Avonmouth railway station

File:2019 at Avonmouth station - platform 2.JPG

The station is located in the Avonmouth district of Bristol, an area of mixed industrial and residential usage. The station sits to the south of the junction of Gloucester Road and Portview Road, the tracks running to parallel to Portview Road and crossing Gloucester Road at a level crossing.{{cite book |title=OS Landranger Map 172 – Bristol & Bath |year=2008 |publisher=Ordnance Survey |location=Southampton |isbn=978-0-319-22914-9}}{{cite book|title=A-Z Bristol and Bath Deluxe|publisher=Geographers' A-Z Map Co. Ltd.|year=2003|edition=2nd|location=Sevenoaks, Kent|isbn=1-84348-099-9}} The station is on the Severn Beach Line from {{rws|Bristol Temple Meads}} to {{rws|Severn Beach}}, {{convert|9|mi|02|chain|km}} from Temple Meads and {{convert|4|mi|42|chain|km}} from Severn Beach.{{#tag:ref|{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/elrs/_mileages/c/cnx.shtm|title=Engineers' Line References: CNX Clifton Extension Line|access-date=22 October 2014|author=Deaves, Phil}}Note that this refers to the station by its original name, Avonmouth Dock.|name="CNX"}}{{#tag:ref|{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/elrs/_mileages/a/amb.shtm|title=Engineers' Line References: AMB Avonmouth Branch|access-date=21 October 2014|author=Deaves, Phil}}|name="AMB"}}Railways in the United Kingdom are, for historical reasons, measured in miles and chains. There are 80 chains to the mile. The next station towards Temple Meads is Portway Park and Ride.{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-64802095 |date = 28 February 2023 |title = Bristol Portway railway station due to open this summer |work = BBC News |access-date = 14 June 2023}} The next station towards Severn Beach is {{rws|St Andrews Road}}.{{cite book |first=S.K. |last=Baker |title=Rail Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland |edition=12th |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-86093-632-9 |publisher=Ian Allan |page=28}}

The station is on a north-west/south-east alignment, with two platforms separated by two running lines. The southern "up" platform, adjacent to the "Up Main" line, is used for trains towards Severn Beach. The northern "down" platform, adjacent to the "Down Main" line, is bidirectionally signalled, allowing it to be used by terminating trains and those heading towards Bristol. Both platforms have significant portions of their length fenced off, giving usable lengths of {{convert|91|yd|m}} for the southern platform and {{convert|70|yd|m}} for the northern.{{cite web |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/baseline%20capability/track%20and%20route%20mileage,%20permissible%20line%20speeds/table%20a_track_and_route%20miles_linespeed_western%20route.pdf |title=Network Capability – Baseline Declaration: (1) Track and Route mileage: (2) Line-speeds: Western Route |publisher=Network Rail |date=1 April 2009 |access-date=11 October 2013 |page=178 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014210923/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/baseline%20capability/track%20and%20route%20mileage,%20permissible%20line%20speeds/table%20a_track_and_route%20miles_linespeed_western%20route.pdf |archive-date=14 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}

Facilities at the station are minimal – there is a wooden canopy and bench seating on the northern platform, with a small metal shelter on the southern. Timetable information is provided; help points show next train information and allow users to contact railway staff. There is no ticket office or other means for buying or collecting tickets, however an electronic ticketing trial is to be rolled out at the station. There is a car park with six spaces, as well as stands for four bicycles.{{cite web |url= http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/avn/details.aspx |title=Station facilities for Avonmouth (AVN)|publisher=National Rail |access-date=31 March 2015}} The nearest bus stops are {{convert|150|m|yd}} away on Avonmouth Road.{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/posters/AVN.pdf|title=Avonmouth Station: Onward Travel Information|publisher=Network Rail|year=2014|access-date=31 March 2015}}

