Bristol Temple Meads - station, facilities, incidents and events (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Bristol Post:

The company which owns Temple Meads has drawn up a multi-million pound plan to transform Isambard Kingdom Brunel's iconic station.

The station is owned by Network Rail and the organisation has announced it is to launch a feasibility study into its ambitious plans.

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An artists's impression of the redevelopment of the Temple Meads area in Bristol

The work will coincide with the ^1 billion electrification of the Great Western line between Bristol and London.

As part of the scheme the approach to the station is to be closed off to traffic and turned into a pedestrian- friendly piazza. And there are also plans to create a new main entrance to the station at the side of the building. The move will mean the entrance would be in the same spot originally planned by Brunel.

The redevelopment work is also being planned to coincide with the creation of a new Enterprise Zone and is expected to be completed by 2018.

More than nine million passengers use the station every year and that total is expected to increase by around 50 per cent over the next decade.

The electrification of the Great Western Railway will mean that trains will arrive in Bristol from the capital every 15 minutes. Two disused platforms are to be reopened and a new terminus built for the London services. There are also hopes that rail links between Bristol, South Wales, the South West and the North will be improved.

A new subway under the existing forecourt is also on the cards, complete with shops and concession stands. It is hoped that improvement and refurbishment work can be carried out on the ornate facade of the station.

Work is also being carried out on platforms and junctions so the number of trains coming into the station can be increased.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "Temple Meads is located right in the heart of the new Enterprise Zone and is among the busiest and fastest growing rail interchanges in the country. The rail industry, with support from the Greater Bristol area, including the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, is currently developing a strategy to transform Bristol Temple Meads station into a world-class gateway for the city by the end of the decade."

If all goes to plan the refurbishment will start in the spring of 2014 and would be completed by 2018, when the new super-fast service between London and Bristol is launched.

The Post revealed some details of the new Enterprise Zone yesterday. An official launch for the zone was taking place today at a temporary circus tent which has been erected on land normally used as a car park next to the station.

The Local Enterprise Partnership is the driving force behind the ambitious scheme which could create up to 20,000 new jobs in the city.

Coln Skellett, the chairman of the of the LEP^» (Local Enterprise Partnership - about), said: "What we want is a world-class station to welcome people travelling to Bristol to do business with companies in the Enterprise Zone. Temple Meads has been in need of some attention for several years and we want to see it restored back to its former glory."

Work by developers TCN UK^▸ (United Kingdom) has already started on Collett House, which is next to the station, to turn it into a creative and digital campus, called Temple Studios. The scheme follows the first phase of their same company's Temple Gate project, which started with the redevelopment of the historic Bristol and Exeter House next to the current station approach.

As reported in the Post, the Government agency the Homes and Community Association has bought Brunel's Old Station building for ^5 million.

It will hand over the building to the city council and it will be used as a conference centre and hub for new businesses looking to move into the Enterprise Zone.

The nearby Pest Control Depot in Cattle Market Road is also being demolished to make way for a new bridge, which will connect the site earmarked for the long-awaited indoor arena to the Enterprise Zone and the rest of the city.

[ellendune]

Network Rail Announce proposal to redevelop Bristol Temple Meads

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/Our-vision-for-transforming-Bristol-Temple-Meads-into-a-world-class-railway-hub/

We aim to expand the station to ease congestion and provide excellent connectivity to London, the South West, Wales and the North.

Patrick Hallgate, our route managing director for Western said: ^Growing Bristol^s railway is vital to the success of the city^s new enterprise zone. A robust rail infrastructure is vital to a thriving economy and the rail industry is poised to support Bristol with an integrated rail strategy.

^Bristol Temple Meads is located right at the heart of the enterprise zone and is among the busiest and fastest growing rail interchanges on the Western route, receiving more than nine million passengers on average every year. Redeveloping the station into a world-class rail gateway, with excellent rail links, will be significant to help position the new business district as an ideal location for investment, whilst boosting economic growth and catering for growing rail demand.^

Feasibility study

We're leading a high-level feasibility study currently being carried out to determine the validity of this proposal, which is subject to Government funding.

Our proposal includes:

Station capacity improvements to ease current and predicted passenger congestion
A new eastern station access to ease congestion and provide a convenient link across and around Temple Quarter
A light and airy subway extension under the existing forecourt to provide a welcoming environment and improve retail opportunities for local businesses, whilst preserving the vistas of the historic grade 1 listed structure
Redeveloping the Digby Wyatt shed to bring it back to its former usage and reinstating two disused platforms for more train services

Additional improvements

We also recommend a number of improvements to the infrastructure to provide better journey times and more space, as well as flexibility on the railway around Bristol.

These recommendations include remodelling a key junction into the station area, additional infrastructure on the line to Bristol Parkway and improving the line-speed to the south west.

