Building a brighter future for Bristol’s railway
Travel information
There is track work planned around Bristol Parkway between Christmas and New Year, affecting trains 27 – 31 December.
Please check Great Western Railway.
Portway Park & Ride
Over the summer work has come on leaps and bounds at our new station at Portway Park and Ride in Bristol.
With foundations for the platform finished in June, we were able to start constructing the platform on overnight shifts in July and August; lifting pre-cast units into place by crane. In late August/early September we cast the last of the foundations for the access ramps, enabling us to fully complete the structural work at the station.
There is still a lot to do to complete the station. Over the coming months we will be tarmacking the platforms, connecting up drainage and installing all of the electrical systems, such as lighting, ticket machines, ticket gates, CCTV and telecoms systems.
Shelters, benches and other station furniture will follow, along with additional work in the park and ride car park which will be completed by Bristol City Council.
The station also then needs to be inspected and formally certified as fit for entry into service.
We are working towards the station being opened in early 2023.
Bristol Temple Meads
The transformation of Bristol Temple Meads is reaching new milestones. Over the next few years we are working on a variety of projects through the Bristol Rail Regeneration programme, to bring a brighter welcome to the city and a better experience for our passengers.
Refurbishing the roof
The first phase of grit-blasting on the roof of the main train shed has been completed, with metalwork stripped and primed. Detailed examination of the exposed ironwork has revealed additional defects that could not be seen prior to the paint being stripped back and we are in the process of assessing each of these to determine the appropriate repair strategy.
It is currently unclear what impact these additional defects will have on the planned programme but we do need to carry out all safety related repairs while our vast scaffolding structure is in place.
Painting and glazing work will continue to take place while the necessary repairs are carried out.
Keeping the programme moving in the meantime, we are now planning the next phase of night time grit-blasting, with a focus on the triangle; the section of roof between platform 1 and the main train shed.
Work is well underway to install scaffolding for the north and south gable ends, aiming to start refurbishment of the north gable end early next year.
Elsewhere in the station painting work on platform canopies is nearing completion and we are due to complete snagging on forecourt canopies.
Rewire
The rewire project at Bristol Temple Meads is going well. Lighting systems are being installed in the station building and the main ticket office, with GWR staff due to return to their accommodation from October 2022. Work to dismantle the temporary ticket office in the former Bonapartes café/bar will then get underway with most of the materials used to create it being passed on to other projects for reuse. During this first phase of the work, specialist were brought in to deal with asbestos found at various locations. Now as we move into the next phase of the project we have started work in the tunnels underneath the station.
Midland and Passenger Shed plans
Plans are being developed for the refurbishment of rooms within the Midland Shed, with surveys being carried out shortly to assess the work required to bring them up to scratch so that they can be transformed into new retail units. This work is supported by a £500,000 Railway Heritage Trust grant. A separate project will refurbish the Midland Shed roof over the covered car park.
Passenger Shed renovations are also being planned, with a particular focus on the roof, guttering and repairs to internal floors and the ceiling.
We’re a little way off having programmes in place for these projects but the aim is to have it all completed by the end of March 2024.
New entrances for Bristol Temple Meads
Bristol Temple Meads is at the heart of the Temple Quarter regeneration programme, and plans for three new station entrances will kick start the transformation of the area.
£95m of funding for the first phase of the programme was announced in June and will focus on the station and its surroundings; creating a Northern Entrance and Southern Gateway, including a multi-storey car park, and a new Eastern entrance, as well as new commercial and retail space. Visit the Temple Quarter website to find out 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 our new MetroWest page.
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.