The line through Avonmouth has a speed limit of {{convert|30|mph|kph}} for locomotive-hauled trains and {{convert|50|mph|kph}} for diesel multiple units. The line, which is not electrified, handles less than 5 million train tonnes per year, has a loading gauge of W6 and a route availability of 7.{{cite web|url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3111_Route_2013_Great_Western_Main_Line.pdf |title=Route 13: Great Western Main Line |year=2006 |access-date=20 October 2014 |publisher=Network Rail |at=Figures 3, 6 and 8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014212403/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3111_Route_2013_Great_Western_Main_Line.pdf |archive-date=14 October 2013 }} {{as of|2014|alt=In the 2013/14 financial year}}, more than 110,000 passengers used Avonmouth station, making it the 1,635th busiest station in the country and the sixth busiest within the Bristol unitary authority area. This was an increase of 175% from the 2002–03 financial year, and reflected a general rise in usage of the Severn Beach Line.{{cite web|url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/xls/stat_usage.xls |title=Station Usage Estimates 2002/03 |publisher=Office of Rail and Road |access-date=23 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010205/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/xls/stat_usage.xls |archive-date=28 September 2007 }}{{cite web|url=http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/excel_doc/0018/15363/station-usage-2013-14-data.xls|title=Station Usage Estimates 2013/14|date=4 December 2014 |publisher=Office of Rail and Road|access-date=31 March 2015}}Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Avonmouth, from Office of Rail and Road statistics. Methodology may vary year on year. The 2014-15 estimates of station usage saw a further increase of 8% to 120,000 making it the 1,614th busiest station in the country.{{cite web|url=http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/excel_doc/0019/20179/Estimates-of-Station-Usage-in-2014-15.xlsx|title=Station Usage Estimates 2014/15|date=14 December 2015 |publisher=Office of Rail and Road|access-date=2016-02-16}}

File:Avonmouth - GWR 166218 Severn Beach service.JPG at Avonmouth with a Severn Beach service]]

All services at Avonmouth are operated by Great Western Railway using {{brc|166}} Turbo DMUs.{{cite press release|url=http://www.firstgroupplc.com/news-and-media/latest-news/2017/03-07-17b.aspx|title= Massive increase in Bristol train seats begins today |publisher=FirstGroup|date=3 July 2017|access-date=5 July 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/news/34608/modern-trains-new-technology-bristol-rail-passengers/|title=Modern trains and new technology for Bristol rail passengers|date=11 July 2017|access-date=14 August 2017|work=Global Railway Review|publisher=Russell Publishing}}{{cite journal | author = Salveson, Paul | editor = Abell, Paul | date = June 2012 | title = Severn Beach: Not your typical branch line! | journal = Today's Railways UK | issue =126 | pages =42–47 | location =Sheffield | publisher =Platform 5 }}

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:{{cite web|url=https://www.gwr.com/~/media/gwr/pdfs/plan-journey/timetables/2021/december/b9-1212.pdf?la=en|title=Train times: Bristol Temple Meads and Weston-super-Mare to Avonmouth and Severn Beach|work=Great Western Railway|access-date=13 December 2021}}

• 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Bristol Temple Meads}} of which 1 continues to {{stnlnk|Weston-super-Mare}}
• 1 tph to {{stnlnk|Severn Beach}}

On Sundays, there is an hourly service between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach with one train per day to and from Weston-super-Mare.

Services previously ran every 40 minutes to Bristol and every two hours to Severn Beach but were increased to half-hourly to Bristol and hourly to Severn Beach in the December 2021 timetable change.

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File:Avonmouth rly map 1914.png Atlas of 1914 shows the then-extensive railway network around Avonmouth.]]

