Rail services in the West of England refer to passenger rail journeys made in the Bristol commuter area. 17 million passenger rail journeys were made in 2019-20 within the Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath region. [1]
There is usually a direct weekday service from Bristol Parkway & Bristol Temple Meads to these destinations:
Destination | Time from Bristol Temple Meads | Time from Bristol Parkway | Operator(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Avonmouth | 23 – 35 minutes | N/A | GWR |
Bath Spa | 11 – 19 minutes | 28 – 47 minutes | GWR |
Bristol Parkway | 8 – 21 minutes | N/A | CrossCountry / GWR |
Bristol Temple Meads | N/A | 9 – 20 minutes | CrossCountry / GWR |
Birmingham New Street | 83 – 122 minutes | 71 – 93 minutes | CrossCountry |
Cardiff Central | 47 – 63 minutes | 35 – 66 minutes | CrossCountry / GWR |
Cheltenham Spa | 38 – 68 minutes | 29 – 57 minutes | CrossCountry / GWR |
Edinburgh Waverley | 393 – 399 minutes | CrossCountry | |
Exeter St Davids | 56 – 112 minutes | 69–109 minutes | CrossCountry / GWR |
Glasgow Central | 461 – 471 minutes | 456–464 minutes | CrossCountry |
Gloucester | 38 – 57 minutes | 26–44 minutes | CrossCountry / GWR |
Leeds | 210 – 217 minutes | 202–215 minutes | CrossCountry |
London Paddington | 97 – 152 minutes | 83–106 minutes | GWR |
Manchester Piccadilly | 179 – 180 minutes | 168–169 minutes | CrossCountry |
Newcastle | 299 – 303 minutes | 289 - 293 minutes | CrossCountry |
Newport | 30 – 47 minutes | 21–23 minutes | GWR |
Paignton | 97 – 145 minutes | 118 minutes | CrossCountry / GWR |
Penzance | 236 – 292 minutes | CrossCountry / GWR | |
Plymouth | 114 – 167 minutes | CrossCountry / GWR | |
Portsmouth Harbour | 146 – 164 minutes | N/A | GWR |
Reading | 68 – 123 minutes | 59 minutes | GWR |
Salisbury | 68 – 86 minutes | GWR | |
Severn Beach | 33 – 38 minutes | N/A | GWR |
Sheffield | 167 – 172 minutes | 159 minutes | CrossCountry |
Southampton Central | 99 – 116 minutes | GWR | |
Swansea | 80 - 85 minutes | GWR | |
Swindon | 35 – 50 minutes | 28 minutes | GWR |
Taunton | 30 – 75 minutes | 42–49 minutes | CrossCountry / GWR |
Westbury | 37 – 50 minutes | 68–75 minutes | GWR |
Weston-super-Mare | 17 – 39 minutes | 47 minutes | CrossCountry / GWR |
Weymouth | 141 – 148 minutes | 167–170 minutes | GWR |
Worcester Shrub Hill | 90 – 102 minutes | 82–84 minutes | GWR |
York | 240 – 243 minutes | CrossCountry |
Station | Line(s) | Platforms | Usage 08/09 [2] | Usage 09/10 [3] | Usage 10/11 [4] | Usage 11/12 [5] | Usage 12/13 [6] | Usage 13/14 [7] | Usage 14/15 [8] | Usage 15/16 [9] | Usage 16/17 [10] | Usage 17/18 [11] | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avonmouth | Severn Beach | 2 | 61,948 | 68,448 | 83,674 | 88,642 | 97,880 | 111,440 | 119,924 | 129,860 | |||
Bedminster | Bristol to Exeter | 3 | 58,690 | 69,898 | 70,006 | 76,420 | 80,262 | 83,242 | 87,542 | 92,868 | |||
Bristol Parkway | Cross Country South Wales | 4 | 2,084,200 | 2,041,548 | 2,114,876 | 2,262,000 | 2,255,298 | 2,215,810 | 2,340,506 | 2,511,016 | |||
Bristol Temple Meads | Bristol to Exeter Cross Country Great Western Heart of Wessex Severn Beach Wessex | 13 | 7,829,628 | 7,875,686 | 8,409,340 | 8,884,626 | 9,099,368 | 9,522,840 | 10,099,526 | 10,711,464 | |||
