Bristol Temple Meads Given a New Lease of Life! This elderly station, which has played such a key part in the history and success of the Great Western Railway and its successors, is being given a complete face lift to renew the faith and pride that Isambard Kingdom Brunel placed in this station when he built it back in 1840. A total of £132 million is being invested in the station and its approaches to ensure that it can meet the needs of an ever-growing population and demand for travel over the next decade. In addition, more money is being invested in the surrounding area with the aim of totally regenerating this key part of Bristol. James Durie, Chief Executive of Bristol Chamber of Commerce & Initiative at Business West said, “While many of us won’t have been taking the train over the past year as a consequence of Covid-19 measures and restrictions, in the years in the lead up to the pandemic we have been experiencing a big growth in rail journeys across the country and particularly for our region. While patterns of when people move may be changing, this growth is forecast to continue. And at a time when decarbonisation of how we travel is only rising in importance, being a major priority for government and local councils, the train is a sustainable way to do so. The programme actually got underway last year with capital work (£24m) to restore the fabulous Victorian roof over the main train shed at Bristol Temple Meads; not dissimilar to the work that took place at London Paddington, along with initial preparations for an important new eastern entrance to the station. The listed building consent and planning permission application for the new eastern entrance station building is now live on the Bristol City Council planning portal. As that work continues, the programme is further gathering
66
Digby Watts drawing of the frontage of the joint station (1871)
pace as a huge track upgrade starts next to Bristol Temple Meads.” “Temple Meads is a fundamental element of Temple Quarter and St Philip’s, the major growth area for Bristol and the south west, and one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects. The area around and to the east of the station is being transformed through large-scale development including the University of Bristol’s new Enterprise Campus and a series of high-profile schemes underway or moving close to commencement, such as the 200,000ft2 EQ zero carbon office development on Victoria Street, and the exciting plans by L&G for Temple Island. Over the next few years, many more people will be living, working, studying in and visiting Bristol – and in particular, the Temple and Redcliffe quarters of our city. We need the rail infrastructure improvement to be able to support this.” “So, from 10 July – 3 September, Network Rail is rebuilding Bristol East Junction, a crucial piece of
Great Western Star Summer 2021
