For the first time since before astronauts walked on the moon, residents of the West of England and beyond will be able to catch trains to and from Ashley Down station.
Mayor Dan Norris was joined by schoolchildren and local scout members today (Friday 27 September) to open the UK’s newest railway station at Ashley Down.
The station, the second to be delivered in the last year after Portway Park & Ride, is part of a £300m+ investment by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, in partnership with GWR, Network Rail, and Bristol City Council, to bring rail travel within easy reach of more people than ever before.
Celebrating the opening, Mayor Dan Norris said: “If you give people easy access to good, reliable public transport, they will use it. Now 15,000 people in Lockleaze, Horfield, and Ashley Down will live closer to a railway station than they did yesterday.
“The new station looks fantastic, and I’m thrilled to have taken the first train to arrive there in 60 years. But this is only the beginning of our quiet rail revolution. Our Reverse Beeching programme is now in full swing, and we are moving on to plans to deliver stations North Filton and in Henbury next.
“From tomorrow, the public will be able to use this station for the first time, just in time for the Bristol Rovers match on Saturday and the cricket international on Sunday!
“Getting more people out of their cars and onto trains is vital to building the better, more sustainable transport system we all want to see.”
Guests at the official opening included Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Bristol North West MP Darren Jones, the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Andrew Varney, GWR, Network Rail, subcontractors, Severnside Rail Community Partnership, Lockleaze Community Hub, Sustrans, and children from Ashley Down Primary School and the 1st Bristol Muslim Scouts group.
Tom Pierpoint, GWR Business Development Portfolio Director, said: “New stations such as this are vital in bringing the railway closer to people as we become mindful of the need to live and travel more sustainably. Working successfully with our partners at the West of England Combined Authority, Bristol City Council, and Network Rail, we are really pleased to be able to open this station, once again connecting this local community to the wider rail network for the first time in 60 years.
"We are excited for the benefits this station will bring to the local economy, to residents, businesses and to leisure travellers alike.”
Councillor Andrew Varney, Lord Mayor of Bristol, said: "It is fantastic to see a train station back on the map at Ashley Down. People from the area have long awaited the return of a local station and I am thrilled it is now a reality. Its opening represents great partnership working to make it happen. From this moment on, Ashley Down station will link up to the rest of the rail network and all the onward travel across the region and the country. As a keen cyclist, I am also delighted that the important Concorde Way walking and cycling route has reopened. It offers a quick, off-road route to the brand new station and beyond."
Network Rail Route Director Marcus Jones added: “It’s been a brilliant day, celebrating all the hard work that has gone in to getting Ashley Down station built and ready to open to the public tomorrow.
“I’d like to thank our contractor BAM, and all those involved through the supply chain, for getting this over the line. It’s a huge achievement to have delivered a new station for the community of Ashley Down on time and on budget, and with an impeccable record on safety throughout too.
“I look forward to continuing this great work and playing our part in leaving a lasting legacy for Bristol and beyond.”
Together the guests unveiled a new artwork commissioned for Ashley Down station. PROGRESSION is a community art project created by members of 1st Bristol Muslim Scouts and Lockleaze Community Hub. This project was led by local artist Aumairah Hassan with the support of Severnside Community Rail partnership.
The new station will be open to the public from Saturday with the first service being the 0733 to Filton Abbey Wood, plenty of time ahead of the Bristol Rovers game at home happening nearby!
