Просмотр кода страницы Английская Википедия:Bristol–Exeter line

{{Английская Википедия/Панель перехода}}
{{Short description|Railway line in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width                       = 
| name                            = Bristol to Exeter line
| image                           = Devils Bridge 34067.jpg
| image_width                     = 280px
| image_alt                       = 
| caption                         = [[SR West Country and Battle of Britain Classes|34067 ''Tangmere'']] steaming under Devil's Bridge with a ''[[Torbay Express]]'' service
| type                            = [[Suburban rail]], [[Heavy rail]]
| system                          = [[National Rail]]
| status                          = Operational
| locale                          = 
| start                           = {{Stnlnk|Bristol Temple Meads}}
| end                             = {{Stnlnk|Exeter St Davids}}
| stations                        = 
| open                            = 1841&ndash;1842
| owner                           = [[Network Rail]]
| operator                        = [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]], [[CrossCountry]]
| character                       = 
| stock                           = Class {{Brc|165|n}}
Class {{Brc|166|n}}
Class {{Brc|158|n}} 
Class {{Brc|220|n}}
Class {{Brc|221|n}}
Class {{Brc|800|n}}
Class {{Brc|802|n}}
| linelength                      = {{cvt|75|mi|41|ch|km}}
| tracks                          = 2
| gauge                           = {{track gauge|uksg|allk=on}}
| old_gauge                       = 
| speed                           = 110 mph (177 km/h) maximum
| map                             = [[File:Bristol–Exeter line.png|280px]]<br>([[:commons:File:Bristol–Exeter line.png|Click to expand]])
| map_state                       = uncollapsed
}}
{{Bristol to Exeter Line diagram|collapse=y}}
The '''Bristol to Exeter line''' is a major branch of the [[Great Western Main Line]] in the [[West of England]] and runs from [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol]], to [[Exeter St Davids railway station|Exeter]], from where it continues as the [[Exeter to Plymouth line]]. It  was one of the principal routes of the pre-1948 [[Great Western Railway]]<ref>{{cite book  | title = Pre-grouping Atlas and Gazetteer  | publisher = Ian Allan Limited  | year = 1976 | location = Shepperton | isbn = 0-71100-320-3  | author = W. Philip Conolly. }}</ref> which were subsequently taken over by the [[Western Region of British Railways]] and are now part of the [[Network Rail]] system.

==History==
The line was built by the [[Bristol and Exeter Railway]] with [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]] as the engineer. The section from Bristol to [[Bridgwater railway station|Bridgwater]] was opened on 14 June 1841 and it was completed to [[Taunton railway station|Taunton]] on 1 July 1842. It was initially operated by the [[Great Western Railway]] (GWR) as an extension of their line from [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]] and formed part of the {{track gauge|7ft}} [[broad gauge]] trunk route to [[Penzance railway station|Penzance]] on which through trains were run from 1867, but in the same year the section between [[Highbridge and Burnham railway station|Highbridge]] and [[Durston railway station|Durston]] was reconstructed as a [[Dual gauge|mixed gauge]] line to accommodate local {{track gauge|uksg}} gauge traffic. The remainder of the line was laid with mixed gauge by 1 June 1875 and broad gauge trains ceased operation on 20 May 1892.<ref name=MacD>{{cite book |last= MacDermot |first=E.T. |title= History of the Great Western Railway |volume=II 1863-1921 |publisher=[[Great Western Railway]] |year=1931 |location= London }}</ref>

The Bristol and Exeter Railway took over its own operations from 1 May 1849 but [[Consolidation (business)|amalgamated]] with the GWR on 1 January 1876.

On 1 July 1906 the [[Langport and Castle Cary Railway]] line was opened which enabled London to Taunton trains to run on a shorter route instead of the "Great Way Round" through Bristol.

The Great Western Railway was [[Transport Act 1947|nationalised on 1 January 1948]] into the [[Western Region of British Railways]].

