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Bristol Parkway railway station
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== History == [[File:4079 at Bristol Parkway.jpg|thumb|[[GWR 4073 Class 4079 Pendennis Castle|Steam locomotive ''Pendennis Castle'']] at Bristol Parkway in 1977.]] [[File:Working empties at Bristol Parkway.jpg|thumb|A {{brc|33}} locomotive hauls a freight train through Bristol Parkway in 1980. The walls behind the platforms had been added by this time.]] [[File:Bristol Parkway railway station MMB 03.jpg|thumb|The current station building was built in 2000.]] [[File:BristolParkway02.jpg|thumb|A westbound [[First Great Western]] [[InterCity 125|HST set]] at Bristol Parkway in 2006. The site of what would become platform 4 can be seen, as can the platforms for the [[Royal Mail]] depot.]] The line through Bristol Parkway was opened in 1903 as part of the [[Great Western Railway]]'s "[[Badminton railway line|Badminton Line]]" from [[Wootton Bassett]] to {{rws|Patchway}}, a short-cut for trains from London to South Wales, avoiding [[Bath Spa railway station|Bath]] and {{rws|Chippenham}}.<ref name="Oakley"/> The station was built on the site of the Stoke Gifford marshalling yard, which closed on 4 October 1971, having become surplus to requirements with the cessation of [[wagonload freight]] trains.<ref name="badminton">{{cite book|title=GWR: The Badminton Line β Portrait of a Railway|author1=Robertson, Kevin |author2=Abbot, David |isbn=0-86299-459-4|publisher=[[Alan Sutton Publishing]]|year=1988|pages=202β206}}</ref> The station's development was seen as a response to the potential growth of housing and commercial developments in north Bristol, with proximity to the [[M4 motorway|M4]] and [[M5 motorway|M5]] motorway interchange at [[Almondsbury Interchange|Almondsbury]] also important.<ref name="Oakley"/> The name "Parkway" came from proximity to the [[M32 motorway]], known as the Bristol Parkway,<ref name="bbchistory"/> although the term Parkway has since been applied to park and ride stations throughout the United Kingdom.<ref name="Baker"/> When the station was built it was outside the developed urban area, but the growth of housing and commercial development in adjoining areas of the [[North Fringe of Bristol|North Fringe]] has brought it within the conurbation, with many large office complexes opened nearby.<ref name="OS"/><ref name="atocstp"/><ref name="OS1946">{{cite book |title=OS 1" 7th Series No. 156 β Bristol & Stroud |year=1946 |publisher=[[Ordnance Survey]] |location=[[Southampton]]}}</ref><ref name="aerial">{{cite web|url=http://www.sbarch.org.uk/History_SG_V3.40/Aerial_Photographs/Aerial_Photos.shtml |title=History of Stoke Gifford β Aerial Photographs of the Parish |editor=Kerton, Adrian |access-date=4 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004224306/http://www.sbarch.org.uk/History_SG_V3.40/Aerial_Photographs/Aerial_Photos.shtml |archive-date= 4 October 2013 }}</ref> The station, owned by [[British Rail]], opened on 1 May 1972.<ref name="Butt">{{Butt-Stations| page=44}}</ref> Services were operated by the [[Western Region of British Rail|Western Region]] until British Rail was split into business-led sectors in the 1980s, after which Parkway was served by the [[InterCity (British Rail)|InterCity]] and [[Regional Railways]] divisions. The original structures, built by Stone & Co. of Bristol, were basic β two island platforms connected by an open metal footbridge, with a wood and brick building containing the booking facilities and waiting rooms. Platform 1 (the current platform 3), on the north side of the tracks, was for trains towards London and Birmingham, and platform 2 was for trains towards Wales and Bristol Temple Meads.<ref name="Oakley"/> The platforms were {{convert|256|m|yd}} long.<ref name="nrwrspeedOLD">{{cite web|url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/baseline%20capability/track%20and%20route%20mileage,%20permissible%20line%20speeds/table%20a_track_and_route%20miles_linespeed_western%20route.pdf|title=Network Capability β Baseline Declaration: (1) Track and Route mileage: (2) Line-speeds: Western Route|publisher=[[Network Rail]]|date=1 April 2009|access-date=11 October 2013|page=220|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014210923/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/baseline%20capability/track%20and%20route%20mileage,%20permissible%20line%20speeds/table%20a_track_and_route%20miles_linespeed_western%20route.pdf|archive-date=14 October 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The station opened with a 600-space car park and a fastest journey to London of 95 minutes, which was subsequently reduced to 75 minutes with the introduction of the new [[InterCity 125|High Speed Trains]] in 1976.