Services
Services along the line are all operated by First Great Western, mainly using diesel Class 150 Sprinter units, occasionally supplemented by Class 153 Super Sprinter and Class 158 Express Sprinter units. Until 2012, Class 143 Pacer units were a regular sight, but these have been moved south to work in Devon following a cascade of Class 150/1 units from London Midland and London Overground. Monday to Friday, three trains every two hours run from Bristol Temple Meads to Avonmouth, with one extended to St Andrew's Road and Severn Beach, giving a service at Clifton Down of one train in each direction every 40 minutes. Most services start at Bristol, but one evening service to Avonmouth begins at Weston-super-Mare. On Saturdays there is a similar level of service, but more trains continue to Severn Beach. Sunday sees a roughly hourly service to and from Bristol, with only two services extending to Severn Beach, except during the May–September timetable period, when all services are extended. The first and last Sunday trains towards Bristol are extended to Taunton via Weston-super-Mare, and there are similar workings in the other direction.
Clifton Down is the line's main passing point, so trains to Avonmouth usually arrive at the same time as trains to Bristol Temple Meads. Most trains trains call at all stations, but some services omit Lawrence Hill. St Andrew's Road is a request stop. The typical journey time from Temple Meads to Avonmouth is 28 minutes, and 37 minutes to Severn Beach. The line has a zonal fare system, the first zone from Temple Meads to Clifton Down, the second from Clifton Down to Severn Beach. In 2012, the single fare within a zone was £1.50 and a return £2.00; a whole line ticket cost £2 single and £3 return. Weekly season tickets were £6 and £9 respectively.
Read more about this topic: Severn Beach Line
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