In 1977 the Parliamentary Select Committee on Nationalised Industries recommended considering [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrification of more of Britain's rail network]], and by 1979 BR presented a range of options to do so by 2000.{{sfn|Central Publicity Unit|1979|pp=0–2}} Some included electrifying the Bristol to Exeter line, [[Exeter to Plymouth Line]], [[Riviera Line]] and [[Cornish Main Line]].{{sfn|Central Publicity Unit|1979|p=8}} Under the [[Premiership of Margaret Thatcher|1979–90 Conservative governments]] that succeeded the [[Callaghan ministry|1976–79 Labour government]] the proposal was not implemented. At present, there are no plans to electrify the line or any other lines mentioned, although locals are campaigning for electrification of the line from Bristol to Weston-Super-Mare.

The Bristol to Taunton Line is now part of Route 13 of the [[Network Rail]] system.

==Route==

===Bristol to Weston-super-Mare===
'''''Communities served''': [[Bristol]] (including the suburb of [[Bedminster, Bristol|Bedminster]]) &ndash; [[Nailsea]] and [[Backwell]] &ndash; [[Yatton]] &ndash; [[Weston-super-Mare]] (including the suburb of [[Worle]])''

On leaving Bristol Temple Meads the line passes through suburban {{rws|Bedminster}} and {{rws|Parson Street}} railway stations.<ref>{{cite book |last=Oakley |first=Mike |title=Bristol Railway Stations 1840-2005 |publisher=The Dovecote Press |year=2002 |location=Wimbourne |isbn= 1-904349-09-9 |page=not cited}}</ref> This section of the route has three tracks and, as far as Bedminster, the centre track is reversible to give some flexibility for regulating trains in the Temple Meads area. After passing through a short, deep cutting at Parson Street, the [[Portishead Railway|Portbury branch line]] diverges on the right.

The line climbs westwards up past [[Long Ashton]] village and under the [[A370 road]] to enter a cutting with [[Flax Bourton]] tunnel at the summit. The remains of [[Flax Bourton railway station]]<ref name=Oakley>{{cite book |last=Oakley |first=Mike |year=2006 |title=Somerset Railway Stations |location=Bristol |publisher= Redcliffe Press |isbn= 1-904537-54-5 |pages=not cited}}</ref> are near the tunnel. The line descends to [[Nailsea and Backwell railway station]], which is on a road bridge between [[Backwell]] on the left and [[Nailsea]] over the low hill on the right. It then continues past the isolated church at [[Chelvey]] (left) to [[Yatton railway station]]. This was once a busy junction station with branches to [[Clevedon railway station|Clevedon]] (right)<ref>{{cite book |last=Maggs |first=Colin G |year=1987 |title=The Clevedon Branch |location=Didcot |publisher=Wild Swan Publications |isbn=0-906867-52-5 |page=not cited}}</ref> and [[Cheddar Valley Railway|Wells]] (left); the latter is now a footpath and cycleway as far as [[Cheddar, Somerset|Cheddar]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Sheppard |first=Geoff |year=2001|title=Walk the Strawberry Line |journal=Broadsheet |issue=45 |pages=21–29 |publisher=Broad Gauge Society}}</ref>

Beyond Yatton the line runs across the low-lying North Marsh with [[level crossing]]s at Hewish and {{rws|Puxton and Worle}}, where an old [[signal box]] is retained to supervise the two level crossings. The line passes beneath the [[M5 motorway]] approaching Puxton and then comes to [[Worle railway station]] on the outskirts of [[Weston-super-Mare]]. A short distance beyond the station is Worle Junction where a single-track branch diverges to the right to serve {{rws|Weston Milton}} and {{rws|Weston-super-Mare}} railway stations.<ref name=Oakley/> There is a crossing loop at Weston-super-Mare, beyond which the single track continues to rejoin the main line at Uphill Junction.

===Weston-super-Mare to Taunton===
'''''Communities served:''' [[Weston-super-Mare]] &ndash; [[Highbridge, Somerset|Highbridge]] and [[Burnham-on-Sea]] &ndash; [[Bridgwater]] &ndash; [[Taunton]]''

The line has now swung round to head south. At [[Uphill]] there is a short, deep cutting crossed by a high brick bridge built by Brunel, known locally as "Devil's Bridge". The bridge is Grade II listed.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1129720|desc=THE DEVILS BRIDGE, BLEADON HILL|access-date=2 September 2021|mode=cs2}}</ref> Beyond this lie the remains of [[Bleadon and Uphill railway station]]<ref name=Oakley/> (right). Passing across the [[Somerset Levels]] the line comes to the site of [[Brent Knoll railway station]] with the isolated hill that it was named for close by on the left. The next open station is {{Stnlnk|Highbridge and Burnham}}; this is in [[Highbridge, Somerset|Highbridge]] but also serves co-joined [[Burnham-on-Sea]]. The [[Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway]] used to cross the line on the level just north of the station; their locomotive works were on the site of the industrial units visible to the left as the line passes through the station.

