St Anne’s Park Station could reopen as part of new railway plans

A long-lost Bristol train station that shut 50 years ago could be reopened under ambitious plans for the region’s rail over the next decade.

Campaigners including MP Kerry McCarthy are celebrating after St Anne’s Park station in Brislington received up to £50,000 from the Government to begin the process of restoring it back to life.

It is one of a raft of projects outlined in the West of England Combined Authority’s (WECA’s) first ten-year rail delivery plan approved on Friday, December 4, following agreement with Network Rail.

The aim is to transform the railways, create fast, frequent, low-carbon, “turn up and go” train services and make improvements to existing stations, including step-free access for all.

Among the aspirations are the launch of MetroWest and even an extension to Weston and further south as far as Taunton and Exeter and electrification of the line between Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway and Chippenham.

New stations, including Charfield and Ashley Down, are also in the plan, with the possibility of others such as Ashton Gate, Saltford and St Anne’s Park, the latter of which has received a boost from the Department for Transport to pay for a feasibility study.

Train on line passing through St Anne’s. Photo: Ellie Pipe

Bristol East Labour MP Ms McCarthy, who has campaigned with ward councillor Tim Rippington to reinstate it, said: “Reopening St Anne’s station would vastly improve the area’s connectivity, providing a quick route into Temple Meads towards the city centre.

“I thank the staff at Bristol City Council for their crucial work helping Tim and I put together this bid. It’s great the campaign to reopen the station has taken this step forward.”

Brislington East councillor Rippington said: “St Anne’s residents have had to put up with poor public transport for far too long. These proposals have the backing of many in the local community.”

St Anne’s Park station opened in 1898 and closed in 1970.

A report to WECA committee said the combined authority’s ten-year rail plan aimed to deliver services and infrastructure over two five-year periods.

View of railway line from Newbridge Road, Brislington. Image: Google Streetview

The first, 2020-25, focuses on existing schemes such as several phases of MetroWest – Portishead line with new stations at Pill and Portishead served by an hourly train in each direction; Henbury line with three new stations at Ashley Down, North Filton and Henbury providing an hourly service from Temple Meads to Filton Abbey Wood and onto North Filton and Henbury; and Yate & Gloucester line with half-hourly trains between Temple Meads and Yate, plus an extension to Gloucester under review.

It also includes Temple Meads eastern entrance and new roof, the new Portway station on the MetroWest Severn Beach line serving the adjacent park and ride site, and Bristol East Junction remodelling to increase capacity.

“Pipeline projects” to come forward by 2030 include the renewal of Bristol West Junction, improved pedestrian and cycle access at Bristol Parkway and a new station at Charfield village.

At the meeting on Friday, members approved a strategic outline business case for Charfield, between Gloucester and Yate, where 291 homes are planned.

An hourly train in each direction would form part of the MetroWest phase two extension to Gloucester.

South Gloucestershire Council leader councillor Toby Savage told members: “I’m delighted to see Charifled station has reached the strategic outline business case stage and hope we can continue to progress rapidly through the next stages with Network Rail.

“Charfield is an important development location in delivering new homes in South Gloucestershire and will provide an attractive and sustainable travel option to Gloucester, Yate and Bristol.”

How MetroWest will look. Image: TravelWest

Other projects over the next decade include decarbonising the train fleet and creating a subway for pedestrians and cyclists at Bristol Parkway to alleviate the Hatchet Road Bridge “pinch point”, following a campaign by South Gloucestershire councillor Brian Allinson.

There are also hopes for an additional station in Ashton Gate and to reinstate the line from Frome to Radstock.
Mass transit, which is currently being considered by WECA-appointed consultants, would form a central plank of the future of public transport in the region alongside rail and metrobus.

Metro mayor Tim Bowles told the meeting: “MetroWest is a project of real national significance, and that significance was contained in the national infrastructure strategy that was published last week by the Government.

“The vision to revolutionise our rail network is vital to getting our region moving, bringing to an end those decades of underinvestment.”

Bath and North East Somerset council leader councillor Dine Romero said: “Having a ten-year delivery plan is key to achieving our ambitions on change and sustainability.

“My only slight disappointment is that Saltford remains a scheme that ‘could’ come forward in the next ten years.”

Adam Postans is a local democracy reporter for Bristol.

Read more: New bid to reopen St Anne’s Park Station