<ref name="brpublicity">{{cite web|url=https://dlib.york.ac.uk/yodl/app/home/detail?id=york%3a852777&ref=browse|title= Is collecting railway ephemera an archaeological task? |work=Institute of Railway Studies Research Workshop on 'railway ephemera'|author=Forsythe, Robert|date=13 December 2000|access-date=4 October 2013|publisher=[[University of York]]}}</ref><ref name="badminton"/><ref name="maggs21">{{cite book|title=Rail Centres: Bristol (#21)|author=Maggs, Colin G|author-link=Colin Maggs|year=2008|orig-year=First published 1981|publisher=Booklaw Publications|location=[[Nottingham]]|edition=3rd|pages=26β27|isbn=978-1-901945-30-0}}</ref> Platform canopies were added in 1973, along with a cover for the footbridge. Further minor improvements were implemented over the next thirty years, including a new booking office and extensions to the car park.<ref name="Oakley"/> Following the [[privatisation of British Rail]] in 1997, services at Bristol Parkway were franchised to several [[Train operating company|train operating companies]]. South Wales Main Line services were provided by Great Western Trains, which was later rebranded as First Great Western;<ref name="gravy">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/rail-bosses-cash-in-on-privatised-gravy-train-1148696.html|title=Rail bosses cash in on privatised gravy train|date=7 March 1998|access-date=29 September 2013|work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> services from Bristol to Birmingham and the north were operated by [[Virgin CrossCountry]];<ref name="xcconsult">{{cite web|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/archive/2006/nccfc/rosscountryfranchisecons1747.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902212909/http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/archive/2006/nccfc/rosscountryfranchisecons1747.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 September 2009|title=New Cross Country Franchise Consultation Document|date=June 2006|access-date=29 September 2013|publisher=[[Department for Transport]]|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and local services were franchised to [[Wales & West]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/operators/franchises.shtm|title=UK railway franchises|date=5 May 2015|access-date=6 May 2015|author=Deaves, Phil}}</ref> which was succeeded in 2001 by [[Wessex Trains]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesandwest.co.uk/ |title=Wales and West |publisher=[[Wales & West]] |access-date=9 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314050333/http://www.walesandwest.co.uk/ |archive-date=14 March 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> The Wessex franchise was amalgamated with the Great Western franchise into the [[Greater Western franchise]] from 2006, and awarded to First Great Western, which became known as [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theironroad.net/Operator/Train-Operating-Companies/Wessex-Trains/|title=Wessex Trains |work=The Iron Road: Railway Photography by Scott Borthwick|access-date=29 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4523592.stm |title= FirstGroup wins rail franchises |date=13 December 2005 |access-date=27 April 2012 |work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref><ref name="bids">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13351368 |title= First Great Western bids for longer rail franchise deal |work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBC]] |date=11 May 2011 |access-date=27 April 2012}}</ref><ref name="fgwgwr">{{cite news|url=http://railnews.co.uk/news/2015/09/21-the-great-western-railway-is.html|title=The Great Western Railway is back in business|date=21 September 2015|access-date=21 September 2015|work=[[Railnews]]}}</ref> Virgin CrossCountry services were taken over by [[Arriva CrossCountry]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/franchises/winnernewcrosscounty |title=New rail franchise to increase capacity between major cities |publisher=[[Department for Transport]] |date=10 July 2007 |access-date=29 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070812032658/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/franchises/winnernewcrosscounty |archive-date=12 August 2007 }}</ref> In the August 1998, [[Royal Mail]] began construction of a mail terminal to the east of the station, taking over some of the station car park to provide a platform and warehouse for postal trains.<ref>{{cite news|title=Temple Meads loses out as work starts on new Parkway mail centre|work=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]|publisher=[[Bauer Media]]|location=[[Peterborough]]|volume=334|date= 1 July 1998|page=16}}</ref> The {{convert|12000|ft2|m2}} building opened on 15 May 2000, replacing a similar facility at Bristol Temple Meads, with the Royal Mail stating it would save {{convert|250000|miles|km}} of lorry journeys per year on local roads.