Sea Mills railway station
General information | |
---|---|
Location | Sea Mills, Bristol England |
Coordinates | 51°28′48″N 2°38′59″W / 51.4799°N 2.6498°W |
Grid reference | ST549758 |
Managed by | Great Western Railway |
Platforms | 1 |
Other information | |
Station code | SML |
Classification | DfT category F2 |
Key dates | |
6 March 1865 | Station opened |
1906-07 | Station rebuilt and second platform opened |
19 October 1970 | Reduced to single track |
Passengers | |
2018/19 | 52,630 |
2019/20 | 58,204 |
2020/21 | 13,108 |
2021/22 | 36,408 |
2022/23 | 62,422 |
Notes | |
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road |
Sea Mills railway station is on the
The station was opened in 1865 by the Bristol Port Railway and Pier, and had a single platform. It later became part of the Clifton Extension Railway, and had a second platform built. The station was expanded over the years, and at one point had four porters staffing it. However the Severn Beach Line declined over the latter half of the twentieth century and by the 1970s the station had no staff and only one platform. Services however have increased since 2000 to a train every 30 minutes in each direction.
Description
The station is located on the southern edge of the district of
The station is on an alignment of approximately 160 degrees, curving towards the south.[1] There is a single 118-yard (108 m)-long platform which serves trains in both directions, situated on the east side of the track.[5] The station's western platform was abandoned in 1970 and is overgrown. A user-worked level crossing at the north end of the station allows vehicles and pedestrians to cross the railway, alternatively pedestrians may cross the line using a footpath which goes under the bridge over the River Trym.[6]
Facilities at the station are minimal – there is a brick shelter and a few seats. Timetable information is provided; help points show next train information and allow users to contact railway staff. There is no ticket office or other means for buying or collecting tickets, nor is there any car park or cycle storage facility.[7] The nearest bus stops are 300 metres (330 yd) away on the A4 Portway.[8] In 2021 a mural created by Graft which features the flora and fauna of the area and was created at the station in consultation with local people.[9]
The line through Sea Mills has a speed limit of 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) for locomotive-hauled trains and 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) for
Services
All services at Sea Mills are operated by Great Western Railway using Class 166 Turbo DMUs.[13][14][15]
The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:[16]
- 2 tph to Bristol Temple Meads of which 1 continues to Weston-super-Mare
- 2 tph to Avonmouth of which 1 continues to Severn Beach
On Sundays, there is an hourly service between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach with one train per day to and from Weston-super-Mare.
Services previously ran every 40 minutes in each direction but were increased to half-hourly in the December 2021 timetable change.
Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Severn Beach Line |
History
The station was opened on 6 March 1865 when services began on the
The BPRP ran into trouble by 1871 when the terminal pier at Avonmouth became difficult to use due to a build-up of silt. With no prospect of a proper dock being funded without a connection to the national rail network, the Clifton Extension Railway (CER) was approved. This was a joint venture by the BPRP, Great Western Railway and Midland Railway which ran from Sneyd Park Junction, 21 chains (420 m) south of Sea Mills, via Clifton Down, to join up with the national network at Narroways Hill Junction.[2][18] The link opened in 1877, but only for goods trains: Colonel William Yolland, the chief inspector of British railways, considered the platforms at Sea Mills to be too short for passenger interchange, as they were 250 feet (76 m) shorter than at any station on the CER. Rather than build a new interchange station at Sneyd Park Junction, the platforms at Sea Mills were extended to 300 feet (91 m) at the expense of the BPRP. The goods siding was also removed at this time, as Yolland had expressed concern that the points were not interlocked. The route from Sneyd Park Junction to Clifton Down was subsequently cleared for passenger use on 3 August 1878, but the Midland and Great Western Railways did not think the BPRP track was in a suitable condition and so refused to run any passenger trains beyond Clifton Down. Services along the BPRP however increased to eight trains per day in each direction from 1877, and then to ten each way by 1887.[18] From 1 September 1885, when passenger services along the link finally started, the Great Western offered six trains per day each direction between Avonmouth and Bristol Temple Meads. Fearing competition, the BPRP did not allow passengers to use GWR services between its stations. The Midland Railway did not run any passenger services beyond Clifton Down, apart from a one-month trial service in September 1885.[19] Despite the increased traffic, the BPRP suffered financially, and was taken over by the CER in 1890.[18]
Following the takeover, a new stationmaster's house was built at Sea Mills, at a cost of £240. The stationmaster is recorded as having kept a variety of farm animals and sold eggs to passengers.