Clifton Down | Severn Beach | 2 | 281,876 | 361,828 | 433,088 | 470,980 | 522,010 | 573,770 | 619,766 | 672,386 | |||
Filton Abbey Wood | Cross Country | 4 | 536,958 | 598,032 | 679,270 | 771,344 | 852,250 | 988,734 | 1,007,780 | 1,021,550 | |||
Keynsham | Great Western Heart of Wessex Wessex | 2 | 249,842 | 278,850 | 306,276 | 329,274 | 358,186 | 412,602 | 424,032 | ||||
Lawrence Hill | Cross Country Severn Beach | 2 | 67,338 | 74,876 | 93,600 | 102,964 | 124,878 | 136,316 | 150,774 | 157,912 | |||
Montpelier | Severn Beach Line | 1 | 84,834 | 96,114 | 122,212 | 126,316 | 121,294 | 130,560 | 122,146 | ||||
Nailsea & Backwell | Bristol to Exeter | 2 | 450,510 | 476,618 | |||||||||
Parson Street | Bristol to Exeter | 2 | 46,670 | 57,374 | 68,840 | 77,720 | 87,932 | 102,654 | 114,458 | 126,636 | |||
Patchway | South Wales Main Line | 2 | 45,280 | 49,812 | 59,474 | 67,422 | 82,198 | 90,404 | 92,540 | 98,296 | |||
Pilning | South Wales Main Line | 1 | 130 | 166 | 178 | 146 | 130 | 88 | 68 | 46 | |||
Portway Park & Ride | Severn Beach Line | 1 | |||||||||||
Redland | Severn Beach Line | 1 | 86,234 | 86,426 | 92,966 | 96,904 | 94,984 | 93,176 | 105,610 | 99,732 | |||
Sea Mills | Severn Beach Line | 1 | 36,358 | 41,680 | 49,082 | 51,998 | 58,310 | 58,106 | 64,512 | 61,696 | |||
Severn Beach | Severn Beach Line | 1 | 74,712 | 88,504 | 141,712 | 167,078 | 195,824 | 225,658 | 260,784 | ||||
Shirehampton | Severn Beach Line | 1 | 34,292 | 35,758 | 42,566 | 43,480 | 50,564 | 51,542 | 52,480 | 56,756 | |||
St Andrews Road | Severn Beach Line | 1 | 3,582 | 3,942 | 4,328 | 6,072 | 9,910 | 13,376 | 11,184 | 7,374 | |||
Stapleton Road | Cross Country Route Severn Beach Line | 2 | 103,576 | 111,532 | 129,344 | 140,390 | 157,294 | 178,114 | 179,872 | ||||
Yate | Cross Country Route | 2 | 294,934 | 307,148 | 328,832 | 354,004 | 368,910 |
This is a list of stations currently open on heritage lines.
Station | Line | Platforms | Year Closed | Year Reopened | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avon Riverside | Avon Valley Railway | 1 | N/A | 2004 | |
Bitton | Avon Valley Railway | 2 | 1966 | 1972 | |
Oldland Common | Avon Valley Railway | 1 | 1966 | 1991 |
This is a list of proposed railway stations in the West of England. (This list includes some former stations)
Station | Line | Platforms | Year closed | Current status | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ashley Down | Cross Country Route | 2 | 1964 (as Ashley Hill) | Under construction | |
Ashton Gate | Portishead Railway | 1 | 1964/1984 | Proposed to reopen | |
Charfield | Cross Country | 2 | 1965 | Proposed to reopen | |
Chittening Platform | Henbury Loop | 1 | 1964 | Proposed to reopen | |
Long Ashton | Bristol to Exeter | 2 | 1941 | Proposed to reopen | |
Henbury | Henbury Loop | 2 | 1965 | Proposed to reopen | |
Horfield | Cross Country Route | 2 | 1964 | Proposed to reopen | |
North Filton | Henbury Loop | 1 | 1986 | Planning application | |
Pill | Portishead Railway | 2 | 1964 | Proposed to reopen | |
Portishead | Portishead Railway | 2 | 1964 | Proposed to reopen | |
Saltford | Great Western Main Line | 2 | 1970 | Proposed to reopen | |
St Anne's Park | Great Western Main Line | 2 | 1970 | Proposed to reopen |
This is a list of former stations in the West of England area.