The railways first came to Avonmouth in 1865, when services began on the Bristol Port Railway and Pier (BPRP), a self-contained railway which ran along the north bank of the River Avon to a deep water pier on the Severn Estuary. The BPRP line ran through the site of the current station and {{convert|1|mi|72|chain|km}} beyond to a terminus at the first Avonmouth station. The BPRP ran into trouble by 1871 when the terminal pier at Avonmouth became difficult to use due to a build-up of silt. With no prospect of a proper dock being funded without a connection to the national rail network, the Clifton Extension Railway (CER) was approved. This was a joint venture by the BPRP, Great Western Railway (GWR) and Midland Railway (MR) which ran from Sneyd Park Junction, south of {{rws|Sea Mills}}, via {{rws|Clifton Down}}, to join up with the national network at Narroways Hill Junction.{{cite book|title=The Bristol Port Railway and Pier|author=Maggs, Colin|author-link=Colin Maggs|year=1975|publisher=The Oakwood Press|pages=3–7, 10–12, 15–18, 23–24, 47–51}}{{rp|page=12}} The link opened in 1877, but initially only for goods trains. The route from Sneyd Park Junction to Clifton Down was subsequently cleared for passenger use on 3 August 1878, but the Midland and Great Western Railways did not think the BPRP track was in a suitable condition and so refused to run any passenger trains beyond Clifton Down.{{rp|page=49}}

The station, originally known as Avonmouth Dock, was opened in 1877, shortly after the opening of the Avonmouth Docks in February that year. It was built on, or very near to, the site of a halt built in 1868 for the Docks' construction workers.{{#tag:ref|{{cite book|title=Bristol Railway Stations 1840–2005|publisher=Redcliffe Press|author=Oakley, Mike|author-link=Mike Oakley|pages=42–44|year=2006|isbn=1-904537-54-5}}|name="Oakley"}} The local area was still mostly rural – there were a few buildings around the station area, as well as the docks, with the closest extent of the Bristol conurbation {{convert|1|mi|km}} away at Shirehampton.{{cite web|url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15&lat=51.5025&lon=-2.6994&layers=1|title=Ordnance Survey One Inch map, sheet 264|date=1898|publisher=Ordnance Survey|access-date=22 September 2015}} The station cost £275 to build, and was merely a platform on the south side of the single track, served by eight trains per day between {{rws|Hotwells}} and the BPRP's Avonmouth terminus, increasing to ten per day from 1887.{{rp|page=24}} The Great Western and Midland Railways considered the station inadequate for the passenger numbers expected, and so purchased additional land to enhance the station with extra tracks. The new station comprised a wide island platform – the northern face on the original through line, the southern face being for a new terminal line. The station, now known as Avonmouth Dock Joint, was constructed using mainly wood and corrugated iron. It was opened on 1 September 1885, coinciding with the beginning of passenger services beyond Clifton Down. The Great Western initially offered six trains per day each direction between Avonmouth Dock and {{rws|Bristol Temple Meads}}. Fearing competition, the BPRP did not allow passengers to use GWR services between its stations. The Midland Railway did not run any passenger services beyond Clifton Down, apart from a one-month trial service in September 1885.{{cite book|title=Rail Centres: Bristol (#21)|author=Maggs, Colin G|author-link=Colin Maggs|year=2008|orig-year=First published 1981|publisher=Booklaw Publications|location=Nottingham|edition=3rd|pages=15–17, 40–42, 107–108|isbn=978-1-901945-30-0}}{{rp|page=41}} Despite the increased traffic the BPRP suffered financially, and was taken over by the CER in 1890.{{rp|pages=10–11}} The BPRP's Avonmouth terminus closed to the public in 1902, after which all trains terminated at Avonmouth Dock.

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The station went through numerous enhancements in the first part of the twentieth century. A new platform canopy and urinal were provided in 1900 at a cost of £250. Further improvements followed in 1902 at a cost of £80; and in August 1904 significant enhancements to the station buildings and an extension of the platform cost a total of £1,570. A {{convert|60|ft|m}} turntable was constructed in December 1903; with a signal box, known as Avonmouth Dock Passenger, installed at the end of the platform. Dedicated goods staff were employed from the start of 1904, with that year also seeing the installation of a run-around loop for the terminal platform. A small engine shed was added in January 1905. In 1910, some passenger trains once again began to run beyond Avonmouth Dock, continuing towards {{rws|Henbury}} on the newly opened Henbury Loop Line, which allowed goods trains to the docks to avoid the steep Clifton Down Tunnel.{{rp|page=49}} Other trains arrived from London via the loop, connecting with steamer services to Canada and Jamaica.{{rp|page=40}} At this point there were 17 trains from Bristol to Avonmouth Dock and 15 back each day; increasing to 21 and 19 respectively by 1920.{{rp|page=49}} The station was well-staffed, with 25 station staff and 47 goods staff in 1913. Positions included stationmaster; booking clerks; posters; and outdoor porters, who took goods to ships in the docks.{{rp|page=47}}

