Filton Abbey Wood

To Bristol or Bath: Stanley Farm Footbridge
To Wales, The North or London: Filton Coal Concentration Depot

History

This station was built by the M.O.D. to replace Filton Junction station. It was opened on the 11th March 1996. In 2004 the station was rebuilt to provide an extra platform face which was brought into use on the 29th June. Before the station was remodelled the junction to the north had one of the worse cases for SPADS in the country, with 12 incidents having been recorded in a report published in 1999.

In the Strategic Rail Authority’s 2005/06 financial year, Filton Abbey Wood was ranked as the 647th most-used station in Great Britain, making it one of the busiest unstaffed stations.

1996

An unidentified Class 37 heads south as the station nears completion. The remains of the track that led to the Filton Coal Concentration Depot can be seen on the left. © Craig Munday

2003

1.11.03

These cycle lockers are outside the station in the car park.
The view from the car park towards the station.
Electrical cabinets alongside the path to the station.
There was a small headshunt next to the car park that terminated at this buffer stop.
A small electrical cabinet on the right-hand side of the approach path.
While on the approach to the station a Class 158 flew past at 70mph.
I entered the station at the top right of this photo. All the next batch of photos illustrate things at this spot.
A timetable and a television screen showing no information.
This is the wall that the timetable and monitor were placed upon. A nice sculpture greeted travellers.
This was the back of the very same wall.
A rather large sign with no information on it at all.
A general view of the footbridge with a Class 150 passing through.
The 150 accelerates away from the station giving us a good view down the platforms.
A view showing the original footbridge.
The view south from the footbridge. The area of land on the right of this photo used to be the where the lines for South Wales ran before the track was rationalised from four tracks to two. The bridge in the distance is Stanley Farm Footbridge
This is the view looking back along platform 1. To the left is where the South Wales lines ran.
The view south from the footbridge.
The view north. The car park sits at the spot previously occupied by the Filton Coal Concentration Depot. It is a long way from the station.
A kiosk underneath the footbridge on Platform 2. This opened during weekday afternoons.
More information screens.
To the left of the monitor (heading for the exit on Platform 2)were these standard time table boards.
The exit from Platform 2 to the MOD.
The view from the MOD to the station.
A view of the shelter on platform 1
A close up of the types of seats used at this station.
The shelters on platform 2 are much bigger.
The view from the south end of platform 1

Rebuilding Work 2004

March

9.3.04

The notice telling passengers what was happening at the station.
The view towards Bristol. The trackbed was going into place behind platform 1.
The same view but this time taken from the footbridge.
The view north. The headshunt had been disconnected from the mainline and the siding removed completely. Work has begun on building a new relay room at the right of the photo.
A very similar view to the previous one except this one shows a hole in the ground which will become the foundations for a new signal.

15.3.04

A week later and the foundations had been poured at the spot where the digger was standing. In the background 158748 approached the junction on its journey from Cardiff.
It didn't stop and zoomed through the station. The bloke on the right is carrying shuttering used in making the concrete foundations visible in the previous photos.
There was a lot of cabling going on, including this run behind platform 2.
158869 passed through with a Cardiff service.

April

4.4.04

The view north now shows work being done by diggers on the left.
There were lots of new foundations going in on this side too, these were for an addition to the footbridge.
The relay and new signal had been installed, although out of use.
Looking south and the foundations for the new platform edge were in place as well as piles of breeze blocks ready for construction to start.
New lengths of CWR have been dropped off.
Another view south.
A closer look at the foundations that had gone in ready for building the new platform edge.
The view towards Stanley Farm Footbridge. The trackbed of the new alignment was still being worked on.

10.4.04

A couple of Class 66 powered ballast trains waited in the rain during an engineering possession over Easter. For photos of what's going on in the background please visit the Stanley Farm Footbridge page.
66120 waits its turn of duty in dreadful conditions.
The platform edge had started to take shape.
The foundations for the extension to the footbridge were proceeding rapidly.