More level ground brings the line to {{Stnlnk|Bridgwater}} where the goods yard is used for waste traffic from [[Hinkley Point B Nuclear Power Station]]. Beyond the station, on the right, used to be the carriage works of the Bristol and Exeter Railway<ref>{{cite book |last=Maggs |first=Colin G |year=1991 |title=Taunton Steam |location=Bath |publisher= Millstream Books |isbn= 0-948975-26-1 |page=not cited}}</ref> but the site is now lost beneath modern industrial units. The line now crosses over the [[River Parrett]] on the Somerset Bridge and then passes below the M5 again.

The [[Bridgwater and Taunton Canal]] now joins on the right for most of the way to {{Stnlnk|Taunton}}. At {{Stnlnk|Durston}} the former [[Yeovil branch]] line joins from the left.<ref name=MacD/> A short cutting brings the line to [[Cogload Junction]]; the line towards Taunton climbs up here and crosses above the [[Reading to Taunton Line]] which it then joins to complete the journey to Taunton, passing {{Stnlnk|Creech St Michael}} and the former junction of the [[Chard branch]] line on the left. The final run into Taunton sees the [[River Tone]] appear alongside on left and the canal passes beneath the line to join the river at Firepool, behind the site of the former goods yard on the same side.<ref name=MacD/>

===Taunton to Exeter===
'''''Communities served:''' [[Taunton]] &ndash; [[Tiverton, Devon|Tiverton]] and [[Willand]] &ndash; [[Exeter]]''

The line leaves Taunton and passes the engineer's depot at [[Fairwater Yard]] on the same side. The former [[Norton Fitzwarren railway station]] is the location of two serious collisions and a fatal train fire. The [[West Somerset Railway]] diverges on the right and work is under way to provide new facilities here for this [[heritage railway]] which includes relaying track for a short distance along the old [[Devon and Somerset Railway]] that formed a third route in between the main line and the West Somerset. On the left of the line an embankment marks the remains of the [[Grand Western Canal]].

After passing over Victory Crossing at [[Bradford-on-Tone]], the line starts to climb upwards. It passes through the remains of [[Wellington (Somerset) railway station|Wellington station]] and then under the [[A38 road]] at {{rws|Beambridge}}, which was the site of the line's terminus while work was underway to excavate the Whiteball Tunnel at the top of [[Wellington Bank]].<ref name=MacD2>{{cite book |last=MacDermot |first=E.T. |title= History of the Great Western Railway |volume=II, 1863-1921 |location=London |publisher=[[Great Western Railway]] |year=1931 |pages=not cited}}</ref> It was coming down here that ''[[GWR 3700 Class no. 3440 "City of Truro"|City of Truro]]'' became the first locomotive to exceed {{convert|100|mph}}.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Andrews |first=David |year=2008 |title=Special Experimental Tests — More Pieces of the City of Truro Puzzle |journal=[[BackTrack (magazine)|BackTrack]] |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=116–121 |publisher= Pendragon Publishing}}</ref>

Through the tunnel and into [[Devon]], the M5 motorway comes alongside on the left and the line arrives at {{rws|Tiverton Parkway}}, the railhead for much of north Devon via the [[A361 road]] that joins the motorway next to the station. A short distance further is Tiverton Loops, the site of the former [[Tiverton Junction railway station]].