During the First World War, an Army Remount Service depot was located near Shirehampton. Over the course of the war, Avonmouth Dock Joint handled 35,000 animals, mainly horses and mules, en route to the depot. July 1917 saw the introduction of platform tickets, to capitalise on people using the station to bid farewell to friends heading overseas, or to welcome those returning. The platform was lengthened to {{convert|330|ft|m}} in December 1917. A second through track was added in 1918, and so a new cinder-covered platform was built on the north side of the line. The two platforms were linked by a footbridge and a level crossing. The cost of the new platform and the lengthening works was £7,420.

After the war, construction of the Bristol Portway along the Avon Gorge necessitated the closure of the line from Sneyd Park Junction to Hotwells, with trains along it ceasing on 3 July 1922. By this point there were nine trains per day from Hotwells, and eight return. To compensate for the loss of service, the Great Western provided an additional four trains daily from Avonmouth Dock to Bristol and six return. In 1923, grouping resulted in the Midland Railway being absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS), and the line continued in a joint arrangement between the Great Western and the LMS.{{rp|page=49}} The engine shed was closed in 1924.

By the mid-1920s, the station was proving inadequate for the passenger numbers, and so work began on a comprehensive rebuild in 1926. The new buildings were made of brick; with a large, four-chimneyed building containing most of the facilities; as well as a separate parcels office. The northern platform had a wooden awning built, which is still in place today.

From 1928 many services to Avonmouth Dock were extended to {{rws|Severn Beach}}.{{rp|page=49}} By 1947, just before the railways were nationalised, there were 33 services each direction between Avonmouth Dock and Temple Meads, with 18 on Sundays.{{rp|page=41}} Some trains made circular trips to and from Temple Meads via Clifton Down and Henbury or {{rws|Pilning}}.

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File:Avonmouth station, 1992 geograph-3244012-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

When the railways were nationalised in 1948, services at Avonmouth Dock came under the aegis of the Western Region of British Railways. By 1955, service levels had decreased slightly to 28 trains per day from Bristol and 29 return, but the services were at regular intervals. Passenger numbers however dropped sharply in 1961 as the result of a fare increase, and so in 1962 a new reduced timetable was enacted, which lost more passengers. A year later in 1963, the Beeching report suggested the complete withdrawal of services along the line, but ultimately only those beyond Severn Beach or via Henbury were withdrawn. Goods services from the station ended on 20 June 1966, the same day that the station was renamed "Avonmouth".{{Butt-Stations |page=22 }} The bay platform was taken out of use and the land later taken for industrial buildings. From 17 July 1967 all staffing was withdrawn from stations along the line, including Avonmouth, with tickets issued by the train guard.{{rp|pages=49–51}} The station buildings on the island platform survived into the 1970s, as did the footbridge, but with the exception of the parcels office, all were later demolished.{{cite web|url=http://bristol-rail.co.uk/wiki/File:Avonmouth1970s-1.jpg|title=Avonmouth station in the 1970s|author=Andy Kirkham|publisher=Bristol Railway Archive|access-date=11 September 2015|date = 1970s}}{{cite book|title=Branch Lines Around Avonmouth: Hotwells, Severn Beach and via Henbury|author1=Mitchell, Vic |author2=Smith, Keith |name-list-style=amp |publisher=Middleton Press|date=2004|location=Midhurst, Sussex|isbn=1-904474-42-X}} The parcels office was in use in 2006 as a hairdressing salon. The signal box was closed in January 1969, and in September 1973 the wooden level crossing gates were replaced by automatic lifting barriers. By 1974, service had reduced to 19 trains per day in each direction, with no Sunday services to Severn Beach.{{rp|page=50}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Sunday-service-puts-smiles-faces-rail-enthusiasts/story-11245243-detail/story.html|title=Sunday service puts smiles on faces of rail enthusiasts|date=24 May 2010|access-date=16 July 2012|work= This is Bristol|publisher=Northcliffe Media}}

