Bristol Parkway railway station
Encyclopedia
Bristol Parkway railway station is situated in Stoke Gifford
in the northern suburbs of Bristol
, England. It is part of the British railway system
owned by Network Rail
, and is managed by First Great Western
.
In the Strategic Rail Authority
’s 2008/09 financial year report, Bristol Parkway was the 200th most-used station in the UK.
to South Wales
, which passes just north of the city. There were several reasons for positioning a new station at Stoke Gifford: trains to London were quicker than on the longer route from Temple Meads
, via Bath and Chippenham
before reaching Swindon
; a larger car park than at Temple Meads
could be provided; the population on the northern fringes of the city was growing, especially with the building of a new town at Bradley Stoke
; and it was within easy access of the M4
and M5
motorways. The name "Parkway" has since been applied to other out-of-town stations of a park and ride
nature despite its presumed original reference to the Bristol Parkway, the nearby M32 motorway
running through parkland.
The station opened on 1 May 1972 with temporary buildings. When a permanent station was built, it was architecturally unimpressive: a single low building on the north side of the tracks at the far west end, with footbridge
access over the "goods loop" tracks to the two long platforms
. The east-west layout of the platforms and the fact the station is at the top of a low rise from prevailing winds from the west, together with the original 2 platforms being shuttered in from the goods loops meant that passengers were left standing in a 'wind tunnel'. The original waiting rooms were located some way from the footbridge and were very small.
On 1 July 2001, a new building and footbridge opened, still on the north side but near the middle of the platforms, with lifts
for disabled access to the platforms and a larger refreshment and waiting area on an upper level. The redevelopment cost Network Rail
over £4 million. In January 2007 construction started on the third platform, opened as platform 4 in May 2007
On 6 August 2007, platform 1 was renumbered platform 3 to allow for a new platform to be constructed as an island with platform 2. This included a new heated waiting room, a help desk and electronic travel information screens on platforms 3 and 4. In December 2007, First Great Western changed the services operated at Bristol Parkway, introducing a new service to Westbury
and Weston-Super-Mare
in place of the service to Taunton
, but a few services a day still operate to Taunton
.
The station has been identified as a possible northern terminus for a light rail system in the Bristol area.
The South Wales Main Line
and the line connecting Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads are to be electrified by 2018.
operate four services: an hourly Bristol Parkway to service; a half-hourly London Paddington to service with hourly extensions to/from ; an hourly to service, with one every two hours extended to and ; and an hourly commuter service to . There is also a twice-daily service to .
CrossCountry
operate two services. One is an hourly to Manchester Picadilly service, with extensions to/from South West England
. The second is an hourly to service with extensions to/from or in the north and in the south.
internet access for a fee.
The station has three platforms, either side of the railway track. Platforms 3 and 4 are on the same side as the station building, platform 2 on the far side, reached via an enclosed bridge across the line. There is no platform 1.
Platform 2 - Trains heading south and west, including to Bristol Temple Meads
, South Wales
, Devon
, Dorset
and Cornwall
.
Platform 3 - Trains heading north and east, including to London Paddington, The Midlands
, North of England and Scotland
Platform 4 - Trains to Weston-Super-Mare
and Taunton
. If there is maintenance work in the Severn Tunnel
, there is an hourly service to Portsmouth Harbour
.
All platforms have a heated indoor waiting area and vending machines.
Bristol Parkway is served by bus routes linking it with the rest of Bristol
and South Gloucestershire
. It is near the Avon Ring Road (A4174), linking to Bristol and the M32.
Bus routes include:
These routes are operated by First Bristol
, First Avon and Somerset, Wessex Connect
and Severnside Transport.
