Bristol Temple Meads revamp plans unveiled

Plans have been unveiled for a major redevelopment of Bristol's Grade-I listed Temple Meads railway station.

One idea from Network Rail is to demolish the ramp at the station and build a car-free space at the entrance.

It also plans to convert Victorian passenger sheds into a new platform for electric-powered trains to London.

Network Rail said it will recognise the station's history, but needs to "deliver a 21st Century transport experience".

The company's Mike Gallop said: "We need to make the station into a destination. The station can be far more than just getting on and off a train."

'Exciting' plans

Redeveloping the station forecourt into a "public realm" or piazza, could "serve the people of Bristol really well", he added.

Ross Simmonds, of English Heritage, described the plans as "exciting", and said the company was looking forward to working with Network Rail over the next couple of years on the scheme.

He said: "We'll come up with a scheme that is functioning and workable and protects the historic environment as well."

About £9.6m has already been earmarked to redevelop the roundabout outside the station.

The Temple Circus gyratory is to be reshaped as part of plans to open up access to the city's Enterprise Zone.

The money comes from the £21m Local Enterprise Partnership fund which has been allocated to improve the infrastructure in the area.