Rail travellers arriving at Bristol Temple Meads will notice some temporary changes at the historic station. From today (April 18, 2022) the ticket office is moving to an alternative location to enable Network Rail to undertake refurbishment works.
Ticket office facilities will be available in the building adjacent to the station’s northern entrance in what was formerly Bonapartes café bar. The railway in and around Bristol is being transformed to pave the way for more rail services to move more people more reliably.
Improvements to the tracks and signalling in the area will ease congestion and enable more trains to run in future, according to Network Rail. Its website states: "Our rewire project is getting underway, renewing all electrical systems at the station.
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"The ticket office is temporarily moving to the former Bonaparte’s café bar on platform 3 from April 18 for up to 12 weeks." Over the coming months a team will fully refurbishing the station roof section by section.
More rail improvement work will be taking place this summer affecting trains via Bristol Parkway as well as train services between Bristol and South Wales. Network Rail said: "Bristol Temple Meads will be the focus of a great deal of activity in the next few years as the station is transformed to meet growing demand.
"As part of the Bristol Rail Regeneration Programme, the station will undergo a major transformation that will enhance the customers’ experience."
The full rewire of the station will take until autumn 2023 to complete, while the roof renovations are expected to continue until 2024. The rewiring will "bring the overall power supply and lighting up to modern day standards", Network Rail says, enabling upgrades to passenger information, CCTV and an "increase in the station’s retail offerings in the future".
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