 1886 following the construction of the Severn Tunnel , and was subsequently closed. The pier
1596-596: The Cross Country Route at Narroways Hill Junction. The line from here is single track, passing through woodland and circling the St Werburghs area, then passing under the B4052 (Ashley Hill) before reaching Montpelier . The line then passes over the A38 Cheltenham Road on a viaduct known as "The Arches", before reaching Redland and continuing along a straight cutting through Cotham before reaching Clifton Down . This
1680-591: The Hotwells area, an extension towards Bristol Temple Meads , the city's main station, would have been prohibitively expensive. Instead, a link was proposed from the BPRP at Sneyd Park , running under Clifton Down and through the suburbs to connect to the main lines of the Midland and Bristol and South Wales Union railways. The connection was authorised in 1867, but the BPRP was in financial difficulties, and so unable to complete
1764-660: The Saint Pierre had been built by Pride and Williams for the New Passage crossing in 1825 and it worked there until 1831. The B&SWUR bought a new steamer, the Gem in 1863 but it proved unsuitable and was soon replaced by the Relief . John Bland, a carrier and shareholder in the railway, was contracted to operate the ferry. The next vessel purchased was the Dragon Fly , this had been used by
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#17328518562291848-406: The 10:08 service from Bristol Temple Meads . The first railbus concept, LEV1 , would begin operations on the line less than a week later. Later model Class 143 Pacer railbuses would be a regular sight on the line until 2012. British Rail was split into business-led sectors in the 1980s, at which time operations passed to Regional Railways . At this time, all trains ran to Severn Beach, but
1932-532: The A4320 and then joining with a chord from the Great Western Main Line at Dr Day's Junction. At this point there are four tracks, but in the past this narrowed to two before Lawrence Hill . Four tracks were restored as part of the Great Western route improvements. Continuing north, the line passes under the old Midland Railway Bristol to Gloucester Line , passes through Stapleton Road station, then diverges west from
2016-646: The Bristol Port Railway and Pier closed in 1922, so to compensate, an additional six trains were provided from Clifton Down to Avonmouth, and four back. In 1923, grouping resulted in the Midland Railway being absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS), and the line continued in a joint arrangement between the Great Western and the LMS. From 1924, many trains to Avonmouth were extended to Severn Beach ,
2100-662: The Midland Railway's Bristol to Gloucester line near Fishponds . The line was managed by the Clifton Extension Railway Joint Committee, but in 1894 responsibility was passed to the Great Western & Midland Railways Joint Committee. Services began to Clifton Down on 1 October 1874. The initial service provided by the Midland Railway was between Clifton Down, Fishponds and Mangotsfield , where passengers could change for services to Bath , Birmingham and other Midland destinations. The Great Western provided services from Clifton Down to Bristol Temple Meads ,
2184-580: The New Passage Association formed, using the 30-ton steamboat "St Pierre". However, the sponsorship by the Dukes of Beaufort of the Aust route, with faster boats and a pier, meant that by 1830 mail coaches were diverted there, and the New Passage declined. Construction of the new railway started in 1858 and the single-track 7 ft ( 2,134 mm ) broad gauge line opened from South Wales Junction, half
2268-459: The Severn Beach line, one between Severn Beach and Portishead , the other between Severn Beach and Bath Spa , both calling at all stations. These services are to run from December 2017, operating 18 hours a day Monday-Saturday and 9 hours a day on Sundays. The metro plan also calls for the reopening of the Henbury Loop Line , which could allow a service from Temple Meads to Bristol Parkway via
2352-745: The Severn Beach line. The metro scheme was given the go-ahead in July 2012 as part of the City Deal, whereby local councils would be given greater control over money by the government, but it is as yet unclear which elements will be implemented. FOSBR and other local groups lodged concerns with the Department for Transport that the reopening of the Henbury Loop was not included in the ITT for the new Greater Western franchise. A one-off service, operated by First Great Western , ran on
2436-433: The anticipated increase in demand, it was decided that the line should be increased to twin track. However, the gradient between Pilning and Patchway, 1 in 68, was considered undesirably steep for trains heading up the hill towards Bristol, particularly for heavy coal trains, and so a three-mile deviation was built with a 1 in 100 gradient between Pilning and a point south of Patchway. Trains uphill towards Bristol would use