Station | Line | Platforms | Year Closed | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
Avonmouth (BPRP) | Severn Beach Line | |||
Avonmouth Docks | Severn Beach Line | |||
Avonmouth (Royal Edward) | Severn Beach Line | |||
Brislington | Bristol and North Somerset Railway | 1 | 1963 | |
Charlton Halt | Henbury Loop | 2 | 1915 | |
Clifton Bridge | Portishead Branch | 2 | 1965 | |
Coalpit Heath | South Wales Main Line Cross Country Route | 2 | 1961 | |
Cross Hands Halt | Severn Beach Line | 1 | 1964 | |
Filton | Cross Country Route | 1903 | ||
Filton Junction | Cross Country Route | 1996 | ||
Fishponds | Bristol and Gloucester Railway | 2 | 1966 | |
Hallen | Henbury Loop | 2 | 1918 | |
Ham Green | Portishead Branch | 1 | 1964 | |
Horfield | Cross Country Route | 2 | 1964 | |
Hotwells | Bristol Port Railway and Pier | 2 | 1921 | |
Hotwells Halt | Bristol Port Railway and Pier | 1 | 1922 | |
Kelston | Mangotsfield Branch Line | 2 | 1949 | |
Mangotsfield | Mangotsfield and Bath Branch Line Bristol and Gloucester Railway | 6 | 1966 | |
New Passage Halt | Severn Beach Line | 1 | 1964 | |
New Passage Pier | Severn Beach Line | 1886 | ||
Nightingale Valley Halt | Portishead Railway | 1 | 1932 | |
Portbury | Portishead Branch | 1 | 1962 | |
St Philip's | Bristol and Gloucester Railway | 1 | 1967 | |
Staple Hill | Bristol and Gloucester Railway | 2 | 1966 | |
Thornbury | Thornbury Branch | 1 | 1944 | |
Warmley | Mangotsfield and Bath Branch Line | 2 | 1966 | |
Wickwar | Cross Country | 2 | 1965 | |
Winterbourne | Cross Country South Wales | 2 | 1963 | |
Whitchurch Halt | Bristol and North Somerset Railway | 1 | 1959 |
There are six railway lines running through Bristol.
The Bristol to Exeter line runs between Bristol and Exeter via the Nailsea, Weston-super-Mare, Bridgwater and Taunton. It is served by local First Great Western services, and used by Cross-Country and Intercity trains headed towards Plymouth.
The North-East/South-West route (sometimes simply The Cross-Country Route) is the major British rail route running from South West England or Cardiff via Bristol, Birmingham, Derby and Sheffield to North-East England and Scotland. It includes some of the longest inter-city rail journeys in the UK, e.g. Penzance to Aberdeen. It remains a major freight route, although now largely usurped by the M5, M6 and M1 motorways.
The route shares parts of the Great Western Main Line, Midland Main Line, Sheffield to Hull Line, the East Coast Main Line and the core Cardiff-Bristol-Birmingham-Derby route.
In November 2018 tracks were doubled from Bristol Temple Meads through Lawrence Hill to Filton Abbey Wood stations to increase capacity, back to the original four tracks. [12]
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in England that runs westwards from London Paddington station to Temple Meads station in Bristol.
The route runs from Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach via Lawrence Hill, Stapleton Road, Montpelier, Redland, Clifton Down, Sea Mills, Shirehampton, Avonmouth, St Andrews Road before reaching terminus at Severn Beach. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes.
Following a successful campaign by FOSBR (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railway), the Severn Beach Line is going to have an increased frequency from December 2007 to March 2010. [13] It is hoped this will pave the way for better services across the conurbation. An additional train will operate on the line meaning services should be at the least every 40 mins.
The South Wales Main Line is a branch of the Great Western Main Line. It diverges from the main line at Wootton Bassett near Swindon, first calling at Bristol Parkway, after which the line continues through the Severn Tunnel into South Wales.
The Wessex Main Line is the railway line from Bristol Temple Meads to Southampton. Diverging from this route is the Heart of Wessex Line from Westbury to Weymouth.
