Bristol Rail Regeneration

Building a brighter future for Bristol’s railway

Eastern Entrance structure complete 

The steel frame structure of the new Eastern Entrance building at Bristol Temple Meads has been completed and cladding and glazing work is underway. It follows the extension of the passenger subway under platforms 13 and 15 in the autumn of 2023.  

The entrance building will open alongside the new University of Bristol Enterprise Campus in 2026, as part of the Bristol Temple Quarter programme; one of the largest and most ambitious regeneration programmes in Europe.  

Our forecasts show that an estimated 2.5 million people a year will be using the Eastern Entrance by 2030, just four years after opening. 

Ashley Down station construction

Construction of the new Ashley Down Station in Bristol is nearing completion. Over the Christmas period of 2023 the station footbridge – the last of the station’s structural elements – was successfully installed. 

Throughout the first half of 2024 we have been working to fit out the station’s electrics, lifts, lighting, public announcement system, and CCTV, as well as installing station furniture, glazing the footbridge and cladding the lift shafts.  We are moving into a phase of extensive testing before the station can be brought into use later this year. 

Bristol City Council’s contractor is working to reinstate Concorde Way and create the tie in and entrance to the station. 

Ashley Down Station has been funded by the West of England Combined Authority as part of the MetroWest programme. 

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. 

Refurbishing the roof 

Work has been continuing steadily on the refurbishment of the main train shed roof and platform canopies at Bristol Temple Meads.  

In the main train shed, the area of the safety deck above the station has been extended to allow us to increase our worksite for refurbishments to steel and woodwork. More than 1,350 steel work repairs have been completed so far and painting has been finished in the area we’ve been working in. Glazing has been started. We are due to begin grit blasting the next section of the roof on night shifts during June, which will continue into July. 

Work also continues on both of the gable ends which have been fully encapsulated to keep dust and debris safely contained.

Rewire 

Our electrical rewire is progressing through the station. Over the past few months we have been working on platform canopy lighting on platforms 1 – 12 and we’ve now started on platforms 13 and 15 too. Rewire work is complete in the platform 5/7 waiting room and in the passenger toilets in the subway, and we are now focusing on the power supply to lifts. Our work is completed on platform 3, including trenching for the new heating system for platform 3 buildings. 

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. Repairs to the Midland Shed roof are being planned and new guttering is being installed. 

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.