British Rail was split into business-led sectors in the 1980s, at which time operations at Avonmouth passed to Regional Railways. At this time, all trains ran to Severn Beach, but the service pattern was irregular. This changed in 1995 when an hourly timetable was introduced for peak times, but northbound services were terminated at Avonmouth.{{rp|page=42}}

When the railway was privatised in 1997, local services were franchised to Wales & West, which was succeeded by Wessex Trains, an arm of National Express, in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/operators/franchises.shtm|title=UK railway franchises|date=5 May 2015|access-date=6 May 2015|author=Deaves, Phil}}{{cite web|url=http://www.walesandwest.co.uk/ |title=Wales and West |publisher=Wales & West |access-date=9 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314050333/http://www.walesandwest.co.uk/ |archive-date=14 March 2012 }} Following action by Friends of Severn Beach Railway and a string of protests, services had increased to 10 per day in each direction by 2005, with Bristol City Council providing a subsidy to Wessex Trains.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/4757154.stm|title=Lobby to save Severn Beach line|date=27 February 2006|access-date=16 July 2012|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC}} The Wessex franchise was amalgamated with the Great Western franchise into the Greater Western franchise from 2006, and responsibility passed to First Great Western, a subsidiary company of FirstGroup, subsequently rebranded as Great Western Railway in 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.theironroad.net/Operator/Train-Operating-Companies/Wessex-Trains/|title=Wessex Trains |work=The Iron Road: Railway Photography by Scott Borthwick|access-date=29 September 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4523592.stm|title=FirstGroup wins rail franchises|date=13 December 2005|access-date=27 April 2012|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13351368|title=First Great Western bids for longer rail franchise deal|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=11 May 2011|access-date=27 April 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://railnews.co.uk/news/2015/09/21-the-great-western-railway-is.html|title=The Great Western Railway is back in business|date=21 September 2015|access-date=21 September 2015|work=Railnews}} A minimum service requirement was written into the franchise agreement, ensuring an hourly service along the line, and this has since been increased to three trains every two hours (25 trains per day).{{cite web|url=https://www.gwr.com/~/media/gwr/pdfs/timetables/central-6.pdf?la=en|title=Central 6 – Bristol to Severn Beach: The Severn Beach Line|date=May 2015|publisher=Great Western Railway|access-date=22 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222105552/https://www.gwr.com/~/media/gwr/pdfs/timetables/central-6.pdf?la=en|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/FRIENDS-MAKING-RAIL-DIFFERENCE/story-11231595-detail/story.html|title=Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways making rail difference|publisher=Northcliffe Media|work=This is Bristol|date=25 September 2010|access-date=14 April 2012|archive-date=13 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913111203/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/FRIENDS-MAKING-RAIL-DIFFERENCE/story-11231595-detail/story.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Campaigners-picnic-marks-rail-launch/story-11273781-detail/story.html|title=Campaigners' picnic marks rail launch|publisher=Northcliffe Media|work= This is Bristol|date=17 July 2010|access-date=14 April 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Campaigners-quick-railway-action/story-11297976-detail/story.html|title=Campaigners call for quick railway action|publisher=Northcliffe Media|work= This is Bristol|date=15 September 2010|access-date=14 April 2012}} Sunday services to Severn Beach were restored in 2010.

