Henbury
The remains of the station in 2019
General information
LocationHenbury, Bristol
England
Coordinates51°30′54″N 2°37′30″W / 51.5150°N 2.6251°W / 51.5150; -2.6251
Grid referenceST567797
Platforms2
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyGreat Western Railway
Post-groupingGreat Western Railway
Western Region of British Railways
Key dates
9 May 1910Opened
22 March 1915Closed
10 July 1922Reopened
23 November 1964Closed to passengers
5 July 1965Closed to goods

Henbury railway station served the Bristol suburb of Henbury, England, from 1910 to 1965.[1][2][3] The station was situated on the Henbury Loop Line of the Great Western Railway and was opened on 9 May 1910 for passenger services. Under the Beeching cuts, it was closed to passengers on 23 November 1964, with goods services ceasing on 5 July 1965. There is a proposal to reopen the station as part of the Greater Bristol Metro scheme.

History

Opened by the Great Western Railway on 9 May 1910,[1][2] Henbury station was situated on the Henbury Loop Line which was inaugurated on the same day.[3][4] The new line formed part of the Great Western's main route to Avonmouth Docks via Stoke Gifford Junction on the Bristol and Gloucester Railway.[4] Regular passenger services ceased to call at the station between 1915 and 1922, although it appears that unadvertised workmen's services were used by the public to reach the station.[5] In fact, a note in the list of stations issued by the Railway Clearing House in 1921 stated that "Season Ticket and Ordinary Passengers are conveyed".[2] The station was publicly advertised again from 10 July 1922.[5]

Henbury station was listed for closure by the Beeching report[6] and it duly closed to passengers on 23 November 1964,[1] with goods services being withdrawn as from 5 July 1965.[7]

The station's former goods yard was sold at auction in October 2008 by BRB (Residuary) Limited after South Gloucestershire Council had declined to make an offer.[8][9]

Preceding station Historical railways Following station
Hallen Halt
Line open, station closed 		  Great Western Railway
Henbury Loop Line 		  Charlton Halt
Line open, station closed

Future

Improved services on the Severn Beach Line are called for as part of the MetroWest scheme, a rail transport plan which aims to enhance transport capacity in the Bristol area.[10][11][12] It has been suggested that Henbury railway station be reopened as part of the scheme, with the possibility of services running from Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Parkway via Clifton Down and Henbury.[13] The Metro scheme was given the go-ahead in July 2012 as part of the City Deal, whereby local councils would be given greater control over money by the government.[14][15]

In January 2018, it was revealed that the reopened station would be on a new site rather than the former site (referred to as Henbury West) due to high costs. The opening date was pencilled in for May 2021,[16] but has been delayed. The new station will be located close to the A4018 with access by foot, cycle, bus and car. It will link in with the Fishpool Hill development proposed by Persimmon, and will be served by an hourly service between Henbury and Bristol Temple Meads. It will be an unstaffed terminus station with one platform and trains will travel eastbound towards Bristol Temple Meads via Filton Abbey Wood, with new stations at North Filton and Ashley Down.[17]

Planning permission for the new station, which is expected to open in 2026, was applied for on 21 August 2023.[18]

Preceding station Future services Following station
Terminus   Great Western Railway
Henbury Loop Line 		  North Filton

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Butt 1995, p. 118.
  2. ^ a b c Quick 2009, p. 209.
  3. ^ a b Oakley, Mike (2006). Bristol Railway Stations 1840-2005. Redcliffe. pp. 70–71. ISBN 978-1-904537-54-0.
  4. ^ a b Christiansen 1981, p. 41.
  5. ^ a b Clinker 1978, note 559 on p. 157.
  6. ^ Beeching 1963, p. 117.
  7. ^ Clinker 1978, p. 19.
  8. ^ White, James (12 December 2008). "Henbury rail loop and the sale of the former goods yard" (PDF). West of England Partnership. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Call for better deal on Bristol public transport as station sold to private company". This is Bristol. 6 November 2008. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  10. ^ White, James (13 March 2009). "Item 04: Greater Bristol Metro" (PDF). West of England Partnership. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  11. ^ "Campaign for trains from Bristol Temple Meads every half hour". This is Bristol. Northcliffe Media. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  12. ^ "Transport Minister hears calls for better Bristol train service". This is Bristol. Northcliffe Media. 17 October 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  13. ^ "Our Case". Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  14. ^ Ribbeck, Michael (6 July 2012). "£100 million Bristol Metro train network by 2016". The Post, Bristol. Northcliffe Media. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  15. ^ "MetroWest" (PDF). TravelWest. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  16. ^ "North Bristol to get new rail station as part of Henbury line reopening - Bristol Live".
  17. ^ "North Filton and Henbury train stations". Travelwest. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  18. ^ Ross, Alex (21 August 2023). "'Exciting' update on brand new railway station for Bristol suburb". Bristol World. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

Sources

External links

Rail infrastructure projects in the United Kingdom
Transport in Gloucestershire
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