In November 2016, the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership began a consultation process on their Transport Vision Summary Document, outlining potential light rail/tram routes from the city centre to Bristol Airport, the eastern and north west fringes of the city, and a route along the A4 road to Bath. [14] By 2017, this proposal had changed to a mass transit network with potential for underground sections, linking the city centre with the northern and eastern fringes of the city and the airport.
Operator | Years | Image | Major services |
---|---|---|---|
CrossCountry | 2007–2019 |
| |
Great Western Railway (GWR) | 1996–2020 |
Operator | Years | Image | Services |
---|---|---|---|
Post-nationalisation | |||
British Rail | 1948–1986 | All services | |
Post-sectorisation | |||
InterCity | 1986–1996 |
| |
Regional Railways | 1986–1996 | All non-InterCity services | |
Post-privatisation | |||
South West Trains | 2004–2017 |
| |
South Western Railway (SWR) | 2017-2021 | ||
Virgin CrossCountry | 1997–2007 |
| |
Wales & Borders | 2001–2003 | ||
Wales & West | 1997–2001 | ||
Wessex Trains | 2001–2006 | All local and non-express inter-city services. |
There have also been a number of other companies pre-nationalisation, including:
MetroWest is a current initiative in the West of England area to improve local rail services by reopening disused rail lines and stations and improving existing services. Phase One includes reopening the Portishead railway line to passenger traffic and improving services to the Severn Beach Line and Bath Spa. Phase Two will see the Henbury railway line reopen, along with half-hourly services between Weston-super-Mare and Yate. The phases are due to open in 2019 [15] and 2021 [16] respectively.
The West of England Local Enterprise Partnership also produced a Key Principles Report in November 2015 discussing future potential transport projects for the West of England region, including new rail transit based options referred to as MetroWest++. The options outlined include reopening the Thornbury Branch Line, a Yate to Bath route, the use of tram train technology, a link to the city centre and a connection to Bristol Airport. [17]
Bristol Temple Meads is the oldest and largest railway station in Bristol, England. It is located 118 miles 31 chains away from London Paddington. It is an important transport hub for public transport in the city; there are bus services to many parts of the city and surrounding districts, with a ferry to the city centre. Bristol's other major station, Bristol Parkway, is a more recent station on the northern outskirts of the conurbation. It is the busiest station in South West England.
Bristol Parkway, on the South Wales Main Line, serves the villages of Stoke Gifford and Harry Stoke in South Gloucestershire, England. Despite its name, it is located in Gloucestershire rather than Bristol itself. It is 112 miles (180 km) from London Paddington. The station was opened in 1972 by British Rail. It is the third-most heavily used station in the West of England combined authority area, after Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa. There are four platforms, and a well-equipped waiting area. The station is managed by Great Western Railway, who provide most of the trains at the station, with CrossCountry providing the rest.
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.
Pilning railway station is a minor station on the South Wales Main Line near Pilning, South Gloucestershire, England. It is 10 miles (16 km) from Bristol Temple Meads and is the last station on the English side before the Severn Tunnel through to Wales. It is managed by Great Western Railway, who provide the two train services per week from the station.
Stapleton Road railway station is on the Severn Beach Line and Cross Country Route, serving the inner-city district of Easton in Bristol, England. It is 1.6 miles (2.6 km) from Bristol Temple Meads. Its three letter station code is SRD. The station has two platforms, four running lines and minimal facilities. It is managed by Great Western Railway, the seventh company to be responsible for the station, and the third franchise since privatisation in 1997. They provide all train services at the station, the standard service being two trains per hour along the Severn Beach Line and an hourly service between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood.
Filton Abbey Wood railway station serves the town of Filton in South Gloucestershire, England; it is located 4.4 miles (7.1 km) from Bristol Temple Meads. There are four platforms but minimal facilities. The station is managed by Great Western Railway, which also operates all calling services. The general service level is nine trains per hour: two to Cardiff Central, two towards Gloucester, one towards Taunton, two towards Westbury and two to Bristol Temple Meads.
Patchway railway station is on the South Wales Main Line, serving 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.
Montpelier railway station is on the Severn Beach Line and serves the district of Montpelier in Bristol, England. It is 2.85 miles (4.59 km) from Bristol Temple Meads. Its three letter station code is MTP. The station has a single platform, serving trains in both directions. As of 2015 it is managed by Great Western Railway, which is the third franchise to be responsible for the station since privatisation in 1997. They provide all train services at the station, mainly a train every 30 minutes in each direction.