File:Avonmouth railway station MMB 03.jpg

The final remaining station building, the old parcels office, was demolished in 2015. Local rail campaigners, including Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways and MP Charlotte Leslie, petitioned to prevent the demolition, however Network Rail stated that the cost of restoration was too high and that it had become a safety risk.{{cite news|url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/lost-station-buildings/story-25922187-detail/story.html|title=We have already lost too many station buildings|date=26 January 2015|access-date=15 September 2015|author=Wood, David|work=Bristol Post|publisher=Local World}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-30845919|title=Avonmouth station demolition plan fought by campaigners|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=16 January 2015|access-date=15 September 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.bristol247.com/channel/news-comment/daily/news-wire/fight-to-save-avonmouth-station-building|title=Fight to save Avonmouth station building |date=19 January 2015|access-date=15 September 2015|author=Booth, Martin|work=Bristol 24/7}}{{cite web|url=http://fosbr.org.uk/files/newsletter/FOSBR_Newsletter_89_201509.pdf|title=Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways Newsletter 89|date=September 2015|publisher=Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways|access-date=15 October 2019}}

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{{s-end}}

First Great Western declined a contractual option to continue the Greater Western passenger franchise (of which services at Avonmouth are a part) beyond 2013, citing a desire for a longer-term contract due to the impending upgrade to the Great Western Main Line. The franchise was put out to tender,{{cite magazine |last= Haigh |first= Philip |title= First leads a field of seven bidding for rail franchises |magazine=Rail Magazine |issue=694 |date=18 April 2012| pages=8–9}}{{cite news|url=http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2012/07/19-great-western-franchise-to-be.html|title=Great Western franchise to be extended|date=19 July 2012|access-date=19 July 2012|work=Railnews}}{{cite press release |title=New Great Western franchise to deliver new express trains |url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20120727a/ |publisher=Department for Transport |date=27 July 2012 |access-date=29 July 2012}} but the process was halted and later scrapped due to the fallout from the collapse of the InterCity West Coast franchise competition.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21272542|title=Great Western London to south Wales rail contest scrapped|date=31 January 2013|access-date=31 January 2013|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC}} A two-year franchise extension until September 2015 was agreed in October 2013,{{cite news|url=http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2013/10/03-first-celebrates-lastminute-great-western.html|title=First celebrates last-minute Great Western deal|work= Railnews|date=3 October 2013|access-date=4 October 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24378053|title=First Great Western retains Wales and west rail franchise|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=3 October 2013|access-date=4 October 2013}} and subsequently extended until March 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29565156|title=First Great Western offered new franchise deal|date=10 October 2014|access-date=10 October 2014|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/oct/10/firstgroup-great-western-contract-extension-rail|title=FirstGroup wins Great Western contract extension|date=10 October 2014|access-date=10 October 2014|work=The Guardian}}{{cite news|url=http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2014/10/10-updated-franchise-schedule-signals-gw.html|title=Updated franchise schedule signals GW extension|date=10 October 2014|access-date=10 October 2014|work= Railnews}}

With the coming upgrade to the Great Western Main Line, the main line from London to Bristol is due to be electrified by 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/uploadedFiles/networkrailcouk/Contents/Improvements/The_Great_Western/WesternVision.pdf |title=Modernising the Great Western |publisher=Network Rail |access-date=9 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413065743/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/uploadedFiles/networkrailcouk/Contents/Improvements/The_Great_Western/WesternVision.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2013 }} However, the electrification will not extend beyond the main lines, so Avonmouth will continue to be served by diesel trains.{{cite news |url= http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-London-line-electrified/story-11312089-detail/story.html |title=Bristol to London line to be electrified |work=This is Bristol |publisher=Northcliffe Media |date=23 July 2009 |access-date=5 April 2012}}{{cite magazine |last= Clinnick |first= Richard |title= How the West will win with new trains |magazine=Rail Magazine |issue=772 |date=15 April 2015| pages=58–59}} Stephen Williams, MP for Bristol West; and the group Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways support the electrification being extended to the Severn Beach Line.{{cite news |url= http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Rail-benefits-just-mainline/story-11304651-detail/story.html |title=Benefits of Bristol to London high-speed rail link 'must go beyond just mainline'|date=3 March 2011 |access-date=5 April 2012 |work= This is Bristol |publisher=Northcliffe Media}}{{cite web |url=http://fosbr.org.uk/files/newsletter/11autumn.pdf |title=FoSBR Newsletter |issue=78 |publisher=Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways |date=Autumn 2011 |access-date=9 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204095719/http://www.fosbr.org.uk/files/newsletter/11autumn.pdf |archive-date=4 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}

