Work begins on new eastern entrance to Temple Meads

Bristol Temple Meads’ new eastern entrance will eventually open directly onto the University of Bristol’s new Enterprise Campus.

Work has now started on the entrance which within the next few years will also be joined by new northern and southern entrances, making much of the railway station and the area surrounding it unrecognisable from today.

The new entrances are being funded by £94.7m from central government for the Temple Quarter development through the West of England Combined Authority.

An artist’s impression of the new eastern entrance to Bristol Temple Meads – image: Network Rail

Temple Meads ‘southern gateway’ CGI – image: Bristol Temple Quarter

The proposed northern entrance to the station – image: Bristol Temple Quarter

Over the coming months, work will include piling work to support the creation of the new eastern entrance in the existing retaining wall which used to separate the station from the cattle market and later the former sorting office.

This will be followed by breaking through the wall and excavation works to create a tunnel through to the existing subway inside the station.

Construction on the new entry building will begin in early 2024 and expected to take over a year.

The new building will be “shrouded” until September 2026 to allow the development of the new university campus and public space outside the entrance to be completed.

Work has started on the construction of a new eastern entrance overlooking platform 13 at Temple Meads – photo: Network Rail

WECA metro mayor, Dan Norris, said: “I’m thrilled that works to create a brand new entrance for Brunel’s iconic station to improve access for locals east of the city are now underway, all part of one of the most exciting regeneration projects in Europe which I’m proud is being administered by my West of England Mayoral Combined Authority

“Combine this with my multi-million-pound programme of region-wide rail improvements, including the opening of Portway Park & Ride in the summer, and soon-to-be new stations at Ashley Down and elsewhere, and it’s clear we’re making getting from A to B in the West easier, safer and more pleasant than ever before.

“It’s another important step on the journey to regenerate this amazing city and have, at long last, the jewel in the crown in the heart of our great West of England region.”

Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said that “underpinned by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and shaped by a clear vision for the place we want to create, we can deliver up to 10,000 new homes, many of them affordable homes, thousands of new jobs, and sustainable infrastructure Bristol needs to thrive and be a blueprint for sustainable 21st century city regeneration”.

An artist’s impression of the new University of Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, being built on the site of the former Royal Mail sorting office – image: University of Bristol

Marcus Jones, Network Rail’s western route director, added: “It’s almost 100 years since the last major developments at Bristol Temple Meads.

“The work we’re doing with the eastern entrance, roof renovation and the £94m major redevelopment of Temple Meads will revolutionise the experience for passengers and Bristolians alike, putting the station right at the heart of the community.

“Just as Brunel planned when the station opened 183 years ago, Temple Meads has evolved over time – from the original station of the 1840s, to the main arch of the 1870s to 1890s, to the additional platforms of 1920s to 1930s.

“We’re now taking the station firmly into the future.”

Main photo: Network Rail

Read next:

• Architect discovers little-known secrets behind Temple Meads
• Scaffolding at Temple Meads to remain for three more years
• ‘We’re working with the city to shape the University for Bristol’

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