After the
When the railways were nationalised in 1948, services at Sea Mills came under the aegis of the Western Region of British Railways. Staffing by this point had increased to two porters and two lad porters, managed by the stationmaster at Shirehampton. By 1961 this was reduced to two porters, then to one in 1965. Service levels had decreased slightly by 1955 to 28 towards Avonmouth and 29 towards Bristol, but the services were at regular intervals.[18] 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. A year later in 1963, the Beeching report suggested the complete withdrawal of services along the line, but ultimately only those beyond Severn Beach or via Henbury were withdrawn. From 17 July 1967 all staffing was withdrawn from stations along the line, including Sea Mills, with tickets issued by the train guard.[18] The general reduction in passenger traffic, as well as the transfer of Avonmouth goods traffic to the Henbury Loop Line, allowed the removal of the second track from 19 October 1970, with all services using the original, eastern platform. The station building was sold, and in 2005 was being used by an engineering firm.[6] By 1974, service had reduced to 19 trains per day in each direction.[18]
British Rail was split into business-led sectors in the 1980s, at which time operations at Sea Mills passed to Regional Railways. At this time, all trains ran to Severn Beach, but the service pattern was irregular.[15] This changed in 1995 when an hourly timetable was introduced for peak times, but northbound services were terminated at Avonmouth. There was no Sunday service.[19][20]
When the railway was
Preceding station | Historical railways | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Shirehampton | Bristol Port Railway and Pier (1865-1890) |
Hotwells Line and station closed. | ||
Great Western Railway Clifton Extension Railway (1890-1917) |
||||
Great Western Railway Clifton Extension Railway (1917-1922) |
Hotwells Halt Line and station closed. | |||
Shirehampton | Great Western Railway Clifton Extension Railway (1885-1948) |
Clifton Down | ||
Severn Beach Line (1948–1982) |
||||
Severn Beach Line (1982–1997) |
||||
Severn Beach Line (1997–2001) |
||||
Severn Beach Line (2001–2006) |
Future
First Great Western declined a contractual option to continue the Greater Western passenger franchise (of which services at Sea Mills are a part) beyond 2013, citing a desire for a longer-term contract due to the
With the coming upgrade to the Great Western Main Line, the main line from London to Bristol is due to be electrified by 2016.
Improved services at Sea Mills are called for as part of the
See also
- Rail services in Bristol
Notes
- ^ Railways in the United Kingdom are, for historical reasons, measured in miles and chains. There are 80 chains to the mile.
- ^ Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Sea Mills, from Office of Rail and Road statistics. Methodology may vary year on year.
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-319-22914-9.
- ^ a b c Deaves, Phil. "Engineers' Line References: CNX Clifton Extension Line". Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ Deaves, Phil. "Engineers' Line References: AMB Avonmouth Branch". Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ISBN 978-0-86093-632-9.
- ^ a b "Network Capability – Baseline Declaration: (1) Track and Route mileage: (2) Line-speeds: Western Route" (PDF). Network Rail. 1 April 2009. p. 179. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
- ^ ISBN 1-904537-54-5.