19.4.04

The biggest changes since my last visit had been the arrival of the footbridge extension and work had started on a new footpath into the station. (the original footpath follows the alignment of the new railway)
Another view. The extension was put into place at 6am on Sunday 18th April 2004.
The footbridge was to connect to a new footpath being built further to the north of the original one.
The view north from the footbridge. The alignment of the new footpath can be seen under construction on the far left of this photo.
The view from outside the station showing the new footpath being constructed.
The view from the Bristol end of the station with Stanley Farm Footbridge visible in the background. Spoil was being excavated in readiness for track panels to be put in place.
The view in the opposite direction. The construction of a new platform takes place.

30.4.04

Work continued on constructing a new footpath.
Before long this view became impossible to get unless sitting in the cab of a train. The old footpath was to become the alignment of the new trackbed.
66167 negotiates the junction and heads south through FAW.
The platform had been steadily backfilled.
And the trackbed had started to be dug out.
Work on the footpath as viewed from the footbridge.

May

10.5.04

150241 stands at the station. The mosaic is still standing, but fenced off ready for demolition.
The new footpath had had fenceposts added.
A Voyager gave a blast of its horn and accelerated hard through the station.

24.5.04

Tracklaying had started and had reached the new platform.
The footbridge extension and new footpath were open and the old footpath was being dug up in readiness for tracklaying to commence.
The trackbed work viewed from the new footpath.
Piles of sleepers had been delivered in readiness for laying.
The far end of the footpath had already disappeared under a pile of machinery and supplies.
A look at the new footpath.

June

10.6.04

The trackwork was complete through the station and was being ballasted and compacted. The back-filling of the platform was almost complete and was being readied for its top surface.
Another look along the new platform. At the far end the final platform edge is being put into place.
Some track panels had been dumped on the embankment behind the new trackwork.
Looking north from the footbridge. A new crossover had been assembled ready for positioning during a forthcoming engineering blockade.
Heavy duty machinery lifted two sleepers at a time and placing them in position.
Further along ballasting was taking place and every time a skip load of ballast was unloaded a great cloud of dust enveloped anyone walking along the station footpath.
A brand new buffer stop had been delivered and was sitting on top of a pile of sleepers in the carpark. This was going on the end of a safety overrun being built on the down lines.

15.6.04

66211 waited at the south of the station after hauling a crane on-site.
The crane.
The view south. The up line was in the process of being completely renewed while the platform had been completely stripped of furniture and was being prepared for it's top layer.
The view north. 66064 was at the head of a train being loaded with spoil.

18.6.04

Work continued on the new platform.
The new junction had been lifted into place and ballasted.
The platform was being prepared for the opening while a pile of new lights waited for installation.
66042 arrived with a ballast train.

25.6.04 Three days to go before the official opening!

The platform was being surfaced and new waiting shelters have been erected.
Everywhere I looked was a frenzy of activity.
New signs had arrived.
The junction was being checked and re-checked and the signalling tested. In the background a stoneblower was at work.
The new buffer stop in place.
Lots of people were stood around holding pens and bits of paper while watching other people do the work!

29.6.04 Station now reopened!

The view towards Bristol showing the completed platform 3.
The view north and a much tidier junction compared to my last visit.
143618 calls at the new platform 3 with a service for Cardiff.
The view along the widened platform.
158865 sets off from platform 2.

July

A commemorative plaque celebrating the opening of the new platform.

2007

21.3.07

A ticket machine was installed, but out of use.
143603 sets fire to the station on the same day.
A disgracefully filthy 143603 collecting passengers.
I was pleasantly surprised by 47813 making an appearance.

14.5.07

143620 arrives at the station with a service from Weston Super Mare.
The same unit has reversed on the Filton Chord and stands on platform 1 before heading south.
A then newly repainted 150249 arrives at the station with a service for Cardiff.
158776 with a service for Great Malvern.
158867 heads south.
158869 with a Cardiff service.
A track machine trundles through.

2016

The station has had cycle storage added to the platforms. 30.6.16

2018

April and May 2018

A couple of images showing a fourth platform being constructed.
Over the weekend of 12th May the track for platform 3 was slewed over to make room for the installation of the fourth track.
Work continues on the construction of the fourth platform.
June 2018