Network Rail has announced work has commenced on the construction of a new railway station in Bristol on the Severn Beach line.
The brand-new railway station will link the Portway Park and Ride with the Severn Beach line.
Bristol City Council are working with Network Rail to build the first new railway station in the city of Bristol in 95 years.
The £4.2m project forms part of the West of England Combined Authority’s (WECA) plans to develop the local rail network through the MetroWest programme.
Funding for the new station is jointly provided by Bristol City Council, the West of England Combined Authority and the Department for Transport.
Preparatory work including replacing safety fencing along the line and installing a ramp down to the tracks took place in December.
Excavation work also took place around the area of the platform in preparation for laying the foundations.
The majority of the work will be carried out overnight to help reduce the disruption to rail passengers.
The Severn Beach line will have to temporarily close from 19th to 27th February whilst changes to signalling are completed and the concrete platform foundations are built.
Councillor Don Alexander, Bristol City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport spoke on the construction of the new station in Bristol.
Cllr Alexander said: “It’s really exciting to see work starting on the first new rail station in the city in almost a century.
“Portway Park & Ride station will improve connectivity to the rail network for the local community and more widely for users of our Park & Ride site.
“It will help us to ease congestion on the roads in a sustainable way and reduce air pollution.
“[The new station will help] towards our ambitious goal to be carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2030.”
Once the new station is opened Bristol City Council plans to improve its Park and Ride facility including more parking spaces.
Mike Gallop, Network Rail Western Route and Strategic Operations Director commented on the project.
Mr Gallop said: “We are delighted to be working with Bristol City Council, the WECA and Great Western Railway on opening this new station for Bristol.
“The start of construction for the Portway Park and Ride station heralds the latest development in our efforts to transform rail travel for our passengers in and around Bristol.”
Once opened this summer the station will be served by the recently improved half-hourly services between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach.
This will complement the existing Park and Ride bus service providing a useful transport link to the local community and those travelling from further afield.
