Transport
The Severn Estuary has an important intermodal transport network bordering its shores. This network has been influenced by the geography and topography of the region and it reflects both the historic and economic developments and requirements of the Estuary over the years.
One of Wales’ main national road and rail network routes runs parallel to the south coast acting as a corridor; joining Wales with Ireland, England and the rest of Europe. The network of roads, railways and ports was initially developed to serve the industrial needs of the South Wales Valleys in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today the road and rail transport networks around the Severn Estuary link the Welsh valleys to the city centres and port areas of Newport, Cardiff and Swansea, whilst in England they follow the main tourism, industry and conurbation districts of Weston-super-Mare, Avonmouth and Bristol.
Road
Significant volumes of road (and rail) traffic move through the Estuary, both in and around Wales and South West England; including traffic originating in both countries, as well as elsewhere. Roads are the most extensive and comprehensive of transport networks in Wales and South
West England, and hence are currently the most flexible mode of transport for freight.
The M4 and M5 motorways are key parts of the trunk road networks and are an important link for the Severn Estuary from South Wales and South West England to London, the Midlands and numerous international destinations1.
Rail
There have been significant increases in the use of the rail network on both sides of the Estuary for both freight and commuting equally. The Cheltenham to Cardiff route has experienced extra passenger numbers and figures show that the increase in station usage from 2004/5 to 2008/9 from stations at Lydney, Chepstow, Caldicot and the Severn Tunnel Junction is 55.9%2. Extra services and stops have been introduced on this route, particularly at the Severn Tunnel Junction which provides a connecting service for those commuting to Bristol from Chepstow and Lydney.
Existing rail terminals generally have good road connections for freight movements, although the addition of more terminals could reduce the potential problems caused by the ‘final mile’ of a multi-modal transit (the first or last leg of a journey at the origin or final destination). Apart from some bulk commodities, origin and destination locations of freight within Wales are often not directly connected by rail. The electrification of the Great Western Railway from London - Bristol - Cardiff will improve services to South Wales and require significant engineering works through the Severn Tunnel2. This will result in London to South Wales services being diverted via Gloucester down the Severn Estuary line whilst the work in the tunnel is carried out.
Shipping and Ports
The Severn Estuary ports are well-served by road and have generally adequate rail connections, although there is scope for development. Connections between modes of transport are important when planning the development of new port terminals. Cardiff, Newport, Bristol and Sharpness are the main ports within the Severn Estuary, responsible for handling a substantial proportion of UK trade whilst also acting as important players in the local and regional economy3. During the consultation and debate on the Severn Estuary barrage proposal and the related alternative schemes, attention was given to the detrimental effects that ports within the Severn Estuary may suffer both during the construction and operation of any proposal. In general, shipping in the UK is likely to expand as a low-carbon, economical method of both national and international trade3. For more detailed information, see the Ports & Shipping section of this report.
Bridges
The view of the Upper Severn Estuary is characterised by the two iconic Severn Bridges. The Severn Bridge and Second Severn Crossing are landmarks of the Estuary as well as major transport routes linking South Wales with South West England. The original Severn Bridge supports the M48 and joins Wales with Aust on the English side of the Estuary at the mouth of the River Wye and Chapel Island. The bridge was opened in 1966 to replace the old ferry service crossing from Aust to Beachley4.
In 1996 the Second Severn Crossing (see Fig. 1) was opened to relieve congestion on the local road network, and M5 motorway. New link motorways on the Avon and Gwent sides of the Estuary were constructed to divert the M4 motorway over the new crossing, whilst the existing route over the first bridge between Awkley in England and Rogiet in Wales was redesignated as the M48. The new bridge provides a direct link for the M4 motorway into Wales5.
Pipeline
There are a number of pipelines straddling the Severn which transport oil and gas products. On the Welsh shores, a gas pipeline links Milford Haven to Gloucestershire before joining the wider UK pipeline networks in the Midlands. Across the water, at The Bristol Port Company, fuel tankers discharge aviation fuel from ships into the Bristol Aviation Fuel Terminal which feeds directly into the UK’s fuel pipeline and storage network4.