Stoke Gifford
Stoke Gifford is a large dormitory village, and parish in South Gloucestershire, England, in the northern suburbs of Bristol. It has around 11,000 residents as of the 2001 Census. It is home to Bristol Parkway station, on the London-South Wales railway line, and the Bristol offices of Friends Life...
in the northern suburbs of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England. It is part of the British railway system
Rail transport in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and previously consisted of Great Britain and the whole of Ireland. Rail transport systems developed independently on the two islands of Great Britain and Ireland, and most of the railway construction in the Republic of Ireland was...
owned by Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
, and is managed by First Great Western
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
.
In the Strategic Rail Authority
Strategic Rail Authority
In existence from 2001 to 2006, the Strategic Rail Authority was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom set up under the Transport Act 2000 to provide strategic direction for the railway industry....
’s 2008/09 financial year report, Bristol Parkway was the 200th most-used station in the UK.
History
Bristol Parkway was built in the 1970s to give Bristol a station on the railway from LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, which passes just north of the city. There were several reasons for positioning a new station at Stoke Gifford: trains to London were quicker than on the longer route from Temple Meads
Bristol Temple Meads railway station
Bristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest railway station in Bristol, England. It is an important transport hub for public transport in Bristol, with bus services to various parts of the city and surrounding districts, and a ferry service to the city centre in addition to the...
, via Bath and Chippenham
Chippenham, Wiltshire
Chippenham is a market town in Wiltshire, England, located east of Bath and west of London. In the 2001 census the population of the town was recorded as 28,065....
before reaching Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
; a larger car park than at Temple Meads
Bristol Temple Meads railway station
Bristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest railway station in Bristol, England. It is an important transport hub for public transport in Bristol, with bus services to various parts of the city and surrounding districts, and a ferry service to the city centre in addition to the...
could be provided; the population on the northern fringes of the city was growing, especially with the building of a new town at Bradley Stoke
Bradley Stoke
Bradley Stoke is a dormitory town/suburb in South Gloucestershire, England, situated on the north side of the city of Bristol. Named after the local Bradley Brook and Stoke Brook streams, the town was planned in the 1970s and building began in 1987...
; and it was within easy access of the M4
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
and M5
M5 motorway
The M5 is a motorway in England. It runs from a junction with the M6 at West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter in Devon. Heading south-west, the M5 runs east of West Bromwich and west of Birmingham through Sandwell Valley...
motorways. The name "Parkway" has since been applied to other out-of-town stations of a park and ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
nature despite its presumed original reference to the Bristol Parkway, the nearby M32 motorway
M32 motorway
The M32 is a motorway in South Gloucestershire and Bristol, England. It provides a link from Bristol city centre to the M4 and is part of the Bristol Parkway. At about , it is one of Britain's shortest motorways...
running through parkland.
The station opened on 1 May 1972 with temporary buildings. When a permanent station was built, it was architecturally unimpressive: a single low building on the north side of the tracks at the far west end, with footbridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
access over the "goods loop" tracks to the two long platforms
Railway platform
A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. Almost all stations for rail transport have some form of platforms, with larger stations having multiple platforms...
. The east-west layout of the platforms and the fact the station is at the top of a low rise from prevailing winds from the west, together with the original 2 platforms being shuttered in from the goods loops meant that passengers were left standing in a 'wind tunnel'. The original waiting rooms were located some way from the footbridge and were very small.
On 1 July 2001, a new building and footbridge opened, still on the north side but near the middle of the platforms, with lifts
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
for disabled access to the platforms and a larger refreshment and waiting area on an upper level. The redevelopment cost Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
over £4 million. In January 2007 construction started on the third platform, opened as platform 4 in May 2007
On 6 August 2007, platform 1 was renumbered platform 3 to allow for a new platform to be constructed as an island with platform 2. This included a new heated waiting room, a help desk and electronic travel information screens on platforms 3 and 4. In December 2007, First Great Western changed the services operated at Bristol Parkway, introducing a new service to Westbury
Westbury, Wiltshire
Westbury is a town and civil parish in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Westbury White Horse.-Name:The most likely origin of the West- in Westbury is simply that the town is near the western edge of the county of Wiltshire, the bounds of which have been much the same...
and Weston-Super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
in place of the service to Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, but a few services a day still operate to Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
.