Improved services at Avonmouth are called for as part of the Greater Bristol Metro scheme, a rail transport plan which aims to enhance transport capacity in the Bristol area.{{cite web |url=http://www.westofengland.org/media/98508/item%2004%20greater%20bristol%20metro%2013%20march%202009.pdf |title=Item 04: Greater Bristol Metro |first=James |last=White |publisher=West of England Partnership |date=13 March 2009 |access-date=28 December 2011 |archive-date=15 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515034151/http://www.westofengland.org/media/98508/item%2004%20greater%20bristol%20metro%2013%20march%202009.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Campaign-trains-Bristol-Temple-Meads-half-hour/story-14446079-detail/story.html |title=Campaign for trains from Bristol Temple Meads every half hour |work=This is Bristol |publisher=Northcliffe Media |date=17 January 2012 |access-date=19 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120002540/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Campaign-trains-Bristol-Temple-Meads-half-hour/story-14446079-detail/story.html |archive-date=20 January 2012 }} There is an aspiration for half-hourly services, with trains towards Bristol terminating alternately at {{rws|Portishead}} and {{rws|Bath Spa}}, however due to the large sections of the Severn Beach Line which are single-track, and to the congested main line from Temple Meads, such frequency is not currently feasible.{{cite web |url=http://fosbr.org.uk/files/newsletter/FOSBR_Newsletter_85_Spring_2014.pdf |title=FoSBR Newsletter |issue=85 |publisher=Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways |date=April 2014 |access-date=20 November 2014 |archive-date=18 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218180439/http://fosbr.org.uk/files/newsletter/FOSBR_Newsletter_85_Spring_2014.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Transport-Minister-hears-calls-better-Bristol-train-service/story-11271683-detail/story.html|title=Transport Minister hears calls for better Bristol train service|publisher=Northcliffe Media|work= This is Bristol|date=17 October 2009|access-date=14 April 2012}} The enhancement 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.{{cite news|author=Ribbeck, Michael |publisher=Northcliffe Media |work=The Post, Bristol |date=6 July 2012 |access-date=6 July 2012 |title=£100 million Bristol Metro train network by 2016 |url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/100-million-Bristol-Metro-train-network-2016/story-16492523-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708233227/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/100-million-Bristol-Metro-train-network-2016/story-16492523-detail/story.html |archive-date= 8 July 2012 }} There are also calls for the reopening of the Henbury Loop Line, which could allow a direct service from Avonmouth to {{rws|Bristol Parkway}}.{{cite web|url=http://fosbr.org.uk/ourcase|title=Our Case|publisher=Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways|access-date=15 April 2012}} Plans for a loop were rejected by the West of England Joint Transport Board, however

Bristol City Councillors voted to send the decision back to the board for further discussion.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-33562999|title=Transport chiefs drop Henbury Loop plan|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=16 September 2015|date=17 July 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Huge-majority-rethink-decision-Henbury-Loop/story-27690968-detail/story.html|title=Huge majority back rethink on decision for Henbury Loop at a special meeting|work=Bristol Post|publisher=Local World|access-date=16 September 2015|date=28 August 2015}}

• Public transport in Bristol

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{{commons category|Avonmouth railway station}}

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{{Bristol railway stations}}

{{Transport in Bristol}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Avonmouth Railway Station}}

Category:Railway stations in Bristol

Category:DfT Category F1 stations

Category:Former Clifton Extension Railway stations

Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1885

Category:Railway stations served by Great Western Railway

Railway station

Category:Severn Beach Line

Category:Bristol Port Railway and Pier