The motorway service station on the left marks the site of [[Cullompton railway station]], and then the line passes the remains of {{rws|Hele and Bradninch}} and {{rws|Silverton}} stations. At {{rws|Stoke Canon}} the old [[Exe Valley Railway]] used to join from the right, and then the railway sweeps through the valley of the [[River Culm]] to where it joins the [[River Exe]] near [[Cowley Bridge Junction]]. Here the [[Tarka Line]] from [[Barnstaple railway station|Barnstaple]] joins on the right and the line then passes (on the same side) Riverside Yard and an old [[transhipment]] shed. Until 20 May 1892, when the then GWR lines were converted from the {{track gauge|7ft}} [[broad gauge]], the shed was used to transfer goods between broad gauge wagons and the {{track gauge|uksg}} [[standard gauge]] wagons used by the [[London and South Western Railway]] to Yeovil and Barnstaple.<ref name=Devon>{{cite book |last=Oakley |first=Mike |year=2007 |title=Devon Railway Stations |location=Wimbourne |publisher=The Dovecote Press |isbn=978-1-904349-55-6 |page=not cited}}</ref> Passing over the wide Red Cow [[level crossing]], the line comes to [[Exeter St Davids railway station]].

==Services==
[[File:Weston-super-Mare - GWR 166220 approaching from Taunton.JPG |thumb|left| A {{brc|166}} approaching {{stnlnk|Weston-super-Mare}}]]

All stations on the route are served by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]. Local trains generally operate between {{stnlnk|Cardiff Central}} and {{stnlnk|Taunton}} (calling at all stations between {{stnlnk|Bristol Temple Meads}} and Taunton except {{stnlnk|Bedminster}} and {{stnlnk|Parson Street}}) and from {{stnlnk|Bristol Parkway}} to {{stnlnk|Weston-super-Mare}} (calling at all stations from Temple Meads) combining to give a half-hourly service between Bristol Temple Meads and Weston-super-Mare throughout much of the day.<ref>{{cite web |title=National Rail Timetable 134 |url= http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/eNRT/Dec07/timetables/Table134.pdf}}</ref> Through trains to and from {{stnlnk|London Paddington}} are also operated via Bristol to Weston-super-Mare and Taunton,<ref>{{cite web |title=National Rail Timetable 125 |url= http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/eNRT/Dec07/timetables/Table125.pdf }}</ref> and direct from London via {{stnlnk|Westbury}} to Taunton and Exeter. Some services from Cardiff and many from London continue beyond Exeter towards {{stnlnk|Plymouth}} and {{stnlnk|Penzance}}.<ref>{{cite web |title= National Rail Timetable 135 (Winter 2007) |publisher= Network Rail |url= http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/eNRT/Dec07/timetables/Table135.pdf |access-date= 14 May 2021 |archive-date= 27 February 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080227012644/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/eNRT/Dec07/timetables/Table135.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref> Local trains are mostly formed from a mix of {{brc|165}} and {{brc|166|n}} [[Diesel multiple unit|DMU]]s or {{Brc|255}} 'Castle' trains. London services are operated using {{Brc|800}} and {{Brc|802|n}} trains.

The other operator on the route is [[CrossCountry]], which provides trains between [[Scotland]] and north-east England and {{rws|Paignton}}, {{stnlnk|Plymouth}} or {{stnlnk|Penzance}}.<ref>{{cite web |title= National Rail Timetable 51 |url= http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/eNRT/Dec07/timetables/Table51.pdf |access-date= 17 February 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080227012631/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/eNRT/Dec07/timetables/Table51.pdf |archive-date= 27 February 2008 |url-status= dead }}</ref> Trains are mostly formed of {{brc|220}} and {{brc|221|n}} units, working either singly or in pairs, although each day also sees a few workings using [[InterCity 125|HST]] sets.
{{clear}}

==Infrastructure==
{{update|type=section|Weston-super-Mare branch line|date=April 2011|cat=Rail transport articles in need of updating}}
The route has a line speed limit of {{convert|100|mph}} with local variations, the main one being the 110&nbsp;mph from approx. Bleadon (138-44) to Huntspill (147-00); trains from Bristol to Taunton are described as travelling in the 'down' direction. It is constructed to Route Availability 8 and freight loading gauge W8. It has Multiple Aspect Signals (MAS) and Track Circuit Block (TCB) controlled from the panel [[signal box]] at Bristol. A local signal box at {{rws|Puxton and Worle}} controls the two [[level crossing]]s at Hewish and Puxton, and an emergency panel at {{stnlnk|Weston-super-Mare}} can take control of the section from Hewish to Uphill Junction if required.