<ref name="Oakley"/><ref name="postpost"/><ref>"Bristol Mail hub opens" ''[[The Railway Magazine]]'' issue 1191 July 2000 page 97</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Royal Mail terminal opens at Bristol Parkway|work=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]|publisher=[[Bauer Media]]|location=[[Peterborough]]|volume=384|date=31 May 2000|page=7}}</ref> However, the depot closed only four years later in 2004, when Royal Mail ceased to use the rail network.<ref name="parlipost">{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN02251.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN02251.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Railways: Royal Mail services, 2003β|date=13 April 2010|author=Butcher, Louise|access-date=29 September 2013|publisher=[[House of Commons Library]]}}</ref> Royal Mail offered the terminal for use by freight companies, but as there were no takers it was demolished in October 2007.<ref name="postpost">{{cite news|title=Ex-mail Depot Set For New Use|publisher=[[Northcliffe Media]]|work=[[Bristol Evening Post]]|date=3 July 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Not even four year's use... demolished|work=[[The Railway Magazine]]|volume=1281|date= January 2008| page= 9}}</ref> In 2008, Network Rail opened a maintenance training centre on the site in a Β£2.5 million project which saw the construction of a [[mezzanine]] floor, a welding workshop and a {{convert|4000|ft2|m2}} extension.<ref name="curtins"/><ref name="ontrack">{{cite news|title=The Bristol training centre putting engineers on track|work=This is Bristol|publisher=[[Northcliffe Media]]|date=8 August 2008|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-training-centre-putting-engineers-track/story-11312755-detail/story.html|access-date=29 September 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130929111101/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-training-centre-putting-engineers-track/story-11312755-detail/story.html|archive-date=29 September 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2000, work began on a complete redevelopment of the station building with a new enclosed footbridge. It opened on 1 July 2001, and featured lifts and generally enhanced facilities. Local roads were enhanced to help speed passengers' journeys to and from the station, and a new [[multi-storey car park]] was built to replace the spaces lost to the Royal Mail facility.<ref name="Oakley"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Regional News|author=Johnston, Howard|work=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]|volume= 416|date= August 2001| page =22|location=[[Peterborough]]|publisher=[[Bauer Media]]}}</ref> A dedicated bus interchange was opened in 2003.<ref name="atocstp"/> In 2006, construction started on a new {{convert|278|m|yd}} long platform face on the north side of platform 1, to ease congestion for trains toward Birmingham and London. The new platform, platform 4, was opened on 9 May 2007 by rail minister [[Tom Harris (British politician)|Tom Harris MP]]. As part of the reconstruction, the waiting room at the east end of platform 1 was demolished, and replaced with an extended waiting area and customer help desk. Platform 1 was subsequently redesignated platform 3. The work cost Β£3{{Nbsp}}million and was funded by Network Rail, with First Great Western contributing Β£100,000 towards the new waiting room and help desk.<ref name="nrnewplat">{{cite press release|url=http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/content/detail.aspx?releaseid=3005&newsareaid=2&searchcategoryid=7|access-date=29 September 2013|date=9 May 2007|publisher=[[Network Rail]]|title=New platform for Bristol Parkway|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130929164616/http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/content/detail.aspx?releaseid=3005&newsareaid=2&searchcategoryid=7|archive-date=29 September 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Despite the large car park, the increase in passenger numbers at Parkway led to problems with on-street parking, leading to the commissioning of a new 200-space car park {{convert|500|m|yd}} east of the station.