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

[whole diary]

[johnneyw]

This photo was taken in April 2021:

[Image from here is not available to guests]

Tempus fugit!

[stuving]

This photo was taken in April 2021:

April was when work on the roof started. Work on foundations for the massive scaffolding platform started over Christmas 2020, with the platform itself going in during March 2021. All the work was then scheduled to finish in 2023, but you know what happens when you start grit-blasting a can of worms...

[Sulis John]

While it’s too much to expect that the canopies at the Eastern end can be reinstated to their original length (now that the Royal Mail “bridge” has gone), I hope that the truncated ends can be finished with something rather better than the current decaying plywood - which as yet is untouched.

[BahnCard100]

For those who wish to delve further into the work at Temple Meads there is an article in the current, that is January 7th, issue of Rail, entitled "Shipshape and Bristol Fashion... But at what cost?" Happy New Year to all!

[John D]

Kier have apparently won contract to build the 379 space 7 storey multi storey car park (and 3 storey 530 space bike shed) that will replace all the car parking scattered around in the old station shed at Bristol Temple Meads

https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2026/02/13/kier-set-to-bag-35m-bristol-station-car-park-job/

[stuving]

Kier have apparently won contract to build the 379 space 7 storey multi storey car park (and 3 storey 530 space bike shed) that will replace all the car parking scattered around in the old station shed at Bristol Temple Meads

https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2026/02/13/kier-set-to-bag-35m-bristol-station-car-park-job/

This is the contract award notice. It includes a rather more prosaic description of the works:

BTQ LLP requires a Main Contractor for its Bristol Temple Meads Southern Gateway Car Park project.

The Southern Gateway is a strategically significant infrastructure project forming a key component of the Bristol Temple Quarter (BTQ) regeneration programme-one of the largest city centre regeneration schemes in Europe. The Southern Gateway will deliver a new southern entrance to Bristol Temple Meads Station, enhancing connectivity, enabling sustainable transport modes, and unlocking development potential in the southern part of the BTQ area.

The scheme is being delivered by BTQ LLP, a joint venture between Bristol City Council, Homes England, and the West of England Combined Authority. While Network Rail is not

a formal member of the LLP, it is considered a critical delivery partner due to its role in station infrastructure and operational integration.

The key elements of the proposed development comprise of the following:

A 7 storey multi-storey car park (MSCP) at the centre of the site, providing both car parking and motorcycle parking;

A 3 storey cycle pavilion at the north-west of site, providing a mixture of secure Sheffield stands and two-tier cycle parking;

The creation of a high quality public realm between the MSCP and cycle pavilion, with dwell spaces and areas for temporary pop up uses. As well as hard and soft landscaping and drainage;

A new walkway and entrance into Temple Meads Station

An improved fully segregated full width pedestrian footway and two-way cycleway adjacent to Bath Road which is intended to connect into future active travel improvements along this section of the highway; A cycle route to the cycle pavilion from the improved cycleway adjacent to Bath Road;

1no. new bus stop with waiting facilities and layby adjacent to Bath Road; A signal-controlled vehicular access junction to the MSCP from Bath Road;

A Network Rail service yard and a relocated RRAP^▸ (Road Rail Access Point) adjacent to the proposed Network Rail service yard.

Note that Network Rail is not involved as customer, more of a concerned bystander.

[Phantom]

The part I am amazed at is how planning got approved to have these extra vehicles being on the Bath Road bridge.
That roundabout and area is congested at the best of times, but to have entry and exit to the car park must add additional problems

[Red Squirrel]

While it’s too much to expect that the canopies at the Eastern end can be reinstated to their original length (now that the Royal Mail “bridge” has gone), I hope that the truncated ends can be finished with something rather better than the current decaying plywood - which as yet is untouched.

Last time I passed through it looked like they were starting work here. I'm pretty certain they don't plan to reinstate the sections that were hacked off for the mail conveyor, but the ends will, I'm sure, be daggerboarded.

[Noggin]

The part I am amazed at is how planning got approved to have these extra vehicles being on the Bath Road bridge.
That roundabout and area is congested at the best of times, but to have entry and exit to the car park must add additional problems

Many of us suspect that BCC^» (Bristol City Council - about) is deliberately trying to make car journeys across the city as awkward as possible to reduce traffic volumes :-)

More seriously. I suspect that the planning included modelling of the traffic flows. The station has relatively limited parking, so the bigger issue is likely to be taxis and drop off/pick up. But it's not a huge volume and IIRC^▸ ('if I recall/remember/read correctly'), there will also be provision for that on the north side.