The [[21st Century modernisation of the Great Western Main Line]] has included electrification of the main line from London to {{stnlnk|Bristol Parkway}}  however this is not planned to be extended onto the Bristol to Exeter line.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-London-line-electrified/story-11312089-detail/story.html |title=Bristol to London line to be electrified |work=This Is Bristol |publisher=Northcliffe Media |date=23 July 2009 |access-date=2012-04-05}}</ref> Trains are now a hybrid of diesel and electric power ([[Electro-diesel locomotive|Bimodes]]) which can run on non electrified routes south of Bristol.

The {{stnlnk|Weston-super-Mare}}/{{stnlnk|Yate}} corridor is one of the main axes of the proposed [[Greater Bristol Metro]], which aims to enhance transport capacity in the Bristol area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.westofengland.org/media/98508/item%2004%20greater%20bristol%20metro%2013%20march%202009.pdf |title=Item 04: Greater Bristol Metro |first=James |last=White |publisher=West of England Partnership |date=13 March 2009 |access-date=2011-12-28 |archive-date=15 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515034151/http://www.westofengland.org/media/98508/item%2004%20greater%20bristol%20metro%2013%20march%202009.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Campaign-trains-Bristol-Temple-Meads-half-hour/story-14446079-detail/story.html |title=A campaign to revolutionise Bristol's local rail service that could see trains from Temple Meads serving all local stations every half hour is being launched today |work=This Is Bristol |publisher= Northcliffe Media |date=17 January 2012 |access-date=19 January 2012}}</ref>

There have also been calls for a [[Bristol Airport Rail Link|dedicated railway line]] to [[Bristol Airport]], branching off from the main line somewhere near [[Flax Bourton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Rail-link-airport-help-cut-pollution/story-11259581-detail/story.html |title=Rail link to airport would help cut pollution |publisher=This is Bristol |author=Roy Hutchinson |date=2009-09-17 |access-date=2012-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210212710/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Rail-link-airport-help-cut-pollution/story-11259581-detail/story.html
|archive-date=2015-12-10}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Disused railway stations (Bristol to Exeter Line)]]
*[[Disused railway stations (Exeter to Plymouth Line)]]
*[[21st-century modernisation of the Great Western Main Line]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources and further reading==
{{commons category|Bristol to Exeter Line}}
*{{cite book |last=Avon County Planning Department |title=Railways in Avon, a short history of their development and decline 1832 - 1982 |publisher= Avon County Planning Department |year=1983|location=Bristol |isbn= 0-860631-84-2 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Beck |first1=Keith |last2= Copsey |first2=John |title=The Great Western in South Devon |publisher= Wild Swan Publications |year= 1990 |location= Didcot |isbn= 0-906867-90-8 }}
*{{cite book |author=Central Publicity Unit |date=Winter 1979 |title= Railway Electrification |publisher= [[British Railways Board]] |pages=0–2, 8 }}
*{{cite book |last=Conolly |first=W. Philip |year=1967|title=British Railways Pre-grouping Atlas and Gazetteer |location=Shepperton |publisher=[[Ian Allan Publishing]] |isbn= 0-711003-20-3 }}
*{{cite book |last=Cooke |first=R.A. |year=1979 |series=Track Layout Diagrams of the GWR and BR WR |title=Section 16: West Somerset |location=Harwell |publisher=R.A. Cooke |pages=not cited }}
*{{cite book |author=Great Western Railway |year=1924 |series=Through the Window |title=Number 1 — Paddington to Penzance |location=London|publisher=Great Western Railway |pages=not cited }}
*{{cite news |last=Hesp |first=Martin |title=My magnificent rail journey |newspaper=[[Western Morning News]] |url=http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/magnificent-rail-journey/article-209062-detail/article.html |date=2008-07-07 |access-date=2008-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125013350/http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/magnificent-rail-journey/article-209062-detail/article.html |archive-date=25 November 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

{{Great Western Railway}}
{{Railway lines in South West England}}
{{Transport in Bristol}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bristol-Exeter line}}
[[Category:Railway lines in South West England]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Bristol]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Devon]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Somerset]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1842]]
[[Category:Transport in Exeter]]
[[Category:1842 establishments in England]]
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