2520-459: The city's major station, where passengers could change for trains to London , Exeter and Wales , among others. The Great Western also provided occasional through services to Weston-super-Mare . There were a total of 23 trains in each direction between the two companies Monday-Saturday. On Sundays, there was no Midland service, but seven Great Western trains. The fare to Temple Meads was 6d first-class and 3d third-class. The Clifton Down Tunnel ,
2604-497: The committee. The station finally opened on 12 April 1897. In 1910, Clifton Down saw 17 Great Western services from Avonmouth to Temple Meads and 15 the other way, a further 20 trains each day operating between Clifton and Temple Meads, and 13 Midland trains each way between Clifton and Fishponds or Mangotsfield. Midland services were suspended from 1 January 1917 to 15 May 1919 due to the First World War . The Hotwells section of
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2688-438: The congested main line from Temple Meads, such frequency is not currently feasible. However, it is expected that with the four-tracking of Filton Bank , including the Severn Beach line between Temple Meads and Narroways Hill Junction, that there will be sufficient capacity to allow half-hourly services. The Invitation to Tender for the Greater Western franchise asked bidders to include costs for two trains per hour each direction on
2772-650: The contractors to build the piers but was too small to work as the ferry. Instead, two paddle tugs, the Ajax and the Atlas were hired in to cover for the Relief . A new paddle steamer arrived in June 1864, named Christopher Thomas after the chairman of the B&;SWUR, it had been built for the company by Henderson, Coulborn and Company at Renfrew in Scotland . A slightly larger vessel named
2856-506: The cut, but First Great Western and the council stated that reliability problems were not due to the cut in subsidy, but instead due to breakdowns and track maintenance. The council subsidies, for both increased services and Sunday services, were due to be replaced by national funding in 2015. An additional evening service was agreed in February 2012, to start in September 2012, after protests about
2940-402: The daily Great Western service was six trains each way between Avonmouth and Temple Meads, 24 trains from Clifton Down to Temple Meads and 26 the other direction. The Midland provided 12 services from Clifton Down to Fishponds, and 11 back. There was not initially a station at Redland , but there was local support, with several petitions submitted to the line's Joint Railway Committee. The first
3024-444: The decision was reversed, on the condition that tickets be issued on the trains. Thus, on 17 July 1967, all stations along the line, other than Temple Meads, had their staff withdrawn. The decrease of costs allowed a reduction of ticket prices, but the line was still under threat until in June 1969 it was decided that the line's closure would result in significant hardship, and so a grant was allocated to ensure continued services. Most of
3108-630: The east side of the station and adjacent to the Up Tunnel track, is for trains towards Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Parkway. Platform 2, on the west side and adjacent to the Down Tunnel track, is for trains towards Pilning. Both platforms are 121 metres (132 yd) long, and the tracks have a speed limit of 90 miles per hour (140 km/h). The line through Patchway has a loading gauge of W8 , and handles over 15 million train tonnes per year. The line through Patchway has recently been electrified as part of
3192-542: The east. As part of the work, the station signal box was closed, replaced by a larger one closer to the junction on 19 October 1902. The new signal box would later become one of only a few to be double glazed , due to the noise from jet engine testing from the Bristol Siddeley Aero-Engines factory (now the Rolls-Royce factory) opposite the box. The Henbury Loop Line opened in 1910, connecting Avonmouth to
3276-405: The eastern side, with an adjacent signal box . As now, the eastern platform was for trains towards Bristol, the western platform for trains towards Wales. The station buildings were of a standard 1880s GWR design, with tall chimneys and fretted wooden canopies. The main building was on the eastern platform, containing the booking office, toilets and waiting rooms. A matching brick shelter with canopy