Future
The car park is set to be increased to around 1,500 spaces, and a fourth platform will be built. When the fourth platform opens it will help ease to congestion for trains heading south and to South Wales; it has been confirmed that it will be numbered platform 1.The station has been identified as a possible northern terminus for a light rail system in the Bristol area.
The South Wales Main Line
South Wales Main Line
The South Wales Main Line , originally known as the London, Bristol and South Wales Direct Railway or simply as the Bristol and South Wales Direct Railway, is a branch of the Great Western Main Line in Great Britain...
and the line connecting Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads are to be electrified by 2018.
Services
First Great WesternFirst Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
operate four services: an hourly Bristol Parkway to service; a half-hourly London Paddington to service with hourly extensions to/from ; an hourly to service, with one every two hours extended to and ; and an hourly commuter service to . There is also a twice-daily service to .
CrossCountry
CrossCountry
CrossCountry is the brand name of XC Trains Ltd., a British train operating company owned by Arriva...
operate two services. One is an hourly to Manchester Picadilly service, with extensions to/from South West England
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
. The second is an hourly to service with extensions to/from or in the north and in the south.
Station layout
The station building includes a waiting area with a ticket office, toilets and a cafe. There is a seated waiting area on the upper level with its own cafe, a small shop and 4 ticket barriers. It also features Wi-FiWi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
internet access for a fee.
The station has three platforms, either side of the railway track. Platforms 3 and 4 are on the same side as the station building, platform 2 on the far side, reached via an enclosed bridge across the line. There is no platform 1.
Platform 2 - Trains heading south and west, including to Bristol Temple Meads
Bristol Temple Meads railway station
Bristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest railway station in Bristol, England. It is an important transport hub for public transport in Bristol, with bus services to various parts of the city and surrounding districts, and a ferry service to the city centre in addition to the...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
Platform 3 - Trains heading north and east, including to London Paddington, The Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
, North of England and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Platform 4 - Trains to Weston-Super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
and Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
. If there is maintenance work in the Severn Tunnel
Severn Tunnel
The Severn Tunnel is a railway tunnel in the United Kingdom, linking South Gloucestershire in the west of England to Monmouthshire in south Wales under the estuary of the River Severn....
, there is an hourly service to Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour railway station
Portsmouth Harbour railway station is a railway station in Portsmouth, England. It is situated beside Gunwharf Quays in the city's harbour, and is an important transport terminal, with a bus interchange and ferry services to Gosport and the Isle of Wight. The station currently has four platforms:...
.
All platforms have a heated indoor waiting area and vending machines.
Transport links
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
and South Gloucestershire
South Gloucestershire
South Gloucestershire is a unitary district in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, in South West England.-History:The district was created in 1996, when the county of Avon was abolished, by the merger of former area of the districts of Kingswood and Northavon...
. It is near the Avon Ring Road (A4174), linking to Bristol and the M32.
Bus routes include:
- • 18/19 (Emersons GreenEmersons GreenEmersons Green is a residential area on the northern outskirts of Bristol, England. It was developed from farming land during the 1990s and early 21st century, and sits between the historic villages of Mangotsfield and Downend...
- Southmead HospitalSouthmead HospitalSouthmead Hospital is a large hospital, situated in the northern suburbs of Bristol, England, part of the North Bristol NHS Trust.The hospital opened in 1902 as a 64 bed workhouse for poor sick people. By 1911 there were 520 beds....
) - • 73 (Centre - Cribbs CausewayCribbs CausewayCribbs Causeway is a road in South Gloucestershire, England, just north of Bristol, which has given its name to a large out-of-town shopping centre, including retail parks and an enclosed shopping centre known as The Mall...
) - • 312 (UWEUniversity of the West of EnglandThe University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre...
