We’re upgrading a major junction near Bristol Temple Meads station this summer to give you better journeys.
The work – between 10 July and 3 September – is an important part of our Bristol Rail Regeneration to improve Bristol Temple Meads and the surrounding area.
It follows a huge project in the Bristol and Bath area in 2019 to give you more seats, improved reliability and faster and more frequent services.
What’s happening this summer and why?
We’re spending eight weeks working 24/7 to replace Bristol East Junction. It controls train traffic between Bristol Temple Meads station and South Wales, the Midlands and North of England, and to London Paddington.
With new track and signals – essentially the railway’s traffic lights – this summer’s upgrade will pave the way for more train services to move more people in and around the Bristol area, more reliably.
Replacing the existing track, much of which dates back to the 1960s, will mean fewer faults and better journeys for you.
Our clever new layout, including an additional railway line, will create more space on the railway for more trains.
The work in numbers:
- 50 engineering trains
- Up to 300 workers
- More than 300 pieces of pre-constructed track
Keeping as many passengers on trains as possible throughout the work has been a priority from the outset so we’re keeping lines open to your services where safe and practical to do so.
Station improvements
We’re taking this opportunity to carry out more work that would otherwise impact your journeys. This includes our roof refurbishment at Bristol Temple Meads.
We’re installing foundations, scaffolding and support beams, as well as renovating canopies on platforms and the station forecourt while our track work disrupts train services anyway.
Meanwhile, our work to create a new eastern entrance for Bristol Temple Meads is ramping up. We’ll extend the passenger subway, which runs underneath the track and platforms 13 and 15. This involves breaking through the external station wall and installing a concrete deck which, will form a new tunnel leading to a small entry building. Work on the new entrance will continue through the autumn and into next year.
How will it affect your journey?
Some journey times will change so please check before you travel this summer:
But long-distance services for London, South Wales, the Midlands, the North and the South West will continue to operate throughout.
Read more:
Bristol Rail Regeneration frequently asked questions
Britain’s biggest ever signalling upgrade – five things we’ve delivered for Bristol
