A new train station is due to open in Bristol next month while two other stations have been hit by fresh delays.
Ashley Down station is scheduled to open either at “the end of August or early September”, giving people living in the area a new option to travel by train.
Meanwhile North Filton and Henbury have been delayed due to changes to the design and concerns about an access ramp. The North Filton station will serve the new Brabazon Arena and housing estate, and Henbury will be the last stop along the newly reopened line.
But YTL Developments, which is building the arena and housing estate, recently changed their plans for increased capacity and more homes. This means the plans for North Filton station have needed to be redesigned, although planning permission has already been granted.
Henbury station doesn’t have planning permission yet, and there are concerns about a ramp accessing the site. The opening date has been pushed back yet again from 2026 to early 2027, according to Malcolm Parsons, interim delivery director for transport infrastructure at the West of England Combined Authority. North Filton still appears due to open in 2026.
An update on the new train stations was given to the overview and scrutiny committee on Monday, July 22, which includes councillors from the three councils in the West of England — Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset.
Mr Parsons said: “We don’t have planning consent for Henbury yet. We’re reapplying for planning because of a condition on an access ramp. We’re proposing that we press forward with an application in the next few weeks, which will allow us to deliver that project by the end of 2026 or early 2027.
“The scope and requirements of Filton have been amended, following the application for densification of the site and the arena, which has changed the design. We have agreed with the rail industry partners what that revised set of requirements will be.”
But the fresh delays to opening Henbury and North Filton have sparked fears they might never get built. That’s particularly given that Henbury was originally due to open three years ago.
Conservative Councillor Mark Weston, representing Henbury and Brentry, said: “It was 2026, and then you started mentioning 2027. Originally this was meant to be 2021, so it seems to be sneaking along all the way. I’m slightly concerned this will be forever in the distance, the quest for the holy grail. The holy grail gives immortality, and I might need that to get my station.”
Mr Parsons replied: “It will not be forever in the distance. We are absolutely sure we have to have those facilities open, not least of which because the developer at Filton needs it. And we’ve made commitments to the region to deliver it.
“We’ll open Ashley Down station this year, that’s likely to be opened at the end of August or early September. We opened Portway Park and Ride station last year. And we expect to continue that trend and have greater confidence in our ability to deliver in the region.”
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