Major £72.5m revamp at Temple Meads nears completion

A six-year project to refurbish a 152-year-old Grade I listed railway station building is nearing completion, after a £72.5m refurbishment.

Network Rail engineers have changed over 1,200 roof glazing panels, repaired 2,500 pieces of steel work at Bristol Temple Meads station, and re-wired the electrical system throughout the building.

Joanna Grew, from Network Rail, said: "It is part of a much bigger scheme to regenerate the Bristol area and the whole Bristol Temple Quarter.

"Whilst the scaffolding was up it really was a dark place but slowly we've been taking that scaffolding down and unveiling what is the beautiful station - a bit like opening a present at Christmas."

Grew explained the scale of the project expanded once work started: "We originally thought there would only be 250 repairs, and actually that number was 2,500.

"We will be over the next few years looking to renovate various parts of the station which will bring in much better food and beverage and commercial opportunities," she added.

As well as the roof refurbishment, a new entrance has been constructed which will link to the University of Bristol's new campus next to the station.

To ensure the work was carried out safely, a huge scaffolding structure was built above where the trains ran.

James Shelley, lead portfolio manager, said: "We had a lot of responsibility to make sure we were sympathetic to the heritage of the station."

"We're incredibly proud of the work that we've done on site, these projects are a bit like onions.

"When you peel it back and find elements you didn't realise were there when you started it can be daunting."

"We're really at a point now where there's light at the end of the tunnel, but passengers can now look up and see the good work that's been done," he added.

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