| Press release from Pilning Posted by grahame at 16:58, 31st March 2025 |     |
Well - I've posted in "Bristol (WECA) Commuters" even though commuting from Pilning by train is well nigh impossible these days unless you have a Saturday job.
PRESS RELEASE
OUTRAGE OVER MISSING ENTRANCE GATE AT PILNING STATION
Local residents are furious over the recent theft of the entrance gate at Pilning station—a crime that underscores the neglect and vulnerability of the station in its current state. Once again, the lack of essential facilities and services at Pilning has created an environment where criminal acts go unchecked.
Pilning Station Group Chair Olga Taylor said,
“If Pilning station were treated as a fully functioning station—with proper CCTV surveillance, regular stopping services, a safe and accessible footbridge, and a steady stream of passengers— such blatant vandalism or theft would be far less likely to occur. Instead, the station remains forgotten and undervalued, leaving it open to these disgraceful incidents.”
“Pilning deserves better. It is high time for investment and revitalization, not just to deter criminal activities but to serve as a proper transportation hub for the community.”
GWR have been approached for comment.
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
a) Pilning is located on the South Wales Main Line and is the last station in England before the Severn Tunnel. Its service suffered progressive rundown and was reduced in 2006 to one train each way on Saturdays only. Trains can only call during daylight hours as the station lighting has been removed.
b) Despite stiff local opposition, the station’s footbridge was controversially demolished in 2016 to make way for electrification wires, cutting off access to the westbound platform altogether and rendering the service “one direction only” (towards Bristol). To return, passengers have to go through the Severn Tunnel into Wales, change at Severn Tunnel Junction and return the way they have just come, extending a 20-minute journey to one-hour-plus.
Further information and background: see www.pilningstation.uk
OUTRAGE OVER MISSING ENTRANCE GATE AT PILNING STATION
Local residents are furious over the recent theft of the entrance gate at Pilning station—a crime that underscores the neglect and vulnerability of the station in its current state. Once again, the lack of essential facilities and services at Pilning has created an environment where criminal acts go unchecked.
Pilning Station Group Chair Olga Taylor said,
“If Pilning station were treated as a fully functioning station—with proper CCTV surveillance, regular stopping services, a safe and accessible footbridge, and a steady stream of passengers— such blatant vandalism or theft would be far less likely to occur. Instead, the station remains forgotten and undervalued, leaving it open to these disgraceful incidents.”
“Pilning deserves better. It is high time for investment and revitalization, not just to deter criminal activities but to serve as a proper transportation hub for the community.”
GWR have been approached for comment.
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
a) Pilning is located on the South Wales Main Line and is the last station in England before the Severn Tunnel. Its service suffered progressive rundown and was reduced in 2006 to one train each way on Saturdays only. Trains can only call during daylight hours as the station lighting has been removed.
b) Despite stiff local opposition, the station’s footbridge was controversially demolished in 2016 to make way for electrification wires, cutting off access to the westbound platform altogether and rendering the service “one direction only” (towards Bristol). To return, passengers have to go through the Severn Tunnel into Wales, change at Severn Tunnel Junction and return the way they have just come, extending a 20-minute journey to one-hour-plus.
Further information and background: see www.pilningstation.uk
| Re: Press release from Pilning Posted by ChrisB at 17:30, 31st March 2025 | |
Graham - can I suggest you turn off your predictive text? It doesn't work, I suggest you request a refund!
| Re: Press release from Pilning Posted by grahame at 17:47, 31st March 2025 | |
Graham - can I suggest you turn off your predictive text? It doesn't work, I suggest you request a refund! 
I have just corrected a couple of things ... thanks for the ping
| Re: Press release from Pilning Posted by IndustryInsider at 17:49, 31st March 2025 | |
Graham - can I suggest you turn off your predictive text? It doesn't work, I suggest you request a refund!
Pot. Kettle.
| Re: Press release from Pilning Posted by ChrisB at 17:56, 31st March 2025 | |
Nah - fat fingers, mine!
| Re: Press release from Pilning Posted by Western Pathfinder at 21:07, 31st March 2025 | |
So for the time being,the access at Pilning has been improved!...
| Re: Press release from Pilning Posted by grahame at 17:23, 1st April 2025 | |
"On this day" has reminded me of SEWWEB - http://www.sewweb.info/april2018.html
Personal view: There remains a logical case for a passenger station at Pilning to service the catchments / flows identified in the not-really-joke. But the case is very much harder if not impossible to make if you don't provide for / encourage those new flows and limit yourself to the traffic from within the current local community and at the current awkward station site.
| Re: Press release from Pilning Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:31, 1st April 2025 | |
Hmm.
Yesterday evening, I found myself chatting with a red squirrel, over a beer, about Pilning station. We agreed that it hopefully does have a future - but it's possibly not in quite the right location.
CfN.