3360-482: The end of subsidy would see services along the line halved. However, even with the subsidy, the line still suffered to keep the rest of the network running. Mike Holmes, station manager for most of the line's stations, told the Bristol Evening Post that: Before we put real effort into the Severn Beach line it was really the sacrificial lamb for other services. So if we needed a spare train, we would pull one off
3444-471: The final 15 miles (24 km) to Bristol were relatively slow and congested, so a new route was built further north; the GWR's Badminton Line , now part of the South Wales Main Line , ran from Wootton Bassett Junction to a junction just south of Patchway. The new line opened in 1903 and allowed faster services to Wales. There was a new triangular junction between Patchway and Filton, with the new line coming in from
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3528-409: The final link to the Bristol Port Railway and Pier, was opened in 1877, initially allowing freight trains to reach Avonmouth Docks . It was not until 1885 that it was cleared for passenger use, which allowed services to Avonmouth via Sea Mills and Shirehampton . There was a trial Midland service between Bristol St Philip's and Avonmouth in September 1885, but this was ended after a month. In 1886,
3612-467: The future. Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) supports the electrification of the entire Severn Beach line. Improved services along the line are called for as part of the Greater Bristol Metro scheme, a rail transport plan which aims to enhance transport capacity in the Bristol area. There is an aspiration for half-hourly services, however due to the large sections of single-track and
3696-511: The heavy freight traffic to Avonmouth Docks being routed via the Henbury Loop Line through Filton . The line was highlighted by Thomas Cook as one of the scenic lines of Europe. From Bristol Temple Meads , the line heads east, diverging from the Great Western Main Line , Wessex Main Line and Heart of Wessex Line at Bristol East Junction. The line curves to the north, passing under
3780-596: The line and cancel it, which was why punctuality and reliability was so poor. After the public campaign in 2006 we decided that we didn't want to take that to carry on any more. Protesters would chant "The Severn Beach is a mighty fine line; Clean and friendly and sometimes on time." The Wessex franchise was amalgamated with the Great Western franchise into the Greater Western franchise from 2006, and responsibility passed to First Great Western , rebranded in 2015 as Great Western Railway. A 1-hour minimum service requirement
3864-408: The line be withdrawn. Following meetings with staff, it was decided to keep the line open to Severn Beach, but to close the section to Pilning, and also end services via Henbury. These services duly ended, but the line was still threatened, and on 10 February 1967 it was announced that all services between Stapleton Road and Severn Beach would be discontinued. An enquiry followed, and in June that year
3948-555: The line had been operated by Class 150 Sprinter units, occasionally supplemented by Class 153 Super Sprinter and Class 158 Express Sprinter units. Until 2012, Class 143 Pacer units were a regular sight, but these were moved south to work in Devon following a cascade of Class 150/1 units from London Midland and London Overground . Monday to Friday, two trains per hour run from Bristol Temple Meads to Avonmouth , with one extended to St Andrew's Road and Severn Beach , giving
4032-678: The line on 27 July 2013. The Portway Park and Ride railway station was opened in August 2023 between Shirehampton and Avonmouth to serve the A4 Portway Park & Ride scheme . The new station plan was included in the Bristol Metro proposal, and for some years the project had the support of the FOSBR and the Bristol branch of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers . Below are
4116-427: The line passes through a small residential area before reaching Avonmouth Docks . A freight yard is to the east of the line here, used for coal trains. St Andrews Road is within the yard, and to the north the Henbury Loop Line diverges to the east. The Severn Beach line continues north along the bank of the River Severn to the terminus at Severn Beach . Beyond Severn Beach, the line used to continue north through
4200-485: The line the railway wished was not there. It was the line that got bus substitution whenever they were short of trains or queues, when a rugby match in Cardiff needed a special. It has a problem in that the route is slow and not very direct; for years it was invisible, short of marketing and lacking a regular interval timetable. When the railway was privatised in 1997, local services were franchised to Wales & West , which
