Severn Beach line

Severn Beach line
First Great Western 150233 crosses the River Trym near Sea Mills on its way to Avonmouth.
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerNetwork Rail
LocaleBristol
South Gloucestershire
Termini
Stations12
Service
TypeCommuter rail
SystemNational Rail
Operator(s)Great Western Railway
Depot(s)St Philip's Marsh T&RSMD
Rolling stockClass 158 Express Sprinter
Class 165 Turbo
Class 166 Turbo
Ridership1.25 million (2016) [1]
History
Opened1840 (Temple Meads to Bristol West Jn)
1863 (Bristol West Jn to Narroways Hill Jn)
1875 (Narroways Hill Jn to Clifton Down)
1877 (Clifton Down Tunnel)
1900 (Avonmouth to Pilning)
2023 (Portway Park & Ride station)
Technical
Number of tracksPart four-track, part double, part single
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Route map

(Click to expand)

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.[2] 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 the years, and has been reduced to single track in many places.[3] In the 21st century it has experienced a surge in passenger numbers, with a 90% increase in the years 2007–2011.[4] 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 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.[5]

  1. ^ FOSBR. "FOSBR - Our case 2017". fosbr.org.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  2. ^ "The New Adlestrop Railway Atlas - historical UK railway map". systemed.net. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Track and route mileage, permissible line speeds". Network Rail. Network Rail. n.d. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Severn Beach Line - News". Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference insideout was invoked but never defined (see the help page).