Future
First Great Western declined an option to continue the Greater Western passenger franchise (of which many services at Temple Meads are a part) beyond 2013, citing a desire for a longer-term contract due to the impending upgrade to the Great Western Main Line. The franchise was put out to tender, and it was announced in March 2012 that Deutsche Bahn, First Group, National Express and Stagecoach had pre-qualified. The winner was expected to be announced in December 2012, with the new franchisee taking over in April 2013, however, it was announced in July 2012 that the franchise would be extended due to the late issue of the Invitation to Tender (ITT). The ITT was eventually released at the end of July, and will run until October 2012. The winner is due to be announced in March 2013, and take over on 21 July 2013. The franchise is due to end in July 2028. The new franchise will see the introduction of new Intercity Express Trains, capacity enhancements and smart ticketing.
With the coming upgrade to the Great Western Main Line, the main line from London to Bristol is due to be electrified by 2016. However, the electrification will not extend beyond Bristol to Weston-super-Mare, so local services will continue to be provided using diesel trains. The group Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) supports the electrification continuing to Weston, as does MP for Weston-super-Mare John Penrose. FOSBR are also calling for the electrification of the Severn Beach Line.
The Portishead Branch Line, which runs along the south side of the River Avon from a junction just beyond Parson Street, is due to be reopened by 2017. There is an aspiration of two trains per hour between Portishead and Temple Meads in peak periods, possibly calling at Bedminster and Parson Street. The line was built in the 1860s, but closed to passenger traffic in 1964, leaving Portishead as one of Britain's largest towns without a railway station. The line was reopened for freight traffic to serve Royal Portbury Docks in 2001, and the restoration of passenger traffic is considered part of the Greater Bristol Metro scheme, which was given the go-ahead in July 2012 as part of the City Deal, whereby local councils would be given greater control over money by the government. The Invitation to Tender for the new Greater Western franchise asks bidders to include costs for two trains per hour each direction between Portishead and Bristol Temple Meads, calling at all stations, with one train per hour extended to Severn Beach; and another hourly all stations service from Severn Beach to Bath Spa. These services are to operate from the December 2017, 18 hours a day Monday-Saturday and 9 hours a day on Sundays. The Metro scheme could also see the reopening of the Henbury Loop Line to passengers, with the possibility of services from Temple Meads to Bristol Parkway via Clifton Down and Henbury.
Read more about this topic: Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station
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