News / Bristol Temple Meads
Temple Meads to become UK’s first ‘station innovation zone’
Bristol Temple Meads is to become a testbed for passenger tech from 2023 under a multi-million pound programme which will turn the railway station into the UK’s first “station innovation zone”.
It will see new technologies trialled that will be designed to improve passengers’ experience.
These could include making journeys smoother with smarter ticketing, making stations more accessible with wayfinding apps and using AI to improve people flow.
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Connected Places Catapult, “the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and place leadership”, will be joining forced with Network Rail on the programme.
The CEO of Connected Places Catapult is Nicola Yates, who was CEO at Bristol City Council between 2013 and 2016.
During her time at City Hall, Yates was also chair of the board of Bristol Energy, the loss-making energy company that the council funded with £36.5m of taxpayers’ money.
Connected Places Catapult is part of the Catapult network of nine independent not-for-profit private organisations “transforming the UK’s capability for innovation in sectors of strength”.
When Bristol Temple Meads opened in 1840, it was the world’s first railway terminus’ – photo: Martin Booth
Yates said: “Innovation is tough in any industry and rail is especially hard because of the number of assessments and permissions required. The net effect is that it takes too much time and costs too much for most small businesses to engage.
“Partnering with Network Rail to create a multi-year Station Innovation Zone in Bristol’s vibrant Temple Quarter will enable us to support numerous small companies in navigating these challenges and benefit passengers’ experience of the station.”
Francis McGarry, Network Rail Wales & Western region investment director, added: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Connected Places Catapult on this new programme which will provide SMEs with crucial funding opportunities and Network Rail with new, innovative ideas on how to further enhance the experience of our passengers.
“We are committed to developing Bristol Temple Meads into a world class transport hub for the benefit of our passengers, the city of Bristol and wider West of England region, so it is fitting Bristol Temple Meads has been chosen as the UK’s first Station Innovation Zone.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
- An ode to Bristol Temple Meads
- New footbridge among plans for major Temple Meads redevelopment
- New cafe and bakery opens near Temple Meads
- Architect discovers little-known secrets behind Temple Meads
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