Clifton Down railway station is on the Severn Beach line and serves the district of Clifton in Bristol, England. It is 3.9 miles (6.3 km) from Bristol Temple Meads. Its three letter station code is CFN. The station has two platforms, each serving trains in one direction only. As of 2015 it is managed by Great Western Railway, which is the third franchise to be responsible for the station since privatisation in 1997. They provide all train services at the station, mainly a train every 30 minutes in each direction.
Redland railway station is on the Severn Beach Line and serves the districts of Cotham and Redland in Bristol, England. It is 3.3 miles (5.3 km) from Bristol Temple Meads. Its three letter station code is RDA. As of 2015 it is managed by Great Western Railway, which is the third franchise to be responsible for the station since privatisation in 1997. They provide all train services at the station, mainly a train every 30 minutes in each direction.
Sea Mills railway station is on the Severn Beach Line and serves the districts of Sea Mills, Stoke Bishop, Sneyd Park and nearby Westbury on Trym in Bristol, England. It is 6 miles (9.7 km) from Bristol Temple Meads, situated at the confluence of the River Avon and River Trym and near the A4 Bristol Portway. Its three letter station code is SML. The station has a single platform which serves trains in both directions. As of 2015 it is managed by Great Western Railway, which is the third franchise to be responsible for the station since privatisation in 1997. They provide all train services at the station, mainly a train every 30 minutes in each direction.
Shirehampton railway station is on the Severn Beach Line and serves the district of Shirehampton in Bristol, England. It is 7.6 miles (12.2 km) from Bristol Temple Meads. Its three letter station code is SHH. The station has a single platform which serves trains in both directions. As of 2015 it is managed by Great Western Railway, which is the third franchise to be responsible for the station since privatisation in 1997. They provide all train services at the station, mainly a train every 30 minutes in each direction.
Avonmouth railway station is located on the Severn Beach Line and serves the district of Avonmouth in Bristol, England. It is 9.0 miles (14.5 km) from Bristol Temple Meads. Its three letter station code is AVN. The station has two platforms, on either side of two running lines. As of 2015 it is managed by Great Western Railway, which is the third franchise to be responsible for the station since privatisation in 1997. They provide all train services at the station, mainly a train every 30 minutes to Bristol Temple Meads and one every hour to Severn Beach.
Bristol is a city in south west England, near the Bristol Channel coast, approximately 106 miles (170 km) west of London. Several factors have influenced the development of its transport network. It is a major centre of employment, retail, culture and higher education, has many historic areas, and has a history of maritime industry. The city has a population of 450,000, with a metropolitan area of 650,000, and lies at the centre of the former County of Avon, which includes many dormitory towns, and has a population of one million.
Lawrence Hill railway station is on the Severn Beach Line and Cross Country Route, serving the inner-city districts of Easton and Lawrence Hill in Bristol, England. It is 1.0 mile (1.6 km) from Bristol Temple Meads. Its three letter station code is LWH. The station has two platforms, four running lines and minimal facilities. It is managed by Great Western Railway, the seventh company to be responsible for the station and the third franchise since privatisation in 1997. They provide all train services at the station, the standard service being two trains per hour along the Severn Beach Line and an hourly service between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood.
The majority of public transport users in the Bristol Urban Area are transported by bus, although rail has experienced growth and does play an important part, particularly in peak hours.
In the 2010s Network Rail modernised the Great Western Main Line, the South Wales Main Line, and other associated lines. The modernisation plans were announced at separate times but their implementation overlapped in the 2010s.
MetroWest, formerly known as the Greater Bristol Metro, is a project to improve the rail services in Bristol, England, and the surrounding region. It was first proposed at First Great Western's Stakeholder Event in March 2008. The aim of the project is to develop half-hourly services through central Bristol which will also serve the surrounding West of England region. Transport campaigning groups Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FoSBR) and Transport for Greater Bristol are actively supporting the proposal, as are the three unitary authorities under the West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset Council.
This article lists proposed developments to transport in Bristol, England.
Bristol Rail Campaign is a Bristol-based campaign group, calling for better rail transport in the Bristol area.