Ashley Down railway station

Railway station under construction in Bristol, England

51°28′44″N 2°34′36″W / 51.47875°N 2.57670°W / 51.47875; -2.57670Managed byGreat Western RailwayPlatforms2Other informationStation codeASDKey dates2024Expected opening

Ashley Down railway station is a railway station currently under construction, serving the Ashley Down area of Bristol.[1] The West of England Combined Authority have planned to open a new train station on the site of the disused Ashley Hill railway station, as part of the MetroWest scheme.[2] The reopening is supported by Bristol City Council, Network Rail, local MPs and local rail groups,[3] and will provide rail access to local colleges, the Memorial Stadium, home of Bristol Rovers Football Club, and to the County Ground, home of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.[4]

History

The new station was initially ruled out by Network Rail due to modern regulations regarding the track gradient in stations, and also due to the high cost of removing an embankment.[5][6] However in January 2018, it was revealed that plans had been revived to reopen the station as part of the reopening of Henbury Spur.[7]

Following the Bristol City Council meeting of 18 June 2019, the former Ashley Hill station was cited as a station of main interest in MetroWest, with an opening date expected by 2023.[8] Funding was given in January 2023 for the station,[2] and construction started in March 2023. completion is expected in 2024.[9]

Services

The new station will be served by hourly services to Henbury calling at Filton Abbey Wood, North Filton and Henbury on the way north, and Stapleton Road, Lawrence Hill and Bristol Temple Meads on its way south, however, until Henbury and North Filton open, this service will only operate between Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Temple Meads.[10][2]

Preceding station Future services Following station
Filton Abbey Wood   Great Western Railway
MetroWest (Bristol) 		  Stapleton Road

References

  1. ^ "New Ashley Down railway station construction gets under way". BBC News. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Ashley Down station Proposed access designs". travelwest. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Study to take place into plans for new station". The Bristol Post. Northcliffe Media. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  4. ^ Wood, Dave (16 September 2013). "New tracks, new stations will provide opportunities". Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  5. ^ "Costs set to signal end of plan to reopen city railway station". Bristol Post. Local World. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  6. ^ Johnston, Howard (27 November – 10 December 2013). "Regional News". RAIL. Vol. 736. Haymarket Publishing. p. 24.
  7. ^ "North Bristol to get new train station". 29 January 2018.
  8. ^ Wilson, Kate (20 June 2019). "Latest on opening of new Bristol train station". BristolLive. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  9. ^ "New Ashley Down railway station construction gets under way". BBC News. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Latest on opening of new Bristol train station". 20 June 2019.