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Bristol Rail Regeneration

Building a brighter future for Bristol’s railway

Ashley Down station in progress – platforms and lift shafts in place

Travel information

We are refurbishing Bristol West Junction, between Bristol Temple Meads and Bedminster station, affecting trains Saturday 20 to Sunday 28 January.

Please check Great Western Railway.

Ashley Down station construction

Over a two-week period in June 2023 we fully installed both platforms at our new station in Ashley Down in Bristol, with both of the lift shafts being erected by crane in October.

Over Christmas 2023 we will be installing the station footbridge, landings and stairs – working through Christmas Day and Boxing Day while the railway is closed for the usual festive shut down. We will also fully glaze the bridge and install station fencing while we have the opportunity.

From January 2024, Bristol City Council will be working on the public land for the station entrance and will start on the reinstatement of the Concorde Way footpath and cycleway. Alongside this we will be working on fitting out the station’s electrics, lighting, PA system, CCTV and ticket machines etc, as well as installing station furniture such as benches and shelters. We aim to open the new station, which sits between Stapleton Road and Filton Abbey Wood stations – in the second half of 2024.

Refurbishments at Bristol West Junction 

Preparations are underway for a nine-day refurbishment of Bristol West Junction, which lies between Bristol Temple Meads and Bedminster station. 

The bulk of the track refurbishment takes place 20 – 28 January, when we will be working 24/7 to replace old rail, crossings and points, along with the wooden beams they sit on (bearers) and sleepers. 

Components are being delivered to our Temple Gate compound from late November and follow up work will run up until the end of March 2024. 

Wooden bearers and sleepers need to be used on a like for like basis, as we are only able to renew parts of the junction at present. When we complete the full renewal of the junction in a couple of years’ time we will replace these with modern concrete components, ensuring the wooden materials are used elsewhere on the railway. 

Portway Park & Ride 

Portway Park & Ride station was opened to the public on 1 August 2023, following a ceremony on 31 July attended by the Secretary of State for Transport, the Mayor of Bristol and the Mayor of the West of England Combined Authority.

The £5.8m station between Shirehampton and Avonmouth became the first new railway station for Bristol in 96 years, and the first of a series of new stations being built or planned as part of the West of England Combined Authority’s MetroWest programme.

The single-platform station provides passengers with half-hourly services between Bristol Temple Meads and Avonmouth, extending hourly to Severn Beach, complimenting the existing park and ride travel options.

More new stations and local train services 

The West of England Combined Authority’s MetroWest programme is bringing new stations and an increase in local train services to the region. Find out more on the TravelWest website. 

Bristol Temple Meads 

The transformation of Bristol Temple Meads is reaching new milestones. Work continues on a variety of projects through the Bristol Rail Regeneration programme and the city’s Temple Quarter regeneration is also underway. Working with our partners we will create a world class station, offering a brighter welcome to the city and a better experience for our passengers. 

Eastern Entrance 

Following initial enabling work during our 2021 track upgrade at Bristol Temple Meads, we are now working on the construction phase of the Eastern Entrance project. 

We have completed reinforcing ground work around the retaining wall and alongside the track to ensure the continued stability of the railway and platform 15. We have now finished digging out what will become the tunnel to the subway and are preparing the foundations for the entrance building which will be constructed throughout 2024.  

The Eastern Entrance will be accessible from Cattle Market Road and is due to open in 2026, alongside the new University of Bristol Enterprise Campus. 

Refurbishing the roof 

Work has been continuing steadily on the refurbishment of the main train shed roof and platform canopies at Bristol Temple Meads. More than 1,250 steel work repairs have been completed so far in the area where the safety deck is positioned, along with work to restore and repaint the woodwork. Both of the gable ends have been fully encapsulated and are being restored alongside. 

We’re gearing up to start glazing the roof where we’ve been working and once that’s complete we’ll move to the next section, working through grit-blasting, repairs, repainting and glazing. 

On overnight shifts we are continuing the restoration of the platform canopies, carrying out steelwork repairs where required and repainting – including the ‘daggerboards’ that line the canopy edges.  

Rewire 

Our electrical rewire is progressing through the station, moving from platform to focus on platforms 5 and 7. We’ve now installed the new lighting system on a section of the platform 7 canopy. 

Alongside this rewire work is completed inside the former Bonaparte’s Bar, with basic ‘core and shell’ fitting out to make it ready for letting for retail due to take place in early 2024. We continue working in the tunnels under Bristol Temple Meads and are rewiring the platform canopies at night to minimise disruption to passengers.  

Midland and Passenger Shed plans

We are planning the refurbishment of rooms within the Midland Shed, so they can be turned into new retail units. This work is supported by a £500,000 Railway Heritage Trust grant. A separate project will complete repairs to the Midland Shed roof and install new guttering.

Passenger Shed renovations are also being planned, with a particular focus on the roof, guttering and repairs to internal floors and the ceiling. The lower level is being renovated to create updated office space as a new home for British Transport Police.

New entrances for Bristol Temple Meads

Bristol Temple Meads is at the heart of the Temple Quarter regeneration programme, and plans for new station entrances will kick start the transformation of the area. 

£95m of funding for the first phase of the programme will focus on the station and its surroundings; creating a Northern Entrance and Southern Gateway, including a multi-storey car park, and the new Eastern entrance (as outlined above), as well as new commercial and retail space. Visit the Temple Quarter website to find out more. 

Get in touch

If you have any additional questions about the work taking place in your area please call our dedicated 24-hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 or visit our contact us page.

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