A brand new station for Bristol will finally begin to take shape this weekend as Network Rail start a 16-day, round-the-clock effort to install two new platforms.
The new station at Ashley Down has been talked about for years, but from today (Saturday, June 3) Network Rail will get the bulk of the work to build the station, with platforms on either side of main Bristol to Gloucester line, close to Gloucestershire CC’s cricket stadium.
The work will see disruption for local residents and passengers on rail services into Temple Meads until Monday, June 19, when the work should be completed.
Read next: New Bristol train station to open this summer after months of delays
Local services between Filton Abbey Wood and Stapleton Road will be unable to stop at Stapleton Road or Lawrence Hill on their way in and out of Temple Meads. There is no impact, however, on the Severn Beach line, with services between Temple Meads and Clifton Down unaffected.
Network Rail said the work will see an ‘intensive period’ of construction, as the crews realign the track and then install two new platforms. “This is an exciting time for rail travel in the West of England, with a new station - funded by the West of England Combined Authority - being built at Ashley Down in Bristol,” explained Michael Contopoulos, Network Rail’s project director.
“This will be a very intensive period of the build programme and I’d like to thank local residents for their patience over the next few weeks, in particular. We’ll be working 24/7 for 16 days from Saturday 3 June, removing and realigning the track before installing the two new platforms, constructed from pre-fabricated blocks.
"During this period we’ll also be working on the foundations for the footbridge and lifts that will be installed in follow up shifts later this year. As with any project of this scale, some disturbance is unavoidable, however I’d like to assure residents that we’re doing all we can to keep this to a minimum.”
Bristol City Council’s man in charge of transport, Cllr Don Alexander, welcomed the work, and said he hoped it would be the followed by other stations. A station at the Portway Park and Ride is due to open this summer, and there are plans for seven new stations across the city.
“Working with Network Rail and the West of England Combined Authority, we’re delivering Bristol’s first new train stations in almost a century,” said Cllr Alexander. “Expanding the local rail network through the MetroWest programme will increase both the capacity of the network and the accessibility of our local rail services, as we build towards the mass transit system that Bristolians need and deserve.
“As work on the Ashley part of the line continues, we are also working towards delivering two new stations on a re-opened Henbury Line – and pushing for stations at St Anne’s and Ashton Gate too,” he added.
Read next:
- Ashton Gate railway station reopening hopes backed by council leaders
- Bristol train stations: The six locations being considered for new railway links
- Train station in South Gloucestershire village could get green light next week
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