[ellendune]

Complementary article in the Bristol Post

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Temple-Quarter-Enterprise-Zone-bring-jobs-new/story-15918850-detail/story.html

Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone could bring jobs and new arena to Bristol

BRISTOL'S economy could be transformed and thousands of new jobs created under a new masterplan revealed today by the Post.

The city's Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone will be officially launched tomorrow ^ and with it, a blueprint for the Temple Meads area which includes a complete revamp of the city's main station and plans for a long-awaited indoor arena.

The team behind the ambitious scheme has come up with a 25-year vision designed to breathe new life into large chunks of the city and create a vibrant business, commercial and shopping district.

New squares and public spaces, a marina, roads and infrastructure are included.

The zone, drawn up by a partnership involving business leaders and the city council, comes with perks such as relaxed planning conditions, concessions on business rates and access to ultra-fast broadband.

The team behind the scheme wants to use potential income from the area to raise ^200 million worth of funding to help pay for infrastructure work.

The scheme will be officially launched tomorrow at an event at a temporary circus tent next to the station, which will be used to stage events throughout the summer. The aim is to give the new area a running start and attract interest from investors.

The creation of the Temple Meads Enterprise Zone was first announced by Chancellor George Osborne in last year's Budget.

The ultimate aim is to create 17,000 new jobs and bring 400 new firms to the city over the next two decades. The city's Local Enterprise Partnership, the organisation which is masterminding the scheme, has high hopes that the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) will move its Bristol operation from Whiteladies Road on to vacant land next to the station and discussions have been taking place for several months.

The other major element of the scheme is a plan to build a 12,000-seat indoor arena on vacant land behind the station. The former diesel depot site was originally owned by the now-axed South West Regional Development Agency, which pumped ^20 million into the project, only to then decide it was not viable.

But the LEP^» (Local Enterprise Partnership - about), which has taken over the agency's development role in Bristol, has come up with a cheaper alternative arena scheme and says several operators are already interested.

The planned redevelopment of Temple Meads station has been included in the scheme and the idea is to completely refurbish the historic building. A new platform is planned in Brunel's original Passenger Shed for the service linking Bristol to London and the aim is to shift the main entrance of the building to where the long-stay car park now stands, creating a passenger hub to connect rail and bus services. Once electrification of the Great Western line is completed, high speed trains will run to London every 15 minutes.

The Paintworks project in Brislington is also part of the Enterprise Zone, along with a strip of land for creative companies, dubbed the "media mile".

The final strand of the project is the redevelopment of the St Philip's area to make it more attractive to businesses.

Colin Skellett, pictured, the chairman of the LEP, said: "What we want is to have a rail connection which will mean people will be able to travel to Paris in four hours.

"We want a modern and efficient transport system which will see people arriving into Bristol right into the heart of a vibrant business, commercial and leisure district to rival any city in the world.

"There is no other major city in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) that does not have an arena and we want to address that situation."

He described the BBC as a "cornerstone of the Enterprise Zone".

City Council Leader Barbara Janke said: "Bristol has a huge amount to offer potential businesses wishing to invest. With its simplified planning and business rate discounts, the Enterprise Zone offers an exciting investment opportunity at the heart of the city and the South West region."

The Homes and Communities Agency, which owns three pieces of land around the station, has spent ^5 million on Brunel's Old Station and the derelict Pest Control Depot in Cattle Market Road.

Part of the listed Old Station building will be used as a conference venue and a centre for new businesses.

Organisations which have agreed to lend their help and expertise to the scheme include the major banks, stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown and Bristol University. The University of the West of England, IBM, the Watershed and media umbrella group Bristol Media are also involved.

Refurbishment work has also started on Collett House next to the station and talks are taking place with the owners of the of derelict Royal Mail sorting office with the aim of turning the building into a brand new office block.

A spokeswoman for the BBC said: "At the moment we are looking at potential sites for re-location within the city, including the newly created Enterprise Zone, and have not ruled anything out."

[ellendune]

I was standing on Platform 15 waiting for the 18:00 this evening and it struck me that if a thin sliver of the old post office site were reserved it would be quite easy to have a platform 16.  does anyone know if this possiblity is being included in the redevelopment proposal, even if it is only to reserve the land for future use?

[tramway]

I suspect that there is sufficient capacity both at Temple Meads and within the greater Bristol area that additional land probably isn't required.

Platform 1 extended into the old shed, and a new platform 0, re-open Platform 2, and there is also options I'm sure to remodel around 15.

Once Filton bank is 4 tracked there's scope for Lawrence Hill improvements as a better interchange from the east if rhubarb curve is utilised.

Although I don't use it there must be options for improvements at Bedminster to serve inbound from the west.

[mfpa]

All looks really positive, but why not abandon Temple Meads and build a modern station near Dr Day's Junction?