<ref name="atocstp"/><ref name="postnewpr">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Park-ride-cars-road/story-11233281-detail/story.html|title=New Bristol park and ride to keep cars off road|access-date=29 September 2013|date=6 July 2009|work=This is Bristol|publisher=[[Northcliffe Media]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611033207/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Park-ride-cars-road/story-11233281-detail/story.html|archive-date=11 June 2015}}</ref> It opened in Spring 2011, but was used by only 139 motorists in its first three months; it was expected that traffic would increase when a new bus link was opened to transfer drivers from the car park to the station.<ref name="postspaces">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Spaces-1-2m-car-park-Stoke-Gifford-used/story-16776191-detail/story.html|title=Spaces at Β£1.2m car park at Stoke Gifford still not being used|author=Koch, Emily|work=This is Bristol|publisher=[[Northcliffe Media]]|date=28 August 2012|access-date=29 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830101218/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Spaces-1-2m-car-park-Stoke-Gifford-used/story-16776191-detail/story.html|archive-date=30 August 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> A new multi-storey car park on the station site with 710 spaces was opened on 5 September 2014 by [[Susan Kramer, Baroness Kramer|Baroness Kramer]], [[Minister of State for Transport]]. Construction of the car park, which began in mid-2013, caused a short-term lack of spaces for commuters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-24171652|title=Anger over Bristol Parkway railway parking shortage|access-date=21 September 2013|date=20 September 2013|publisher=[[BBC]]|work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> The car park cost Β£13 million and was funded jointly by Network Rail and the [[Department for Transport]] under the Station Commercial Projects Fund.<ref name="RAIL728-regional">{{cite journal|journal=[[RAIL (magazine)|RAIL]]|author=Johnston, Howard|title=Regional News|date=7β20 August 2013|issue=728|pages=24β25|quote='''Bristol Parkway:''' Construction has started on a new Β£13 million, 710-space multi-story car park.|publisher=[[Bauer Media]]|location=Peterborough}}</ref><ref name="insidercarpark"/> Improved cycle facilities, including a bike hire scheme, were provided in the late 2000s.<ref name="atocstp"/> The station was closed for two weeks in September 2017 to allow for upgrade work as part of the [[Great Western Main Line upgrade|electrification and upgrade work for the Great Western route]]. Works included resignalling, installation of overhead electrification gantries, and the start of construction of a new fourth platform on the south side of platform 2.<ref name="itv2017">{{cite news|url=http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2017-09-01/bristol-parkway-station-to-close-for-two-weeks/|title=Passengers warned to expect major disruption as Bristol Parkway station shuts for two weeks|date=1 September 2017|access-date=22 September 2017|work=[[ITV News]]}}</ref><ref name="rtm2017">{{cite news|url=http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/great-western-modernisation-moves-forward-as-nr-completes-key-upgrade|title=Great Western modernisation moves forward as NR completes key upgrade|work=[[Rail Technology Magazine]]|date=18 September 2017|access-date=22 September 2017|publisher=[[Cognitive Publishing]]}}</ref> The new platform 1 took over an existing goods loop, allowing trains towards Bristol and towards Wales to be accommodated at the same time, thus easing a bottleneck. It was opened on 13 April 2018 by [[Chris Grayling]] MP, [[Secretary of State for Transport]]. The other platforms were lengthened to {{convert|280|m|yd}} at the same time.<ref name="nrwrspeed"/><ref name="nrwrspeedOLD"/><ref name="bbcplat1">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-43754179|title=Bristol Parkway's new platform officially opens|date=13 April 2018|access-date=25 April 2018|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref><ref name="rtechplat1">{{cite news|url=https://www.railway-technology.com/news/new-platform-at-bristol-parkway-opened-to-increase-train-frequency/|title=New platform at Bristol Parkway opened to increase train frequency|work=Railway Technology|publisher=[[Kable Intelligence]]|date=17 April 2018|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref> The station closed for three weeks in Autumn 2018 for further electrification works, including the installation and testing of overhead wires.<ref name="itv2018">{{cite news|url=http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2018-09-14/major-rail-disruption-due-to-parkway-engineering-works/|title=Major rail disruption as Bristol Parkway closes for three weeks|date=14 September 2018|access-date=16 September 2018|work=[[ITV News]]}}</ref><ref name="NR2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/western/great-western-mainline/south-gloucestershire/|title=South Gloucestershire|publisher=[[Network Rail]]|date=6 September 2018|access-date=16 September 2018}}</ref> First Great Western declined a contractual option to continue the [[Greater Western franchise|Greater Western passenger franchise]] beyond 2013, citing a desire for a longer-term contract due to the impending upgrade to the Great Western Main Line.