Information Sheet 10 Issue 1: August 2013 Henbury Line The West of England councils are getting on with reopening the Henbury Line to passengers and have never ruled out aspirations for a loop service via the Severn Beach Line. Unfortunately it is not yet ready to carry regular passenger trains and neither are the potential station sites ready for use at short notice. We are, however, starting the detailed technical work required to justify reopening the line. Back in early 2012 we commissioned consultant Halcrow to look at options to improve local rail services. Reporting in Spring 2012 they recommended a phased approach to implementing MetroWest. Phase 2 includes re-introducing passenger services on the Henbury Line and half hourly services to Yate. A phased approach to rail improvements This phased approach to MetroWest was the Halcrow work and re-examine agreed by the West of England’s Joint whether the Henbury Line is best served Transport Executive Committee on 12 by a ‘spur’ or ‘loop’ service. Options for December 2012 and at the Local the most appropriate timetable, locations Transport Body Board on 14 June 2013 for up to two new stations, (see Information Sheet 9 on track/signalling improvements required, www.travelwest.info/infosheets). Hence forecasts of passenger numbers, Phase 1 is the main focus, working up operating costs and subsidies and value proposals for a reopened Portishead Line for money will all be looked at. The and half hourly services on the Severn results will help us to build a business case Beach Line and local station to Bath. for reopening. A strong business case is essential to unlock funding. Working with Network Rail, we will look at Phase 2 in more detail. This will build on Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils working together to improve your local transport Page 1 of 3 Capacity on the network As with the rest of the MetroWest Another capacity issue to manage are the proposals the four tracking of the line on freight trains to and from Avonmouth. Filton Bank (between Bristol Parkway and The Port as an international gateway is Bristol Temple Meads) is essential. important to the local, regional and Without the additional capacity provided national economy and capacity must be by four tracking it will not be possible to reserved for freight trains. With plans for run a regular service on the Henbury Line. a deep sea container port this becomes The final decision on funding for four ever more critical as the number of freight tracking is expected in October 2013 and trains will increase substantially. if confirmed construction could start in 2016 with completion in 2017. Working with the rail industry and partners We are working with Network Rail, First currently being used to refine service Great Western, Bristol Port and the freight options for Phase 1. The outcome of this operating companies looking in detail at will feed into work to develop Phase 2, options for Phase 1. The rail industry’s including whether a spur or a loop service timetable software RailSys (see for the Henbury Line works best at an Information Sheet 8 on operational level. www.travelwest.info/infosheets) is Developing the business case South Gloucestershire Council and Bristol Filton Airfield. 5,700 homes are planned City Council have allocated £330,000 in along with 50 ha of employment land. 2013/14 to develop the business case for Without this development there are MetroWest Phase 2. insufficient passengers. It should be remembered that the South Gloucestershire Council is the business case for the Henbury Line is planning authority for the Airfield and is dependent on the redevelopment of producing planning guidance for the Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils working together to improve your local transport Page 2 of 3 developers which will include a package of 2012 said Department officials were improvements to public transport, cycling, happy to work with the West of England, walking and the highway network to serve but as a local transport scheme a further the site. study must be commissioned and funded The Department for Transport are by the West of England. Please note this supportive of work on the Henbury Line. doesn’t mean the Department will Simon Burns, Minister of State in his letter transfer staff to the West of England. to Charlotte Leslie MP, of 28 November How will we pay for reopening the Henbury Line? Funding will mainly come from the The new services are unlikely to pay for Department for Transport’s ‘Devolved themselves and the local authorities will Local Major Scheme Funding’. The have to consider subsidising them. Government has recently confirmed we will have £44.9m for the first six years Work by Halcrow suggested an annual from April 2015. This has already been subsidy of £0.3m will be required and this prioritised to fund MetroWest Phase 1 by assumes the Filton Airfield development is the Local Transport Body Board. Phase 2 fully built out with 5,700 homes and will be mainly funded from allocations for employment land. subsequent years plus other local contributions that can be secured. Opening date And finally, when will it open? 2021 is the current date. Phase 1 opens in 2019. This information sheet is produced by the West of England councils in good faith. It may not contain the latest information relating to other organisations. Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils working together to improve your local transport Page 3 of 3 .