The Henbury Loop Line, also known as the Filton to Avonmouth Line is a railway line following the boundary between Bristol and South Gloucestershire between the Severn Beach Line at Hallen Marsh Junction, Avonmouth and the Cross Country Route/South Wales Main Line at Filton. It is currently only used for freight but there are plans for it to be returned to passenger use as part of the Greater Bristol Metro project.
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South Gloucestershire Council’s Core Strategy planning blueprint document proposes the safeguarding of land for new/re-opened stations on the line at Henbury and Filton. These would provide part of the transport infrastructure necessary to support the building of a new neighbourhood in the Cribbs/Patchway area, mainly on land that is currently occupied by Filton Airfield.
BAE Systems announced in April 2010 that it intended to close Filton Airfield and South Gloucestershire Council has identified it as a site where 2,500 new homes could be built along with 55ha of employment use,
The Filton station would be on the site of the former North Filton Platform, which was closed in 1964.
The Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) and other local rail campaign groups support the reopening of the line to passengers, as well as the stations at North Filton and Henbury.
However, the plans so far announced are only for a ‘Henbury Spur’ line, not the full loop line that would link Filton and Henbury up with Avonmouth, Shirehampton, Lawrence Weston – and complete the circle line round the city.
Bristol North West MP Charlotte Leslie has started a petition that calls for a full Henbury ‘Loop’ service to be introduced:
“We, the under-signed, believe that a Henbury ‘spur’ would be a disastrously missed opportunity of a generation; that a Henbury Loop Line would not only be well used, but transform Bristol’s transport infrastructure; and want to make the strongest possible case for demand for a Loop not a spur.”
Read more:
- Why we need a Henbury Loop line (petition)
- Campaign to Re-open the Henbury Loop Line (Facebook)
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Henbury Loop Line in the Media
War of words breaks out over what’s delaying Henbury Loop
Bristol Post | 16th March 2015
A new rail line for Bristol called the Henbury Loop could be brought forward if the region’s Local Enterprise Partnership identified it as a priority, according to Transport Secretary Patrick McLouglin.
Funding secured for Henbury Loop line; but Bristol Port Company holds key to reopening it to passengers
Bristol Post | 13th February 2015
The Bristol Port company holds the key to reopening the Henbury train loop line to passengers, it has emerged. Funding for reopening the line has been secured and work will begin in 2020, according to the West of England Partnership.
Bristol Port ‘hostile’ to the Henbury Loop
Bristol Post | 4th August 2014
Bristol MP and transport campaigner Charlotte Leslie is calling for urgent talks with the Bristol Port after it emerged the company is “hostile” to the reopening of so-called Henbury Loop Line.
Metro trains now move closer
Bristol Post | 25th January 2013
Plans for a Bristol Metro rail system have moved a step closer as the city council’s cabinet agreed to put up funding. Almost £1.8 million of investment was approved by mayor George Ferguson to prepare for work on reopening lines and stations in 2015.
New hope for Metro rail system for Bristol
Bristol Post | 30th November 2012
Bristol North West Tory MP Charlotte Leslie, who led a cross-party delegation of city and regional MPs to meet transport minister Simon Burns last week, has now been given official confirmation that the Government has been convinced that it needs to look at the case for the so-called Henbury Loop Line – a rail link from a re-opened Henbury station to the Severn Beach line.
£1 billion jackpot will fund long-awaited Bristol Metro train network
Bristol Post | 5th July 2012
A £1 billion City Deal will provide money to pay for the long-awaited Bristol Metro train network. Control over transport budgets will also be given to council leaders, who will no longer need to seek Whitehall approval for individual schemes.
Campaigners raise questions over Henbury rail route
Bristol Post | 28th March 2012
Concerns have been raised about a railway route known as the ‘Henbury Loop’ being left off a blueprint for the future of local rail.