Construction of the new Charfield railway station in South Gloucestershire is now clearly visible, with major infrastructure elements including the platforms and pedestrian footbridge already in place.
The £41.7 million scheme is being funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, using investment secured through the Government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. Once complete, the station will restore rail access to Charfield for the first time in more than six decades.
The new station will serve Charfield and neighbouring communities, allowing residents to use rail services that have passed through the village without stopping for over 60 years. Great Western Railway (GWR) will operate an initial hourly service, delivering journey times of approximately 32 minutes to central Bristol and 22 minutes to Gloucester, significantly reducing current travel times.
Improved rail connectivity is expected to unlock wider access to employment, further and higher education, and leisure opportunities, while offering a realistic alternative to car travel.
Designed for Accessibility and Sustainable Travel
Charfield station will feature a fully accessible pedestrian footbridge with lifts, alongside bus stops, cycle parking, and car parking to support journeys from surrounding towns and villages.
Around 14,500 people live within three miles of the station. Once open, it is expected to provide a practical, sustainable travel option, helping to reduce road congestion and support regional decarbonisation objectives.
South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration, and Infrastructure, Councillor Chris Willmore, said:
“It’s exciting to see the new station taking shape. The project is a key part of our strategic approach to improving transport links and choices for local people.
“This project is now well underway and we are pleased as a council, working with our partners, to be delivering this major investment in the future of Charfield and surrounding area.”
The Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, said:
“Charfield is one of five new stations we are already delivering across the West. We are investing funding that we have secured from the government to build a transport system that works for our region, including with more trains and better buses.”
Route Strategy Director for Network Rail and GWR, Jo Grew, said:
“Following in the footsteps of Ashley Down station in Bristol, Charfield will reconnect this community to the rail network for the first time since 1965. This new station will transform how people travel locally, providing faster, greener and more reliable connections, supporting access to jobs and education, and helping to reduce congestion on local roads.
“This isn’t just trains and track – it is about reconnecting people to rail and providing a vital economic catalyst across the region. This project validates our belief that reliable rail services are essential for local and national growth.”
Part of a Wider Rail Investment Programme
Charfield station forms part of a £400 million rail investment programme across the West of England. Five new stations are planned or under construction: Charfield, Henbury, Bristol Brabazon (North Filton), Pill, and Portishead. These build on the successful openings of Portway Park & Ride and Ashley Down stations in recent years.
Image credit: South Gloucestershire Council