Incidentally, does anyone know:
- Will the bus stop be a replacement for the current Temple Gate stop?
- Will there be a new dedicated cycle bridge across the railway? The rendering seems to suggest that.   

[Red Squirrel]

Many of us suspect that BCC^» (Bristol City Council - about) is deliberately trying to make car journeys across the city as awkward as possible to reduce traffic volumes :-)

If we want to make more room for public transport and active travel, something's got to give!

Incidentally, does anyone know:
- Will the bus stop be a replacement for the current Temple Gate stop?
- Will there be a new dedicated cycle bridge across the railway? The rendering seems to suggest that.   

The southbound bus stop appears to be an additional stop. The northbound side of the road is outside the planning 'red line', so it may be the case that there is no corresponding northbound bus stop - which would seem to rather weaken the Southern Gateway's 'hub' potential.

There is no funding for the cycle bridge, so at best this is passive provision.

[johnneyw]

Bristol 24/7 is running an article about NR^» (Network Rail - home page)'s plans to introduce digital advertising screens to Temple Meads and the resulting public reaction.  There's clearly a number of people somewhat exercised about the impact it will have on the heritage aspects of the station.
Interesting to read one comment about the ticket hall entrance being Brunel's as I thought it was built somewhat later.
I'm in two minds about the issue but it really comes down to where they put them and how intrusive the design will be.  There's also the safety issues of maintaining ease of passenger flow to consider.

https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/anger-proposed-digital-advertising-screens-temple-meads/

[Mark A]

"...that blend commercial advertising with critical, real-time safety and operational information..."

Due to... a passenger revolt disturbance and... a digital advertising screen thrown on the track... all lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until... everyone in the station has apologised and bought a chocolate pot noodle from the vending machine situated at the far end of platform 7 before making their way to their train which we have conveniently platformed at the extreme end of platform 3.

Please memorise the contents of the additional subway digital advertising screens that you'll pass en route: before being allowed to board your train you'll need to pass a three-question test.

Mark

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

The story behind new giant statues at Temple Meads

[Image from here is not available to guests]
A statue of The Giants of Avon Gorge have been unveiled at Bristol Temple Meads Station

Statues of legendary giants have been unveiled alongside a children's book inviting people to explore the landscapes behind West Country myths.

The Giants of Avon Gorge at Bristol Temple Meads Station, is one of five installations that form a new Great Western Railway Legend Trail and book by author, poet and playwright Sir Michael Morpurgo.

Updated from the first version published more than a century ago, The Line to Legend Land features 11 folklore tales from across the South West and Wales.

Morpurgo said the project was about "connecting people with the past" and their families. "It's fun and I like the fact these are legends which are to be enjoyed just as books are to be enjoyed," the author said.

"Sure, we learn things from them, but it's also about connections with our past, with our mums, dads, grandparents and then going way, way, way back in time. But wherever you go in the West Country there are stories everywhere and some of them have grown out of myths and legends."

Temple Mead's mythical giants, Goram and Vincent, are famous for being involved in a brutal battle to win the hand of Lady Avona. She told the brothers, she would marry whoever could drain the water which ran between Bradford-on-Avon and Bristol.

Vincent won the challenge by creating the Avon Gorge, while distraught Goram was so distressed about losing, he stamped his foot into a pit - leaving the Giant's Footprint in what is now the Blaise Estate.

Visit West's head of marketing Jon Chamberlain, who was at the unveiling, said he hoped the statues would invite people to "explore the wider city – all inspired by the legends of the Bristol Giants".

The book also explores tales like The Ghost of Gloucester Cathedral, King Arthur's Camelot, in Somerset, and The White Horse of Uffington.

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) has donated copies of Line to Legend Land to 500 primary schools.

The train company's head of external communications, Dan Panes, said by taking the statues out to "some of our most popular destinations, we're aiming to inspire families to venture out on the train and discover the legends for themselves.  We've been thrilled by the reaction to our new Line to Legend Land book, and our goal was to create a truly immersive world where these myths step out of the stories and onto our stations, bringing the legends to life for everyone who travels with us," he said.

[chuffed]

In response to the question 'how did they get through the barriers?' the obvious response is, 'they took a giant leap of course !'

[Phantom]

I saw those giants on Sunday, I must admit I had never heard that story before