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STATIONS
Regeneration begins at BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS BOB WRIGHT
O
ver Christmas, a substantial amount of work was delivered in and around Bristol’s Temple Meads station. This included important elements of the long-term Bristol Rail Regeneration programme, which is itself linked into Bristol City Council’s Temple Quarter Regeneration.
As part of its wider regeneration programme, Bristol City Council is developing a sustainable urban quarter - Temple Quarter - as a place to live, work, study, enjoy leisure time and build on Bristol’s strengths as a world class city. Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, commented: “With Temple Meads station, the largest transport interchange in the region, at the core of Temple Quarter, the City’s regeneration of the wider area alongside the station is a once-in-ageneration opportunity. It will bring about the long-awaited transformation of a key site in the heart of the city, creating 22,000 new jobs and around 10,000 new homes in proximity to significant areas of deprivation, and an economic boost of £1.6 billion per annum.” The station is an important hub in the city’s transport network, especially for pedestrians and cyclists. Making improvements to Temple Meads station will feed into Bristol’s ambitions for cleaner air and carbon neutrality.
Bristol Rail Regeneration Programme Over the next 2½ years, Temple Meads station will undergo a major transformation that will enhance customers’ experience of using the station as well as provide
Rail Engineer | Issue 188 | Jan-Feb 2021
operational capacity improvements that will permit increases in train services and improved reliability. The most obvious improvement will be the refurbishment of the 38-metre span Grade 1 listed roof, built in 1871-4. This will involve extensive repairs to the metal structure and timber panelling and the complete reglazing of the roof and platform canopies. The existing glazing is discoloured and dirty, restricting light access, leaving the platforms beneath with reduced natural light. This will be the first major refurbishment of the station roof in over 25 years and is due for completion in 2023. Equally important, although less obvious to customers, is the remodelling of the crucial Bristol East Junction, between the four Filton Bank lines (leading to south Wales, Bristol Parkway and the Midlands) and the main lines (leading on to Bath Spa and London Paddington). The junction is located just to the east of Temple Meads station and is mainly surrounded by industrial units and rail depots. When complete, the new junction will improve capacity, flexibility and reliability, making more efficient use of platforms at the station and reducing delays for passengers. An extra line is also being introduced, to support additional suburban services being planned for the future as part of the MetroWest Project.
