We’re funding a new entrance at Bristol Temple Meads, a key regional transport hub, making it easier for passengers to get around the city and improving connectivity in the West of England region.
We are also making improvements to rail stations as part of the £1.1 million Access for All project; this will include better seating, more shelters and wayfinding. This will improve station accessibility for our residents.
Our flagship rail project is MetroWest, which aims to generate over a million new rail journeys, give 80,000 more people access to train services and remove millions of car journeys in support of our 2030 net-zero carbon target.
Two lines are planned to be reopened to passengers between 2024 and 2027 and an unprecedented seven new stations are planned to be constructed – Portway (In construction), Ashley Down, Portishead, Pill, Henbury, North Filton and Charfield.
Infrastructure improvements have enabled additional train services to be introduced on the Severn Beach line in December 2021 and further service enhanced services are planned on the lines between Bristol Temple Meads and Westbury and Bristol Temple Meads and Gloucester.
We have plans to transform travel by rail over the next 10 years, including new rail routes, step-free access at stations and more frequent ‘turn up and go’ services.
This is the first time a long-term regional rail plan has been agreed for the West of England. We are leading on the work, in partnership with Network Rail and local councils.