These upgrades are partly enabled by improvements made to the existing rail network in recent years, including the installation of a new, modern signalling system in and around Bristol Temple Meads, the addition of two new railway lines between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood and the upgrade of Bristol East Junction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Michael Contopoulos, Network Rail\u2019s project director, said: \u201cThis is an exciting time for rail travel in the West of England, with a new station – funded by the West of England Combined Authority – being built at Ashley Down in Bristol. This will be a very intensive period of the build programme and I\u2019d like to thank local residents for their patience over the next few weeks, in particular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be working 24\/7 for 16 days from Saturday 3 June, removing and realigning the track before installing the two new platforms, constructed from pre-fabricated blocks. During this period we\u2019ll also be working on the foundations for the footbridge and lifts that will be installed in follow up shifts later this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs with any project of this scale, some disturbance is unavoidable, however I\u2019d like to assure residents that we\u2019re doing all we can to keep this to a minimum.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Councillor Don Alexander, Cabinet Member for Transport at Bristol City Council, said: \u201cWorking with Network Rail and the West of England Combined Authority, we\u2019re delivering Bristol\u2019s first new train stations in almost a century. Expanding the local rail network through the MetroWest programme will increase both the capacity of the network and the accessibility of our local rail services, as we build towards the mass transit system that Bristolians need and deserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs work on the Ashley part of the line continues, we are also working towards delivering two new stations on a re-opened Henbury Line \u2013 and pushing for stations at St Anne\u2019s and Ashton Gate too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 16-day period of intensive construction work that begins on Saturday 3 June will impact local services between Filton Abbey Wood and Stapleton Road. Trains running between Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Temple Meads will be unable to stop at Stapleton Road or Lawrence Hill. However, trains running between Bristol Temple Meads and Clifton Down, Avonmouth or Severn Beach are unaffected. Passengers travelling between Filton Abbey Wood and Stapleton Road or Lawrence Hill should change trains at Bristol Temple Meads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This summer also sees essential track maintenance work taking place within the Severn Tunnel, which will be closed from Friday 9 June to Sunday 18 June for vital track replacement. Passengers are advised to check before travelling between these dates, as a bus replacement service will be in operation between Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Photo credit: Network Rail<\/em><\/p>\n
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