North Filton Platform railway station explained

North Filton Platform
Status:Demolished
Borough:Filton, South Gloucestershire
Country:England
Coordinates:51.5171°N -2.5728°W
Grid Name:Grid reference
Original:Great Western Railway
Pregroup:Great Western Railway
Postgroup:Great Western Railway
Events:Opened as Filton Halt
Years1:22 March 1915
Events1:Closed
Years2:1926
Events2:Reopened as North Filton Platform
Years3:23 November 1964
Events3:Regular public services ceased
Years4:12 May 1986
Events4:Complete closure

North Filton Platform was a railway station which served the northern part of Filton, Gloucestershire, England. It was on the railway line between Filton and Avonmouth, and was situated on the western side of Gloucester Road (the present A38).

History

The railway line between Stoke Gifford Junction and Holesmouth Junction (Avonmouth), now known as the Henbury Loop Line, was opened by the Great Western Railway (GWR) on 9 May 1910, together with the Filton West Loop (Filton Junction to Filton West Junction).[1] Among the stations on that line which opened the same day was one originally known as Filton Halt. It closed less than five years later, on 22 March 1915.

It was reopened either on 12 July 1926 or on 20 September 1926,[2] and was now known as North Filton Platform.

Regular passenger services ceased from 23 November 1964, but workman trains continued until 12 May 1986.[3]

Reopening

Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) and other local rail campaign groups have long supported the reopening of the Henbury Line to passengers, as well as the stations at and .[4] [5] [6] [7] FOSBR suggest this would help services along the Severn Beach Line, allowing a -- service, and also provide services to the north of Bristol generally, the Cribbs Causeway shopping centre,[8] and the redevelopment at Filton Aerodrome. FOSBR say that local councils have committed to a feasibility study into reopening the line. In December 2011 a South Gloucestershire Council planning committee recommended that the station, along with Henbury station, be re-opened for passenger services.[9]

In 2021 a planning application was opened for the new station. It will be built close to Gloucester Road North, and will link in with the proposed Cribbs/Patchway New Neighbourhood development being built by YTL. It will be served by an hourly service between Bristol Temple Meads and Henbury, and will be an unstaffed station. It will have two platforms, connected by a footbridge and lifts ensuring step-free access for all users. Both platforms will have ticket machines and covered waiting areas and the station will have a car park to include spaces for Blue Badge holders as well as general vehicle spaces and cycle parking. The station will be accessible from the north, via a station square, with drop-off spaces as well as locations for rail-replacement buses.[10]

Planning permission was granted in January 2023 with a planned opening date of 2026.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: MacDermot, E.T. . History of the Great Western Railway, vol. II: 1863-1921 . 1931 . . Paddington . 449, 612 .
  2. Book: Nock, O.S. . Oswald Nock . History of the Great Western Railway, vol. 3: 1923-1947 . 1967 . . Shepperton . 0-7110-0304-1 . 248 .
  3. Private and Untimetabled Railway stations by G.Croughton and others
  4. Web site: Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways making rail difference. Northcliffe Media. This is Bristol. 25 September 2010. 14 April 2012.
  5. Web site: Council leader's claim is a distortion of the facts. Northcliffe Media. This is Bristol. 29 July 2011. 14 April 2012. dead. https://archive.today/20121209110925/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Council-leader-s-claim-distortion-facts/story-13034792-detail/story.html. 9 December 2012. dmy-all.
  6. Web site: Unite to fight the sale of Henbury train station. 10 November 2008. 15 April 2012. Leslie, Charlotte. Charlotte Leslie. This is Bristol. Northcliffe Media. dead. https://archive.today/20120915093652/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Unite-fight-sale-Henbury-train-station/story-11288941-detail/story.html. 15 September 2012. dmy-all.
  7. Web site: Campaigners raise questions over Henbury rail route. 28 March 2012. 15 April 2012. Bristol Evening Post. Bristol Evening Post. This is Bristol. Northcliffe Media. dead. https://archive.today/20130114030922/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Campaigners-raise-questions-Henbury-rail-route/story-15643342-detail/story.html. 14 January 2013. dmy-all.
  8. Web site: Our Case. Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways. 15 April 2012.
  9. News: Planners back Filton Airfield's closure . 5 December 2011 . 6 December 2011 . BBC News.
  10. Web site: North Filton and Henbury train stations . Travelwest . 14 February 2022.
  11. News: 2023-01-24 . New railway station to connect visitors to Bristol arena . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-01-24.