News / Transport
Poundland take offence at Temple Meads being compared to Poundland
After Bristol Temple Meads was described as the “Poundland of national rail stations”, both Poundland and station owners National Rail have hit back.
David Redgewell, of passenger group South West Transport Network, told a meeting of the West of England Combined Authority that Temple Meads’ renovations were desperately needed.
The authority has earmarked £26.6m for the renovation project, which will create a new eastern entrance to the station into Temple Quarter.
is needed now More than ever
A harbour walkway could provide pedestrian and cycle access to Temple Quarter alongside the Floating Harbour
Redgewell said: “I hope the money goes through for that because it’s the worst station. It’s the Poundland of national rail stations. This is a gateway to the South West of England.”
Temple Meads owner Network Rail said that it was “jewel in the crown of Brunel’s railway”, and has pledged £40m over the next five years to refurbish the roof.
And then Poundland joined the fray online, to which National Rail responded in a subsequent tweet:
Poundland tweeted to Redgewell: “Let me be clear. Our stores have never once closed due to overcrowding. They have never failed to open because of the wrong kind of rain. They run to time, not to some mythical timetable that’s the figment of Network Rail. When we sell something for £1, it’s not five times the price if you buy it before 9.30am or after 4.30pm.”
In response, Network Rail tweeted: “Train performance in the west is the best it’s been for years and the ‘mythical timetable’ will change in December with journeys from Bristol up to 17 minutes quicker – all without the use of any unicorns!”
Additional reporting by Adam Postans, local democracy reporter for Bristol
The view from Platform 12 at Temple Mead of the University of Bristol’s proposed new £300m campus
Read more: ‘A transformed Temple Meads will finally give us a railway station fit for the 21st century’
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