New Train Times and Services

New rail time tables came into effect on Sunday 18 May 2008. All of the new times are here on BristolStreets along with the frequency graphs.

One of the important changes to the rail times for Bristol is an increase in the number of trains running on the Severn Beach line. As a result of extra money from the council and other governmental bodies there are an extra 54 trains a week on this line. FOSBR (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) was campaigning for half hourly services, but the new additions fall slightly short of that objective. But what this does mean is roughly three trains every two hours in each direction on weekdays from first thing in the morning until about 5PM and then one service an hour until evening, then one service in the late evening. For the first time there are also hourly Sunday services which run between 10AM and 4PM.

Many people are not aware of the Severn Beach line or don't know enough about it to actually consider using it. The name may be slightly misleading because this is the main suburban commuter service running through the heart of many of Bristol's suburbs and into the centre of the city. The line runs from Bristol Temple Meads and stops at Lawrence Hill, Stapleton Road, Montpelier, Redland, Clifton Down, Sea Mills, Shirehampton, Avonmouth and some services continue to St Andrews and Severn Beach.

There are additional trains that go between Temple Meads and Stapleton Rd as these stations are on the part of the line that also serves trains going up to Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Parkway stations.

Most of the stations are reasonably visible from roads, but Montpelier in particular is less seen because it is up a side road where Gloucester Road meets Cheltenham Road. We all go under the railway bridge but we forget that the station is near by. There is also a foot path to the station from Cromwell Road in St Andrews which makes the station easy to reach from that area too without having to go right round to the front of the station.

If you live anywhere near any of these stations and do not currently use this rail service or have never even tried it, please try it soon and see if you like it. If the line does not get enough passengers the funding will dry up and the level of service will again be reduced.