4284-460: The line was reduced to single track in late 1970, leaving Clifton Down as one of the few passing places. In 1971 the weekday service was 20 trains in each direction, 19 calling at all stations between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach and 1 train that terminated at St Andrews Road. On 20 October 1981, the Severn Beach line saw one of the first uses of a railbus on passenger services, when British Rail Engineering Limited Railbus RB003 operated
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#17328518562294368-464: The line. It entered into negotiations with the Midland and Great Western Railways (the latter now the owner of the Bristol and South Wales Union Railway). The Clifton Extension Railway initially ran from Clifton Down to Narroways Hill Junction with what is now the Cross Country Route north through Bristol, then part of the Great Western Railway; and over a viaduct from Narroways Hill to
4452-406: The lines from Bristol Parkway, Filton Abbey Wood and Henbury converge. The next station east is Bristol Parkway, the next station south is Filton Abbey Wood and the next station west is Pilning . The station is on a rough north–south alignment, curving towards the west at the north end. There are two platforms, separated by two running lines and connected by an open footbridge. Platform 1, on
4536-419: The main line, Lawrence Hill and Stapleton Road have increased 130% and 82% respectively. On the branch line, the stations with the biggest changes were Severn Beach, St Andrews Road and Clifton Down with 363%, 228% and 178% respectively. The lowest increase was at Shirehampton with only 35%. Montpelier, Redland, Sea Mills and Avonmouth have increased by 103%, 89%, 68% and 144% respectively. The annual change from
4620-607: The main lines south of Patchway. From 1928, some trains from Bristol would travel in loops via Patchway and Severn Beach . When the railways were nationalised in 1948 , Patchway came under the aegis of the Western Region of British Railways . In 1949, there were 11 trains towards South Wales and 13 towards Bristol each weekday, with three trains per day in each direction on Sundays. However, by 1965, this had reduced to eight trains on weekdays towards South Wales and six towards Bristol, with no Sunday service. Traffic levels fell;
4704-465: The near future, so services at Patchway will still be provided by diesel trains, with Sprinter units to be replaced by Class 165 and 166 Turbo units. The group Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways supports the electrification continuing to Weston, as does MP for Weston-super-Mare John Penrose . [REDACTED] Media related to Patchway railway station at Wikimedia Commons New Passage Pier railway station New Passage Pier
4788-439: The new line, while trains downhill towards Wales would continue to use the steeper, original track. The deviation left the two tracks at Patchway at significantly different levels, and so made the original site impractical for a station. The station was rebuilt 40 chains (0.80 km) south along the line at its present site, 5 miles 77 chains (9.6 km) from Bristol Temple Meads. A boulder and information board marks
4872-525: The next station along the South Wales Main Line , there is only one weekday service which calls at both Patchway and Bristol Parkway , that being an early morning service from Taunton to Cardiff; there are only two trains per week which call at both Patchway and Pilning . The services described above are formed using Class 43 locomotives, Class 158 , 165 , 166 diesel multiple-unit trains and Class 800 and Class 802 bi-mode multiple unit trains. The standard journey time to Bristol Temple Meads
4956-441: The passenger usage statistics from years starting April 2002 to April 2022. Comparing 2002 with later years has shown a general increase on the line in usage. The most recent figures have been attributed to an improved service. The high usage at Clifton Down is due in part to its proximity to Bristol Zoo (though that closed in September 2022) and a major shopping area. Comparing over a full decade from April 2012 to April 2002, on
5040-420: The railway opened on 6 March 1865, running from a terminus called Clifton in the Avon Gorge . As built, the railway was isolated from the rest of the national network, having not been intended for anything more than local traffic, so a connection to the main line railways was needed in order to develop Avonmouth as a port. However, due to the position of Clifton station and the large amount of developed land in
5124-486: The railways were nationalised in 1948 , the Severn Beach line came under the aegis of the Western Region of British Railways . Passenger numbers however dropped sharply in 1961 as the result of a fare increase, and so in 1962 a new reduced timetable was enacted, which lost more passengers, and saw the withdrawal of a special schoolchildren's service. A year later in 1963, the Beeching report suggested that all services along
