Work begins to build first new Bristol train station for nearly a century
It will be the first new station in the city since 1927
Work has started to build a new train station in Bristol for the first time in nearly 100 years.
It will link the Portway Park and Ride with the Severn Beach railway line, costing ÂŁ4.2 million.
The project forms part of the West of England Combined Authority’s wider plans to enhance the local rail network through the MetroWest programme.
Councillor Don Alexander, Bristol City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “It’s really exciting to see work starting on the first new rail station within the city in almost a century, and this is a major milestone for the project.
“Portway Park & Ride station will improve connectivity to the rail network for the local community and more widely for users of our Park & Ride site, allowing many more people to choose to travel by rail to work, study and for leisure.
“It will help us to ease congestion on the roads in a sustainable way and reduce air pollution, as we work towards our ambitious goal to be carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2030.”
Much of the work to build the new station will be done overnight to reduce disruption to rail passengers.
However, the Severn Beach line will need to close temporarily from 19 to 27 February, to allow Network Rail’s team of engineers to make the changes to the signalling needed to accommodate the new station and build the concrete foundations in preparation for the new platform.
During that time, trains will not call at stations between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood, or between Severn Beach and Stapleton Road, but the Portway Park and Ride will continue to operate as normal.
When the station opens this summer, it will be served by the half-hourly services between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach.
Bristol City Council say it will "complement the existing Park & Ride bus service and be a useful extra transport option for the local community", as well as giving Park & Ride users from further afield a rail option to destinations along the Severn Beach line or for onward travel on the wider rail network from Bristol Temple Meads.
The council also plans to add more parking spaces to the Park and Ride site to accommodate more demand once the station opens.
Mike Gallop, Network Rail Western Route and Strategic Operations Director, said: “We are delighted to be working with Bristol City Council, the West of England Combined Authority and GWR on opening this new station for Bristol.
“The start of construction for the Portway Park & Ride station heralds the latest development in our efforts to transform rail travel for our passengers in and around Bristol and the wider West of England area and will help further connect communities served by the Severn Beach line with this new, additional station.”
West of England Mayor Dan Norris has also said he is pleased to see work begin.
"The West of England Combined Authority is investing over ÂŁ1 million here which is good news for future passengers," he said.
“Improving our public transport network is crucial so local people can get more easily to work, study and to enjoy our great region and is vital to meet our ambitious net zero targets.”
Great Western Railway have also said they are "delighted".