Here is a link on Clifton Down station , including photos.
http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/cliftondown.phpKey dates :
OPENED - Ist October 1874 , at the same time as Montpelier station (
http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/montpelier.php) , both forming part of what is still referred to (even by Network Rail) as the Clifton Extension Railway. Nearby Redland (
http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/redland.php) did not open until 12th April 1897.
One of the best known features of the Clifton Down area is the tunnel. (
http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/cliftondowntunnel.php) This was opened to goods traffic on 24th February 1877 , but not for passenger use until 1st September 1885 , due to platform & signalling problems to the west , at Sea Mills station. (
http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/seamills.php)
The 1983 publication "Railways In Avon - A Short History Of Their Development And Decline" describes Clifton Down as follows :
"Clifton Down station was a splendid building in a style of architecture called "modified gothic."
CLOSED TO GOODS - 5th July 1965.
It is also important to note that , despite its location , Clifton Down station has been UNSTAFFED since 17th July 1967.
To ask the Secretary Of State for Transport , how many passengers per day use Clifton Down station.
To ask the Secretary Of State for Transport , how many passengers per day use Filton Abbey Wood station.
Clifton Down station :
1) Is unstaffed.
2) Is centrally located near Bristol Zoo & the University Of Bristol.
3) Is on the Severn Beach line.
4) A respectable number of passengers use this station during off-peak hours.
5) Passengers from this station help to pack out trains during peak hours.
Filton Abbey Wood ticket office is open from 1615 - 1915 on Mondays - Fridays. The link below describes the station.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filton_Abbey_Wood_railway_stationHere are the latest station usage figures (2004 - 2005) available from the ORR website (link below.)
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1379Filton Abbey Wood 377,552 (year) , 1034 passengers per day.
Clifton Down 141,838 (year) , 388 passengers per day.
Interestingly , both stations' passenger usage is shown as having declined.
As planned , a trip to Clifton Down followed (train out , bus back to test Bristol's ledgendary congestion)
During my recent visit to Bristol , I noticed that Clifton Down station was busy as passengers awaited the train's arrival , but completely deserted for quite some time after it had left.
I believe that this is due to the fact that Clifton Down only has an hourly train service , which means there is a 30 minute (sometimes longer) standard period where no train calls at the station (see link below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Documents/Custom/Timetables/December%202006/Book%20E%20REVISED%20(Bristol%20Area,%20Birmingham%20to%20Exeter,%20Cardiff%20to%20Portsmouth).pdfAs a comparison , the quietest suburban station in my local area (Portsmouth) is Hilsea. It has 4 trains per hour in each direction (more during the peak) and at least 1 waiting passenger can normally be found on the platform from early morning till late evening (see link below.)
http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/SWTrains/pdfs/TimetablesJune2006/18SLJune06.pdfThis , in my view , is ridiculous. Climb up from Clifton Down station , and you will find yourself in one of Bristol's busiest streets , with cars , buses and other traffic jostling for position in a near - gridlock situation.
Interestingly , Jacobs Consultancy explored the option of providing 2 trains per hour to Clifton Down during the peak , in the Greater Western Franchise Replacement Outline Business Case Report (pages 195 & 196 of the link below.)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_foi/documents/page/dft_foi_612538.pdfUnfortunately , as you can see by reading the above , they proposed to do this by closing the Severn Beach Line west of Clifton Down station.
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