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#17328518562295208-565: The same time as trains to Bristol Temple Meads. Most trains call at all stations. The typical journey time from Temple Meads to Avonmouth is 28 minutes, and 37 minutes to Severn Beach. All stations on the line are in Travel Zone A (Bristol City) apart from Severn Beach which is in Zone C. Bristol sits on the River Avon , with its docks several miles inland. By the 19th century, ships had grown to such
5292-548: The service pattern was irregular. The state of the line was brought up in Parliament in 1990 by MP for Bristol North West Michael Stern , who asked why British Rail was not willing to publicise the line and protect the frequency of services. Cecil Parkinson MP, then- Secretary of State for Transport , replied that the line was using "out-of-date, worn-out rolling stock" due to late deliveries from manufacturers, and that British Rail would not encourage people to use it until there
5376-406: The site of the original station. The new station opened on 10 August 1885, and was originally known as Patchway & Stoke Gifford , but reverted to Patchway from 27 October 1908. The station was on a north–south alignment and had two platforms, separated by two running lines, with a third line, a goods loop , behind the western platform. There was a goods yard to the south of the station on
5460-451: The southern part of Gloucestershire , including the district of Patchway, became part of the new county of Avon . Avon was disbanded in 1996, with the region now governed by South Gloucestershire council. British Rail was split into business-led sectors in the 1980s; at which time, operations at Patchway passed to Regional Railways . When the railway was privatised in 1997, local services were franchised to Wales & West , which
5544-494: The station was cleared through a Community Payback scheme. As part of work to electrify the line passing through the station, the footbridge was replaced. A new accessible footbridge with lifts at either side was opened in May 2021. The South Wales Main Line from London to Cardiff has now been electrified, as has the line to Bristol Temple Meads . However, the lines to Weston-super-Mare and Southampton will not be electrified in
5628-462: The station was closed to goods traffic on 5 July 1965 and subsequently had all staff withdrawn on 14 October 1968. The goods loop was taken up and the station buildings demolished, replaced by small brick shelters. The structure of the footbridge remained, but the roof was removed. The goods yard was repurposed as vehicle storage. In 1974, when the Local Government Act 1972 came into effect,
5712-507: The town and further along the bank of the Severn, meeting the Bristol and South Wales Union Railway 's line near New Passage Pier . It then joined with the South Wales Main Line at Pilning . The line was listed among Thomas Cook's most favoured attractions for its scenic route along the River Avon and River Severn. Services along the line are operated by Great Western Railway, mainly using diesel Class 166 Turbo units. Until mid-2017,
5796-463: The town of Patchway and village of Stoke Gifford in South Gloucestershire , England. It is 6 miles (10 km) from Bristol Temple Meads . Its three letter station code is PWY . It is managed by Great Western Railway , who provide all train services at the station; there is generally a train every hour in each direction between Cardiff Central and Taunton . The station was opened by
5880-494: The year starting April 2011 to the year starting April 2012 varies from an increase of 63% at St Andrews Road through to a decrease of 2% at Redland. During this year, Redland was the only station to see a decrease, with the average change for all stations on the line being an increase of 11%. Whilst not based on the same methodology, the Severnside Community Rail Partnership carry out a passenger count on
5964-460: The years, and has been reduced to single track in many places. In the 21st century it has experienced a surge in passenger numbers, with a 90% increase in the years 2007–2011. All services along the line are operated by Great Western Railway , generally two trains per hour in each direction between Temple Meads and Avonmouth , calling at all stations, with one train per hour extended to Severn Beach. The line carries little freight traffic, with most of
6048-412: Was a better service. In 1995, an hourly timetable was introduced for peak times, but services terminated at Avonmouth so that a single Sprinter unit could work the service. There was a better service on Saturdays as more rolling stock was available, but there was no Sunday service. Talk arose again of the line being closed completely. Local tourism expert Bernard Lane described the line's state as: ...