<ref name="bids"/> The franchise was put out to tender<ref name="Rail694">{{cite journal|title=First leads a field of seven bidding for rail franchises|author=Haigh, Philip|journal=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]|publisher=[[Bauer Media]]|date=18 April 2012|pages=8β9|issue=694|location=[[Peterborough]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2012/07/19-great-western-franchise-to-be.html|title=Great Western franchise to be extended|date=19 July 2012|access-date=19 July 2012|work=[[Railnews]]}}</ref><ref name="ITT">{{cite press release |title=New Great Western franchise to deliver new express trains |url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20120727a/ |publisher=[[Department for Transport]] |date=27 July 2012 |access-date=29 July 2012}}</ref> but the process was halted and later scrapped due to the fallout from the [[InterCity West Coast#2012 franchise process|collapse of the InterCity West Coast franchise competition]].<ref name="scrapped">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21272542|title=Great Western London to south Wales rail contest scrapped|date=31 January 2013|access-date=31 January 2013|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBBC]]}}</ref> A two-year franchise extension until September 2015 was agreed in October 2013,<ref name="rnextend">{{cite news|url=http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2013/10/03-first-celebrates-lastminute-great-western.html|title=First celebrates last-minute Great Western deal|work=[[Railnews]]|date=3 October 2013|access-date=4 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="bbcextend">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24378053|title=First Great Western retains Wales and west rail franchise|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBBC]]|date=3 October 2013|access-date=4 October 2013}}</ref> and subsequently extended until March 2019.<ref name="bbcextend2">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29565156|title=First Great Western offered new franchise deal|date=10 October 2014|access-date=10 October 2014|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref><ref name="guardianextend2">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/oct/10/firstgroup-great-western-contract-extension-rail|title=FirstGroup wins Great Western contract extension|date=10 October 2014|access-date=10 October 2014|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref name="rnextend2">{{cite news|url=http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2014/10/10-updated-franchise-schedule-signals-gw.html|title=Updated franchise schedule signals GW extension|date=10 October 2014|access-date=10 October 2014|work=[[Railnews]]}}</ref> The [[CrossCountry]] franchise was due to expire in October 2019,<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/franchise-announcement|title=Written statement to Parliament β Rail franchising|date=26 March 2013|access-date=5 October 2013|author=McLoughlin, Patrick|author-link=Patrick McLoughlin|publisher=[[Department for Transport]]}}</ref> but it was announced in September 2020 that the emergency timetables introduced to meet [[COVID-19]] requirements would continue for a further 18 months and the letting of new franchises would be scrapped. {{As of|2024}}, the New CrossCountry franchise is let to [[Arriva UK Trains|Arriva]]-owned [[CrossCountry]] until 2027<ref name = nrc23 >{{cite press release | url = https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/west-coast-partnership-and-cross-country-rail-operator-direct-awards | title = West Coast Partnership and Cross Country rail operator direct awards | date = 19 September 2023 | access-date = 19 September 2023 | publisher = Department for Transport|location=London}}</ref> and the [[Greater Western franchise]] to [[FirstGroup]]-owned [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] until 2028.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1122644/first-greater-western-ltd-2022-nrc.pdf | title = First Greater Western Limited 2022 national rail contract | publisher = Department for Transport | date = 14 June 2022 | access-date = 5 March 2023}}</ref> In 2024, the station names on the outside were replaced. Previously, it was in Gill Sans, with no National Rail logo. Now, it is New Rail Alphabet with a National Rail logo.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}
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