Читать книгу Railway Day Trips: 160 classic train journeys around Britain - Julian Holland - Страница 23

Considered by some to be one of the most scenic railway lines in Europe, the branch from Bristol to Severn Beach certainly boasts a variety of scenery (some man-made) along its route. It was opened in stages between 1863 and 1922 and today’s service consists of half-hourly trains between Temple Meads station and Avonmouth, with services extended to and from Severn Beach every 2 hours.

Trains leave Temple Meads station in a northerly direction, taking the main line through Lawrence Hill and Stapleton Road stations before diverging at Narroways Junction. Here the line, now single track, heads west through suburban woodland and the short Montpelier Tunnel before calling at Montpelier station. Redland station follows, while at Clifton Down station there is a passing loop before trains plunge into the gloomy depths of mile-long Clifton Down Tunnel. Emerging high above the Clifton Gorge, trains run alongside this winding and tidal stretch of the River Avon through Sea Mills and Shirehampton stations before reaching Avonmouth.

From Avonmouth the scenery becomes more spectacularly man-made in the shape of chemical factories, an LPG terminal and the gigantic coal discharging plant close to St Andrews Road station. Looking more like a giant Anthony Caro sculpture, this brightly coloured structure is used for loading imported coal onto merry-go-round coal trains destined for distant power stations. To the north, freight trains take the Henbury Loop Line at Hallen Marsh Junction while our diesel railcar rattles along the last lonely 3 miles alongside the Severn Estuary. Disused chemical works punctuate the flat landscape before the train ends its journey at the minimal station of Severn Beach. Across the road are massive flood defence walls from which there is a panoramic view across the muddy estuary to South Wales and upstream to the new Severn Crossing. After gulping in the bracing sea air, taking a riverside walk and enjoying an ice cream it is time to retrace our steps back to Temple Meads.

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

bird watching; conger fishing; views of Severn Crossing road bridge; Severn Way long-distance path

FREQUENCY OF TRAINS

1 every 2 hours (Mon-Sat and summer Sundays)

2 per day (winter Sundays)

13½ MILES 37 MINUTES

NUMBER OF CHANGES: 0

Passengers travelling by train to Severn Beach are treated to fine views across the Severn Estuary to Wales.