6132-683: Was agreed in October 2013, and subsequently extended until March 2019. With the coming upgrade to the Great Western Main Line, the main line from London to Bristol was due to be electrified by 2016; however, delays and cost overruns led to removal of Temple Meads from the programme. The electrification was not planned to extend beyond the main lines, so the Severn Beach line continues to be served by diesel trains. Stephen Williams , MP for Bristol West , questioned whether electrification could continue to Clifton Down . Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond replied that it would have to be looked at in
6216-480: Was amalgamated with the Great Western Railway (GWR), which had from the beginning operated all BSWUR services, in 1868; in 1873, the line was converted to 1,435 mm ( 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ) standard gauge . Although the line made travel from Bristol to Wales easier, the change from train to ferry to train was inconvenient and so a tunnel was built under the Severn. To cope with
6300-516: Was built as single track 7 ft 1 ⁄ 4 in ( 2,140 mm ) broad gauge . Patchway was 6 miles 37 chains (10.4 km) from Temple Meads, adjacent to the Bristol to Gloucester road, what is now the A38 Gloucester Road . The station was only a small structure and very little is known about it. There were initially six trains per day on weekdays in each direction, with three trains per day on Sundays. The BSWUR
6384-443: Was built on the western platform. The eastern platform also had a bicycle house at the northern end. A large covered and glazed footbridge linked the two platforms. The goods yard included two sidings: a short, south-facing one adjacent to a loading dock; and a longer north-facing one. There was also a weigh bridge and a coal office. At the north end of the station was a south-facing siding and an oil store. The station did not have
6468-486: Was designated a community rail service in 2008, and is one of the lines covered by the Severnside Community Rail Partnership . The council subsidy was halved in 2011 at the end of the three-year deal, with the council stating that with the large increase in passenger numbers, such a large subsidy was no longer necessary. Local groups, including FOSBR and the Green Party claimed that services became less reliable following
6552-488: Was formed to adopt the station and the group negotiated with Rolls-Royce to use their CCTV system to cover the station. A successful bid was made to the Department for Transport 's Access for All scheme, which provided for improved signage, lighting and seats. A station garden was created in partnership with nearby Patchway Community College and two decorative mosaics were installed. The disused railway land adjacent to
6636-451: Was received in October 1885, but was rejected due to the estimated cost of £3,410 to provide the station. A second petition was rejected eighteen months later. The Bristol Chamber of Commerce petitioned for a station in 1892, but the Committee again rejected the request, stating that estimated traffic levels would not justify the expense. It took until 1896 until a revised plan was accepted by
6720-406: Was succeeded by Wessex Trains in 2001. Following action by Friends of Severn Beach Railway (FOSBR, later renamed Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) and a string of protests, services had increased to 10 per day in each direction by 2005, with Bristol City Council paying a subsidy of £138,000 per annum to fund services. A new subsidy agreement had been reached in 2003, following a threat that
6804-503: Was succeeded by Wessex Trains in 2001. The Wessex franchise was amalgamated with the Great Western franchise into the Greater Western franchise from 2006 and responsibility passed to First Great Western that was later rebranded as Great Western Railway in 2015. From December 2006, Virgin CrossCountry began operating a single daily service from Newcastle to Cardiff Central, via Bristol Temple Meads and Patchway. This service
6888-404: Was taken over by Arriva CrossCountry when the CrossCountry franchise changed hands in 2007, and then replaced by a daily service each direction between Cardiff Central and Manchester Piccadilly . Since the mid-2000s, the Severnside Community Rail Partnership have been working to enhance Patchway station. One of the first acts was installing new community notice boards. A local working group
6972-431: Was the original terminus of the Bristol and South Wales Union Railway , located on the south bank of the River Severn at New Passage , South Gloucestershire , England. At New Passage, passengers would disembark from trains and use a boat across the Severn. New Passage had been the site of a ferry from England to Wales including the use by mail and passenger coaches between Bristol and Portskewett in south Wales. In 1825
7056-508: Was written into the new franchise agreement. In 2007, the council agreed to subsidise a service of at least one train every 45mins in each direction along the line, unanimously agreeing to pay £450,000 per annum to fund extra services from May 2008 for three years, which resulted in a 60% increase in passenger numbers along the line, and a 25% year-on-year increase between June 2009 and June 2010. Sunday services to Severn Beach were restored in 2010, funded by South Gloucestershire Council. The line
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