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

[whole diary]

[Mark A]

Has Bristol Temple Meads any other passages beneath it that would enable this perhaps?

Mark

[Red Squirrel]

The whole structure is built on vaults, so the simple answer to your question is 'yes'. I seem to remember that this option was considered, but ruled out on the grounds of cost and also the need to bang holes in a Grade I listed building to gain access.

[Phantom]

Network Rail Western tweeted yesterday about a celebration on completion of that exit, which will now be mothballed until opening in 2026 once the University completes their new build.

It does seem odd that this work was done and completed so early in the scheme of the whole development

[TonyK]

Network Rail Western tweeted yesterday about a celebration on completion of that exit, which will now be mothballed until opening in 2026 once the University completes their new build.

It does seem odd that this work was done and completed so early in the scheme of the whole development

Usually, the railway is last, or an afterthought.

[ChrisB]

Guessing that the money was made available & couldn't be guaranteed till the build was needed

[Western Pathfinder]

Makes perfect sense to carry out this work at the same time as the repair/restoration of roof and electrical systems in preparation for the new access to the campus to be in use.

[Noggin]

Network Rail Western tweeted yesterday about a celebration on completion of that exit, which will now be mothballed until opening in 2026 once the University completes their new build.

It does seem odd that this work was done and completed so early in the scheme of the whole development

IIRC^▸ ('if I recall/remember/read correctly') they had an opportunity to build the underpass whilst the East Junction trackwork was being done so took it. Also it was likely a lot easier to be delivering materials to site, craning in steelwork etc. whilst the University work was ongoing, and finallythe University can then build their public realm around the station.

[Mark A]

Bit off topic, but back in 2008, for rail replacement buses, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) would use the not passenger facing passage from the underpass to the open air at ground level below the 'V' formed by the road approach to the station. But perhaps this practice continues today?

Mark

[Western Pathfinder]

It's all still in place as far as I know,in fact it's had a bit of a tidy up in the last couple of years.

[johnneyw]

Observed today.  Although the new university campus entrance was declared complete and ready for when the new campus opens, there was a small team working on the roof this morning as pictured below.  Sorry nothing closer but the Cardiff service on the platform was being uncooperative and stayed firmly put.


Edit to correct spelling.

[johnneyw]

Passing through Temple Meads today, something looked different from the approaching service down the Filton Bank.
It seems that the covering sheets from the north side of the station canopy have now been removed affording a glimpse of the restoration work carried out at that end.
Here's a couple of photos.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for posting that update, johnneyw.   

That is indeed a fairly large project of restoration / rebuilding / improvement work.

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

Plans unveiled for new train station entrance



Plans for a new entrance and transport hub at a major railway station have been unveiled.

Part of the Bristol Temple Quarter (BTQ) project, the Southern Gateway transport hub will include new pedestrian entrance into the station over the River Avon, a new cycle hub for more than 700 bikes and a 350-space multi-storey car park.  The project is being funded by a £95m government grant awarded in 2022.

Bristol City Council leader Tony Dyer said the new hub was "crucial to unlocking the potential of Temple Quarter and the land around the station.  By creating a modern, high-quality transport hub we are improving travel to and from the station, all while freeing up space for the developments and public spaces the city needs," he added.



The BTQ project overall is expected to include 10,000 homes, new jobs and public spaces covering about 135 hectares (333 acres) of central Bristol.

The work will be the first development delivered by the Bristol Temple Quarter Limited Liability Partnership (BTQLLP), which was set up in 2024 by the city council, Homes England and the West of England Combined Authority (WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about)).

WECA Mayor Dan Norris said: "Plans for the new Southern Gateway to Brunel's historic station sit alongside work already underway for a new Eastern Entrance to Temple Meads itself.  "New spaces for bikes, electric vehicle charging, and space for further transport connections will completely change commuters' experience of our region's busiest station," he added.

The Southern Gateway will also connect walking and cycling routes being planned through Bedminster, Mead Street and Whitehouse Street.

A planning application for the Southern Gateway will be submitted by the BTQLLP in April, while the new Eastern Entrance into the new University of Bristol Enterprise Campus is set to open in Autumn 2026.

[Phantom]

Thanks for posting that update, johnneyw.   

That is indeed a fairly large project of restoration / rebuilding / improvement work.

Out of interest when are the works due to be finished?
The station is so depressing with boards everywhere, it reminds me of New Street

[Sulis John]

The replacement glazing appears to have got half way along at the top of the roof and about 1/3 of the way further down - that’s presumably a bit of a guide as to how much is still to be done.