Two disused platforms at Bristol’s Temple Meads railway station will be reinstated to improve services, according to a new vision for the station being unveiled today.
A new entrance will also be opened east of the station to give access to the new Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone while the existing subway will be extended with more shops.
Station owner Network Rail will use this afternoon’s official launch of the enterprise zone to share its plans for the station’s redevelopment into a world-class railway hub.
The strategy, also supported by West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), aims to expand the station to ease congestion and provide improved connectivity to London, the South West, Wales and the North.
Train services will also be increased to meet a forecast 44% growth in passenger numbers in Bristol over the next 10 years.
A high-level feasibility study, led by Network Rail, is being carried out to determine the validity of this proposal, which is subject to government funding.
The study is looking at station capacity improvements to ease current and predicted passenger congestion, including:
- A new entrance east of the station to ease congestion and provide a convenient link across and around Temple Quarter
- A ‘light and airy’ subway extension under the existing station forecourt to give a welcoming environment and improve retail opportunities for local businesses, while preserving the views of the historic Grade-I listed structure
- Reinstating two disused platforms to boost train services by redeveloping the station’s Digby Wyatt shed
Network Rail also recommends improving the rail infrastructure around Bristol to provide additional capacity, shorter journey times and operational flexibility.
These include remodelling a key junction into the Temple Meads area, additional infrastructure on the line to Bristol Parkway and line-speed improvements to the South West
Network Rail route managing director Patrick Hallgate said: “We warmly welcome the launch of the enterprise zone today. A robust rail infrastructure is vital to a thriving economy and the rail industry is poised to support Bristol with an integrated rail strategy.
“Bristol Temple Meads is located right at the heart of the enterprise zone and is among the busiest and fastest growing rail interchanges on the Western route, receiving more than 9m passengers on average every year.
“Redeveloping the station into a world-class rail gateway, with excellent rail links, will be significant to help position the new business district as an ideal location for investment, whilst boosting economic growth and catering for growing rail demand.”
