Nailsea and Backwell railway station

Nailsea and Backwell railway station, on the Bristol to Exeter line, is in the village of Backwell, close to the town of Nailsea in North Somerset, England. It is 8 miles (13 km) west of Bristol Temple Meads railway station, and 126 miles (203 km) from London Paddington. The station, opened in 1841 by the Bristol and Exeter Railway, has two platforms but little in the way of facilities. It is managed by Great Western Railway, the seventh company to be responsible for the station, and the third franchise since privatisation in 1997. The company provides all train services at the station, mainly hourly services between Bristol Parkway and Weston-super-Mare, and between Cardiff Central and Taunton.

Nailsea and Backwell
Looking east along the platforms.
Location	Backwell, North Somerset England
Coordinates	51.41952°N 2.75030°W / 51.41952; -2.75030
Grid reference	ST479692
Managed by	Great Western Railway
Platforms	2
Other information
Station code	NLS
Classification	DfT category F2
History
Original company	Bristol and Exeter Railway
Pre-grouping	Great Western Railway
Post-grouping	Great Western Railway
Key dates
14 June 1841	Opened as ‘Nailsea’
1 July 1964	Closed to goods traffic
Passengers
2016/17	0.504 million
2017/18	0.507 million
2018/19	0.498 million
2019/20	0.520 million
2020/21	85,382
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

. . . Nailsea and Backwell railway station . . .

The station sits atop an embankment about 40 feet (12 m) high,[1] and spans the main road between the towns of Backwell and Nailsea, which narrows to a signal-controlled single lane to go under the railway. The station is on the Bristol to Exeter line, 126 miles 34 chains (203.46 km) from London Paddington and 8 miles 1 chain (12.89 km) from Bristol Temple Meads.[2][Note 1] It the third station along the line from Bristol.[3] Nailsea is a short distance to the north, while the outskirts of Backwell are right against the south side of the station. The two settlements are primarily residential, and are, for large proportions of their residents, dormitory towns for Bristol.[4]

The station has two platforms, separated by two running lines. The line runs on a slight curve through the station, at an angle of roughly 067 degrees,[5] and has a linespeed of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). The northern platform, platform 2, is 121 metres (132 yd) long and serves eastbound trains; the southern platform, platform 1, is 122 metres (133 yd) and serves westbound trains.[6] Access to the two platforms is by steps from the road on either side. There is a ramp to the eastbound platform, but it has a gradient greater than 1 in 12, and there is no ramp access to trains. There is no ramp access to the westbound platform. Access between the platforms is either by a footbridge, or by walking along the main road under the line.[7] There are metal and glass waiting shelters on both platforms – three on the eastbound platform, one on the westbound.[1] Two ticket machines are situated on the north side of the station, which can also be used to collect pre-bought tickets. These machines are supplemented by a small ticket kiosk on the eastbound platform which is open during the morning peak.[7] “Next train” dot-matrix displays and an automated public-address system announce approaching services.

To the north of the station is a pay and display car park with 285 car parking spaces, six motorcycle spaces and a number of cycle racks.[8] Cycle storage is also available.[7] The car park is run by North Somerset Council.[9] There is a bus stop adjacent to the car park, with services between Bristol and Nailsea.[10]

. . . Nailsea and Backwell railway station . . .

. . . Nailsea and Backwell railway station . . .