Rail First glimpse of how new Ashley Down station could look
TRANSPORT bosses have revealed more details about a new train station planned for Bristol – but passengers will have to wait for years before they can board there.
Ashley Down railway station will be built on the site of the previous Ashley Hill station, which closed in the 1960s.
It is part of a major project to reopen the Henbury Line between Temple Meads and Henbury, for the first time since 1964.
The West of England Combined Authority, which is working on the station as part of its MetroWest Phase 2, has now released new information in an online consultation. It reveals that it is likely to open by 2023, with construction expected to commence in spring 2022.
Ashley Down is one of three stations set to be built along the Henbury Line (known as the Henbury Spur), along with Henbury station and a new station in North Filton, at the Brabazon development.
2021 had previously been stated as the year the Henbury Spur would open, and it is unclear if the 2023 date cited in the new consultation applies to the entire line or just Ashley Down.
The consultation information states: “The operational date has been changed to ensure any transport developments fit with the city’s wider plans for growth and regeneration.
“This includes additional work to inform the most appropriate station site for Henbury Station and the new development planned for the former Filton Airfield site, which will be completed later than initially forecast.
“Some technical aspects of the project have required more complex solutions than previously anticipated, which required additional funding to be identified and the costs and benefits of the scheme to be reconsidered to ensure that it remained value for money.”
The impact of coronavirus was also cited as a factor in the updated time frame.
Weca is currently consulting on designs for access to the station, in partnership with Bristol City Council and Network Rail.
The proposed entrance is located where Concorde Way meets Station Road, with two platforms linked by a footbridge.
Trains would connect the station with Temple Meads and with its new counterparts at North Filton and Henbury.
No car park will be provided and residents have previously raised concerns about the potential for antisocial parking in the area, by passengers who still choose to drive there.
The consultation states that there is “a possibility of implementing a residents’ parking scheme in the area to control parking from nonresidents”.
West of England Mayor Tim Bowles said: “We are making major investments in our public transport network that will improve rail services right across the West of England, from Bath to Henbury, Severn Beach to Portishead.
“The new station at Ashley Down is a step towards reaching this goal.
“Reopening the Henbury line brings local people closer to jobs, education and leisure opportunities across the region.
“Hearing from the community on the proposals to access this new station will make absolutely sure that we are creating sustainable travel options that work for local people, help cut congestion, improve air quality and make our area an even more attractive place for people to live, work and play.”
Members of the public can find the consultation here and can leave comments until Sunday, November 1.
Councillor Kye Dudd, the city council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “Reopening local stations is an opportunity to encourage sustainable travel in Bristol, bringing cleaner air, less congestion and health benefits across the city.
“Improved infrastructure and reliable public transport are key to supporting economic growth and the jobs and houses we need across Bristol and the wider region, so it is great to see this project taking another step forwards.”