Western Gateway welcomes Ashley Down Station opening

The Western Gateway Partnership was delighted to be a part of celebrations to open the new Ashley Down Rail Station in Bristol today. This is the second station to be opened in Bristol in just over a year and is one of 30 stations within the Western Gateway Rail Vision which have been identified as deliverable by 2050.

The Ashley Down project, led by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, has been developed with the Department for Transport and GWR, as well as Network Rail, Bristol City Council and Severnside Community Rail Partnership.

Despite being the second station to open in 15 months, Ashley Down is only the second new railway station to open in the city in 100 years. It follows the opening of Portway Park & Ride station in August 2023 and there is much more to come through the Metrowest programme.  Ashley Down is the first of three new stations along the line with North Filton and Henbury planned over the next few years, supporting new housing development and the planned YTL Arena Bristol.

The Western Gateway Rail Vision launched in March 2023 with industry support from GWR and Network Rail and transport bodies such as Transport for Wales, Western Gateway Sub-National Transport Body and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

Since the launch, other welcome announcements have included; the introduction of half-hourly services between Bristol and Yate; £100m investment in Cardiff Crossrail; completion of the Ebbw Vale Line upgrade; and the launch of public consultation on five new stations between Cardiff and Severn Tunnel Junction.

Deputy Director of the Western Gateway, James Cooke said: “Rail connectivity provides rapid and sustainable travel for residents across the Western Gateway and delivery of our Rail Vision could open that access to a further 248,000 people.

“We have been delighted to work with partners like the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority to present the scale of this opportunity both locally and in Parliament, but it is seeing these stations open which brings the Vision to life.

“Our Convention for the Western Gateway at the ICC, Wales on 17 October will call for further backing of our ‘Rail Deal’ which can deliver £17bn of economic benefit to the UK with up to 30 new stations and 460km of electrified lines to decarbonise our transport network.”