[ellendune]

All looks really positive, but why not abandon Temple Meads and build a modern station near Dr Day's Junction?

Temple Meads is already a long way from the City Centre. Why would you want to move it any further away? In the 18th century the Barton Hill area was a merchant's country estate!

I suspect that there is sufficient capacity both at Temple Meads and within the greater Bristol area that additional land probably isn't required.

Platform 1 extended into the old shed, and a new platform 0, re-open Platform 2, and there is also options I'm sure to remodel around 15.

Once Filton bank is 4 tracked there's scope for Lawrence Hill improvements as a better interchange from the east if rhubarb curve is utilised.

Although I don't use it there must be options for improvements at Bedminster to serve inbound from the west.

Yes there are plenty of bay platforms, and the new London services can use those that will be restored in the old train shed, but the Bristol Metro proposals call for more through platforms.  

Why would you want passenger services to go round the east curve and not serve Temple Meads.  Do you think no-one wants to go to the city centre?

[mfpa]

Temple Meads is already a long way from the City Centre. Why would you want to move it any further away?

You would want to move the station slightly to cut out all the time wasted on trains changing ends at Temple Meads as they come in from the north and go out towards the east (and vice versa).

Cabot Circus is virtually equi-distant from Temple Meads, Dr Day's Junction, and Lawrence Hill. The Colston Hall is only around 600 yards further from Dr Day's Junction than it is from Temple Meads. And those that didn't want to walk could look for a closer station on the Bristol Metro services.

Yes there are plenty of bay platforms, and the new London services can use those that will be restored in the old train shed, but the Bristol Metro proposals call for more through platforms.

Building a new station near Dr Day's Junction should be able to provide the extra through platforms.

[ellendune]

Barton Hill looks very nice as a location an interchange station, and if Bristol was simply a place where people changed from one train to another it would makes sense.  However, I don't know if you had noticed, but quite a few people work there during the day and go back home at night and many of them use the train to get there, others want to go shopping in the city centre and use the train.  If you move the main station in Bristol to Dr Days Junction then the vast majority of the commuters and shopper would either use the car - in which case the shoppers would probably go to Cribbs Causeway instead. 

Last Sunday I walked from College Green to catch a train back to Swindon (Distance just over 1 mile).  If I had had to walk to  Dr Day's Junction it would have been 2 miles and through some less savory parts of town. Certainly would not do it after dark.  I think I would have taken the car all the way from Swindon.

Forgive me but I cannot think of a City other than London where the main railway station is 2 miles out of the city centre.  Temple Meads is on the edge of the city centre, moving it another mile to the east would be a disaster for rail travel in Bristol.

[TerminalJunkie]

Forgive me but I cannot think of a City other than London where the main railway station is 2 miles out of [Bristol] city centre.

Bristol Temple Meads is the main railway station, situated approximately 15 minutes' walk from the City Centre.

Do Bristolians really walk that quickly?

[ellendune]

Forgive me but I cannot think of a City other than London where the main railway station is 2 miles out of [Bristol] city centre.

Bristol Temple Meads is the main railway station, situated approximately 15 minutes' walk from the City Centre.

Do Bristolians really walk that quickly?

1 mile at 4 miles an hour!  That is a brisk walk I know but still a walk.   I know I took and extreme end College Green, but that is where the City Council is based.  However my point was about moving it to Barton Hill a further mile away. 

[JayMac]

And those that didn't want to walk could look for a closer station on the Bristol Metro services.

And those that don't want to walk the the centre, Park Street, Harbourside etc etc? What Bristol Metro service will suit them? Just about bearable at under a mile on foot from Temple Meads. Much less bearable at around 1.7 miles from Barton Hill.

Do Bristolians really walk that quickly?

I think you misunderstood. The station would be near two miles from the centre if it were to relocate to the Barton Hill area.

It takes this slightly portly near 40 year old 12 minutes to walk from the City Centre (St Augustine's Parade) or the retail centre (Broadmead) to Temple Meads. And that's nothing more than my usual amble.

I too see little need to relocate the station to Dr Day's Junction.

[chuffed]

Hear, hear BNM !

Made my day ..as rather more than slightly portly, and pushing 60, it also takes me 12 mins to walk from @ Bristol to TM^‡(resolve) ...over Pero's bridge across Queen Square, SMR and up the incline. Of course some of us put all the calories back on in Wetherspoons...

On the foodie note , has anyone else had a shock going into the transport caff at TM ... turned into a Parisian nighclub with black tiles on the wall, downlighters, shelves and perchy stools....

All we need now is Hugh hefners bunny girls ....

[Phil]

I cannot think of a City other than London where the main railway station is 2 miles out of the city centre. 

My home town of Wells. Nearest station now is 15 miles away in Castle Cary.

[phile]

It must be borne in mind that the station must be by the railway   !!!