- ^ "Station facilities for Sea Mills (SML)". National Rail. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "Sea Mills Station: Onward Travel Information" (PDF). Network Rail. 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "Stunning mural transforms railway station". Bristol 24/7. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ "Route 13: Great Western Main Line" (PDF). Network Rail. 2006. Figures 3 and 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "Station Usage Estimates 2002/03". Office of Rail and Road. Archived from the original on 4 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ^ "Station Usage Estimates 2012/13". Office of Rail and Road. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Massive increase in Bristol train seats begins today" (Press release). FirstGroup. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ "Modern trains and new technology for Bristol rail passengers". Global Railway Review. Russell Publishing. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- ^ a b c Salveson, Paul (June 2012). Abell, Paul (ed.). "Severn Beach: Not your typical branch line!". Today's Railways UK (126). Sheffield: Platform 5: 42–47.
- ^ "Train times: Bristol Temple Meads and Weston-super-Mare to Avonmouth and Severn Beach" (PDF). Great Western Railway. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Deaves, Phil. "Engineers' Line References: HAA Hotwells and Avonmouth Line". Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ Maggs, Colin(1975). The Bristol Port Railway and Pier. The Oakwood Press. pp. 3–7, 12, 15–18, 23–24, 47–51.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-901945-30-0.
- ^ a b "Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways making rail difference". This is Bristol. Northcliffe Media. 25 September 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
- ^ Deaves, Phil (5 May 2015). "UK railway franchises". Retrieved 6 May 2015.
- ^ "Wales and West". Wales & West. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ^ "Lobby to save Severn Beach line". BBC News. BBC. 27 February 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ "Wessex Trains". The Iron Road: Railway Photography by Scott Borthwick. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
- ^ "FirstGroup wins rail franchises". BBC News. BBC. 13 December 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ a b "First Great Western bids for longer rail franchise deal". BBC News. BBC. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ "The Great Western Railway is back in business". Railnews. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- ^ "Campaigners' picnic marks rail launch". This is Bristol. Northcliffe Media. 17 July 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
- ^ "Campaigners call for quick railway action". This is Bristol. Northcliffe Media. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
- ^ "Sunday service puts smiles on faces of rail enthusiasts". This is Bristol. Northcliffe Media. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ "Severn Beach Line - December 2021 timetable". Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- Rail Magazine. No. 694. pp. 8–9.
- ^ "Great Western franchise to be extended". Railnews. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
- ^ "New Great Western franchise to deliver new express trains" (Press release). Department for Transport. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Great Western London to south Wales rail contest scrapped". BBC News. BBC. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ "First celebrates last-minute Great Western deal". Railnews. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ "First Great Western retains Wales and west rail franchise". BBC News. BBC. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ "First Great Western offered new franchise deal". BBC News. BBC. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ "FirstGroup wins Great Western contract extension". The Guardian. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ "Updated franchise schedule signals GW extension". Railnews. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ "Modernising the Great Western" (PDF). Network Rail. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ^ "Bristol to London line to be electrified". This is Bristol. Northcliffe Media. 23 July 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- Rail Magazine. No. 772. pp. 58–59.
- ^ "Benefits of Bristol to London high-speed rail link 'must go beyond just mainline'". This is Bristol. Northcliffe Media. 3 March 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways. Autumn 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
- ^ White, James (13 March 2009). "Item 04: Greater Bristol Metro" (PDF). West of England Partnership. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- ^ "Campaign for trains from Bristol Temple Meads every half hour". This is Bristol. Northcliffe Media. 17 January 2012. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways. April 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
- ^ "Transport Minister hears calls for better Bristol train service". This is Bristol. Northcliffe Media. 17 October 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
- The Post, Bristol. Northcliffe Media. Archived from the originalon 8 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- ^ "Transport chiefs drop Henbury Loop plan". BBC News. BBC. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Huge majority back rethink on decision for Henbury Loop at a special meeting". Bristol Post. Local World. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- The Post, Bristol. Local World. Archived from the originalon 24 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
External links
- Train times and station information for Sea Mills railway station from National Rail