Engineering work to start on new railway station in Ashley Down

MetroWest partners are gearing up for engineering work to start on another new railway station for Bristol.

Plans for a new station in Ashley Down are expected to progress to the construction stage, which will take place between early 2023 and 2024. The date the work starts will be confirmed once the West of England Combined Authority has agreed the funding package for the new station when its Joint Committee meets towards the end of January.  

The station will be located on the site of the previous Ashley Hill Station, which was closed in the 1960s. It will have an entrance off the Concorde Way walking and cycling route, where it meets Station Road.

Work will include temporarily closing part of Concorde Way and putting a diversion in place along Boiling Wells Lane. This will allow construction of the new station to take place, along with creating pedestrian and cycle access, new covered cycle parking, enhanced planting, and the installation of two accessible parking bays.

When complete, Ashley Down Station will initially be served by trains operating between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood. Other new stations planned for north Bristol include Henbury and North Filton.

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “It’s fantastic that work is set to get underway on our second new railway station for Bristol – with our city’s first new station in almost a century now almost finished at Portway Park and Ride.

“This will be the first time in almost 60 years that residents in the Ashley Down area will be able to catch trains locally, helping to better connect people to employment, education and leisure opportunities, while tackling congestion and pollution, and reducing social and economic isolation.

“Our investment into improving the rail network, and working with partners to achieve this, is an important part of our long-term strategy to boost sustainable transport and increase connectivity across Bristol and the wider region – as we work towards the mass transit system which Bristolians need and deserve.”

Ashley Down Station is part of the second phase of MetroWest, the West of England Combined Authority’s plans to significantly increase travel by rail and improve air quality in the region.

The new station is being built by contractors BAM Nutall for Bristol City Council, the West of England Combined Authority, Network Rail, and Great Western Railway.

It is being funded by the West of England Combined Authority, working with Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council, and Bath & North-East Somerset Council, as part of a wider programme of railway improvements.

Photo credit: Bristol City Council

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