The new eastern entrance at Bristol Temple Meads will open from 4pm on Monday 7 September, marking a significant milestone in the transformation of one of Britain’s busiest and most historic railway stations.
Delivered by Network Rail in partnership with the Bristol Temple Quarter partners, the new entrance provides direct access between Bristol Temple Meads and the University of Bristol’s new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, whilst improving connections for communities and businesses in St Philip’s Marsh and the east of the city.
The £23 million project is expected to serve around 2.5 million passengers each year by 2030, as part of longer-term work to double the capacity of the region’s busiest station. The new entrance was funded by some of a £94.7 million of government funding awarded to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA) to support the delivery of three new entrances to Bristol Temple Meads station.
The first of three new entrances to be delivered, the eastern entrance will open directly onto the new campus, dramatically improving connectivity between the city’s main station, the new future-focused innovation district, and communities in the east of the city.
The new entrance forms a key part of the wider Bristol Temple Quarter regeneration programme, one of the largest and most ambitious regeneration programmes in Europe, which aims to deliver thousands of new homes, jobs and opportunities for Bristol and the West of England. The scheme is a partnership between WECA and Bristol City Council, who formed the Bristol Temple Quarter LLP to drive the project forward in 2024, working closely with Network Rail, University of Bristol and Homes England.
To create the new entrance, Network Rail extended the station subway beneath platforms 13 and 15, excavating through existing structures before carrying out major drainage, foundation and station improvement works. Construction began in late 2023, with the main building works completed in October 2024 ahead of the entrance opening alongside the University of Bristol’s Enterprise Campus.
From Tuesday 8 September the service 8 bus, Bristol Temple Meads to Clifton, will begin serving the new eastern entrance of the station adjacent to the University of Bristol Temple Quarter campus. This will include a new bus stop on Cattle Market Road and an end to use of Station Approach.
Marcus Jones, Network Rail’s Great Western route director, said:
“Bristol Temple Meads has been at the heart of the city since it opened in 1840, and this new entrance ensures it will play an even greater role in its future. By connecting the railway directly to the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus and one of the UK’s most exciting innovation districts, we’re connecting new jobs, investment and economic growth to the rest of the West and beyond.
“This milestone reflects more than a decade of collaboration between partners with a shared ambition for Bristol Temple Quarter. Together, we’re transforming connectivity, unlocking development and creating a gateway that will support the region’s growth for decades to come.”
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“Our investment in the future of Bristol Temple Meads is a crucial step in getting the West moving, building on the extensive roof repairs which were recently completed. With the old sorting office replaced by the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus and a brand-new entrance for Brunel’s iconic railway station, this gateway to innovation, new homes and new jobs will soon be well and truly open.”
Karen Mercer, CEO, BTQ LLP, said:
“By working together with our partners at Network Rail and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, we have delivered a new entrance to the station on time and on budget. This will dramatically improve access to the station for communities and businesses in east Bristol and is a key part of our wider aspirations for connectivity around Temple Quarter, as we deliver thousands of new homes, jobs and opportunities for people in West of England.”