- ThornburyThornbury-Placenames:Australia*Thornbury, Victoria*Thornbury railway station, MelbourneCanada*Thornbury, OntarioEngland*Thornbury, Devon*Thornbury, Herefordshire*Thornbury, South Gloucestershire**Thornbury Castle*Thornbury, West YorkshireNew Zealand...
) - • 318 (KeynshamKeynshamKeynsham is a town and civil parish between Bristol and Bath in Somerset, south-west England. It has a population of 15,533.It was listed in the Domesday Book as Cainesham, which is believed to mean the home of Saint Keyne....
- Cribbs CausewayCribbs CausewayCribbs Causeway is a road in South Gloucestershire, England, just north of Bristol, which has given its name to a large out-of-town shopping centre, including retail parks and an enclosed shopping centre known as The Mall...
) - • 319 (Bath - Cribbs CausewayCribbs CausewayCribbs Causeway is a road in South Gloucestershire, England, just north of Bristol, which has given its name to a large out-of-town shopping centre, including retail parks and an enclosed shopping centre known as The Mall...
) - • 501 (MoD Abbey WoodMoD Abbey WoodMoD Abbey Wood is a purpose-built site in Filton, Bristol, United Kingdom, that houses the Defence Equipment and Support procurement organisation....
- AvonmouthAvonmouthAvonmouth is a port and suburb of Bristol, England, located on the Severn Estuary, at the mouth of the River Avon.The council ward of Avonmouth also includes Shirehampton and the western end of Lawrence Weston.- Geography :...
) - • 502 (UWEUniversity of the West of EnglandThe University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre...
- ShirehamptonShirehamptonShirehampton, near Avonmouth, at the north-western edge of the city of Bristol, England, is a district of Bristol which originated as a separate village. It retains something of its village feel, having a short identifiable High Street with the parish church situated among shops, and is still...
) - • 581 (Chipping SodburyChipping SodburyChipping Sodbury is a market town in the county of South Gloucestershire, south-west England, founded in the 12th century by William Crassus . The villages of Old Sodbury and Little Sodbury are nearby...
- HanhamHanhamHanham is a village on the eastern outskirts of Bristol, England, situated on the A431 between Bristol, Bath and Keynsham. It is in the unitary authority of South Gloucestershire. It became a civil parish on April 1, 2003....
) - • 625 (UWEUniversity of the West of EnglandThe University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre...
- Severn BeachSevern BeachSevern Beach is a village on the mouth of the river Severn in South Gloucestershire, England. A riverside footpath, which is part of the Severn Way, leads beneath the Second Severn Crossing bridge...
) - • U7 (UWEUniversity of the West of EnglandThe University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre...
- Cribbs CausewayCribbs CausewayCribbs Causeway is a road in South Gloucestershire, England, just north of Bristol, which has given its name to a large out-of-town shopping centre, including retail parks and an enclosed shopping centre known as The Mall...
)
These routes are operated by First Bristol
First Bristol
First Bristol is a bus operator based in Bristol, England. It is part of FirstGroup, and is the dominant public transport company in the city.-History:...
, First Avon and Somerset, Wessex Connect
Wessex Connect
Wessex Connect was founded in Bristol by Rotala, through its subsidiary company Flights Hallmark, to provide Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council with an alternative to the near monopoly currently held in the city by FirstGroup....
and Severnside Transport.
See also
- List of all UK railway stationsUK railway stationsList of railway stations in the United Kingdom, split alphabetically.*UK railway stations – A*UK railway stations – B*UK railway stations – C*UK railway stations – D*UK railway stations – E*UK railway stations – F*UK railway stations – G...
- Rail services in BristolRail services in BristolThere are three train operating companies in Bristol: CrossCountry, First Great Western and South West Trains.-Services in Bristol:* Bristol - Manchester* Plymouth - Edinburgh* Bristol Parkway - Weston-super-Mare* Cardiff - Portsmouth...