The second rail station to open in Bristol in almost 100 years welcomed passengers onto its platforms for the first time at the end of September 2024. The station is easily accessible to 15,000 people living in Lockleaze, Horfield and Ashley Down. It has two platforms and has an hourly service between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood. The station is part of the project to reopen the Henbury Line to passenger services with new stations planned in North Filton and Henbury. The station is close to both the Memorial Stadium, home of Bristol Rovers and Gloucestershire Cricket Club.
The first new rail station in Bristol for 96 years, the £5.8 million Portway Park & Ride Station opened in July 2023 and is now being used for over 1,300 journeys each week. In an ideal location close to the M5 motorway, the station has 792 parking spaces available and provides a convenient way to travel into Bristol city centre, destinations along the Severn Beach rail line or connect with the wider rail network from Bristol Temple Meads.
Infrastructure improvements have also enabled more frequent train services. Through over £11m of Mayoral Combined Authority funding enhanced services have been introduced including half-hourly services between Bristol Temple Meads and Avonmouth and Westbury, Bristol Temple Meads and Gloucester via Yate and hourly services to Severn Beach. This has boosted usage with up to 30% more passengers at stations on these lines.
Together with partners on the MetroWest rail programme, further new stations (in red on the map) will open by 2027/28 including the reopening of the Portishead line and Henbury lines to passenger services. This substantial investment in infrastructure will support hourly services on these lines. The Mayoral Combined Authority is already investing in studies to understand the case for more, new railway stations in the region to create more opportunities for people to travel more sustainably. Preparatory works at Charfield station, to make way for the main bulk of the construction work, started in February 2025. The new stations shown on this map (in purple) are aspirational at this stage, and subject to feasibility studies being carried out and funding being secured.
Our aim is to make stations easier, safer and more convenient to use for everyone. In 2024, eight stations in the region benefitted from new and improved seating, shelters and signs. Our focus is now on ensuring older stations have step-free access onto platforms, so stations are fully accessible. We’re starting with much-needed improvements at Lawrence Hill station where a new lift to platform 2 will be installed. Concept designs are almost complete and we’re currently talking to landowners affected by the project, before starting the formal planning process.
Thanks to the tremendous progress to date, the original "10 year plan" which was the first long-term regional rail plan for the West of England, is in the process of being updated. The plan sets out how the Mayoral Combined Authority aims to deliver further rail enhancements, build passenger numbers, increase freight carried by rail and support the West of England’s key growth locations for housing and jobs. The Mayoral Combined Authority is leading on the work, in partnership with Network Rail and local councils.
