Metro Mayor reveals new platforms at Ashley Down
New platforms have been installed on the tracks at Ashley Down in Bristol - a station which closed back in the 1960s
Spades are in the ground to deliver a new, two-platformed station in Bristol - with work now fully underway at the site of the former site at Ashley Hill.
A ceremony has been held to mark the installation of new platforms at Ashley Down in Bristol, which is being reopened as part of a regional project to improve transport links.
The station closed back in 1964 as part of the Beeching cuts.
Funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, Ashley Down Station will give residents in the north of the city their own station once again, with the bulk of the work aiming to 'unlock opportunities' for those travelling to Temple Meads, Filton and Henbury.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris will be joined by the Network Rail team on site and will get a first look of the works taking shape, including the two brand-new platforms being built over the coming days, and which can both be seen in all their glory next week.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “It’s brilliant to see this brand-new station for Ashley Down residents beginning to take shape. The last time there was a station here, Elvis and The Beatles were topping the charts.
"I’m proud of this sizeable investment from my West of England Mayoral Combined Authority to give the West's residents railway stations they can be proud of – all part of our radical ‘reverse Beeching’ programme. Because I’m determined to improve public transport in the West of England - vital to getting locals from A to B, and all the more vital if we are going to reach our ambitious but essential local net-zero targets.”
Dan Parkes, Senior Programme Manager for Network Rail said: “It’s incredibly exciting to be in the midst of delivering this new station for the local community in Ashley Down. Work is progressing very well on site and it’s wonderful to see years of planning and great collaboration between all of our partners coming to fruition.
"Though we’re making huge headway there’s still lots of work to do after this blockade is over and I’d like to than residents for their patience as we continue to build their new station over the coming months.”
Works to install the two platforms will take place until the early hours of Monday 19 June, with local services between Filton Abbey Wood and Stapleton Road until Sunday 18 June impacted - which you can find out more about on the GWR website.
The new station is part of the multi-million-pound MetroWest programme - a wider package of rail improvements from the Mayoral Combined Authority, Network Rail and other partners including the opening of brand-new stations - including in Ashley Down, but also in North Filton next to the new arena, and at Henbury - over the next five years.
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