Bristol trains: Possibility of new stations to be explored

One of the train stations could be opened near Ashton Gate, the home of Bristol City and Bristol Bears

A project to explore whether opening new train stations across Bristol is feasible is set to be signed off.

The West of England Combined Authority (Weca) could agree funding to start looking in detail how much the stations would cost to build next week.

Transport bosses are targeting new stations at Lockleaze, St Anne's, Saltford and Ashton Gate on top of others already planned.

There is currently no timescale for when the stations could be built.

This study will put forward the potentially best performing stations for further business case development.

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However a Weca report said the project could discount some of the proposed stations or even conclude that other travel measures would be more appropriate in their place.

There are several stations either in progress or planned for Bristol

Weca chiefs are expected to sign off spending £100,000 to explore the possibility on 26 January during a public meeting, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Benefit for sports fans

The proposed stations at Lockleaze and Ashton Gate would serve fans of Bristol Rovers going to the Memorial Stadium and Bristol City and Bristol Bears fans heading to games.

Saltford, in between Keynsham and Bath, and St Anne's lie on the main line to London.

The project should reach an outline business case by summer next year.

The Weca report said: "Providing high-quality public transport alternatives will be vital to achieving behaviour change and reducing the overall volume of trips made by road in the region.

"Continued investment in the rail network will contribute to achieving net zero and reducing the 44% of carbon emissions coming from transport."

The new stations study forms part of a wider programme on upgrading the railways.

Portway Park and Ride station opened in July

Weca is also set to start exploring what updates are needed to the Severn Beach railway line to allow trains to run more frequently.

The line serves Bristol Temple Meads as well as Lawrence Hill, Montpelier, Redland, Clifton Down, the new Portway park and ride station and Avonmouth.

It is unclear if the project will explore increasing service frequency south of the river, where trains to Bedminster and Parson Street still only run hourly.

A new station is currently under construction at Ashely Down, while five others are planned at North Filton, Henbury, Charfield, Pill and Portishead.