Tunnel
The Severn Tunnel was built by the Great Western Railway (GWR) between 1873 and 18862. It is 4 miles 624 yd (approximately 7 km) long, although only 2¼ miles (3.62 km) of the tunnel is under the River Severn itself. The Severn Tunnel links South Gloucestershire in England to Monmouthshire in South Wales and is part of the main (passenger and freight) railway line between London and South West England, and South Wales.
Canal
The Severn Estuary is linked to two canals; the Monmouthshire and Brecon and the Gloucester and Sharpness canals. The Monmouthshire and Brecon canal was used during the industrial revolution to transport coal from the mines in Brecon to the docks at Newport. Today the canal is landlocked, navigable and used only for recreational activities between Cwmbran and Brecon. On the English side of the Estuary, the 16 miles of the Gloucester and Sharpness waterway (once the broadest and deepest canal in the world) bypasses the meandering upper stretches of the Severn Estuary to link the commercial port of Sharpness with Gloucester’s historic docks6 (see Fig. 3).
Despite its distance from the sea, the build specifications of the Gloucester and Sharpness canal enabled ocean going vessels to safely reach Gloucester; this allowed the county to compete with coastal docks, resulting in substantial effects on the overall development of the commercial characteristics of the town in the 19th century.
Today vessels of all sizes can navigate safely up the Estuary, through the enormous ship lock at Sharpness, continuing up the canal to Gloucester into a calmer part of the River Severn. Nowadays, many commercial ships end their journey at Sharpness, offloading their cargo for onward transport by water or road6. A variety of specialist freight and cruise ships can be seen using the canal with tall ships, Royal Navy vessels and large gravel barges being just some of the more interesting sights.
Airports
The Severn Estuary is serviced by regional airports on both its Welsh and English sides. Cardiff and Bristol airports operate international and domestic, chartered and scheduled flights.
Cardiff7
- No. of passengers in 2010: 1,404,6137
- 1000 employees7
- 206 ha7
With more than 50 direct destinations and over 800 one-stop destinations around the world; in excess of one million passengers per year utilise the scheduled airlines and chartered tour operators flying out of Cardiff airport. On average, up to 25 aircraft can take off and land every hour along the airports’ 2,392m long and 46m wide runway; doing so over either the sea or agricultural land to minimise the impact of noise on the neighbouring communities. It is estimated that over 1,000 jobs are provided by Cardiff airport alone, facilitating numerous aspects of the Welsh economy. Furthermore, the Welsh Government has defined an area (in which the airport lies) as a ‘centre for aviation excellence’; with various high-profile companies being located within a small radius. Public transport links include regular bus services and trains via Rhoose Cardiff Airport Station.
Since the start of 2003, Cardiff has twice been voted one of the Top 10 Best UK Airports in the Telegraph Travel Awards, with 2006 witnessing the establishment of a £7 million enhancement programme.
Bristol8
- No. of passengers in 2010: 5,747,6048
- 2,900 employees8
- 176 ha8
In 1927, following the provision of £6,000 by a group of local businessmen, (achieved through public subscriptions to inaugurate a flying club at Filton Aerodrome), initial plans for an airport at Bristol begun. 1929 saw the decision to develop a ‘fully-fledged’ airport at Bristol being practicably applied through the purchase of farmland at Whitchurch, which would act as the location for the new build. The following year, the airport was officially opened by HRH Prince George, making Bristol only the third civil airport in the whole country. Today, Bristol airport covers 176 hectares of land, providing direct flights to over 112 destinations across 29 countries. Over 2,900 employees work in 50 different businesses for Bristol Airport; with proposed expansion set to see job opportunities, passenger numbers, airport capacity and renewable energy utilisation (in the form of wind power and biomass heat generation), all increase.
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For more information see the following links: |
References
- Welsh Government. One Wales: Connecting the nation The Wales Freight Strategy May 2008
- Robert Niblett. Pers.comm. October 20th 2011
- Bristol Deep Sea Container Terminal. The Bristol Port Company Environmental Statement. July 2008
- Severn Tidal Power SEA – Historic Environment and Landscape & Seascape Theme Paper April 2010
- Severn Tidal Power SEA – Historic Environment Topic Paper Annex 1 March 2010
- Sharpness Canal, Heritage Explorer
- Cardiff Airport
- Bristol Airport
| Last Updated 2013 |