Bristol Live readers have been reacting to the news that Network Rail has revealed the first look at the brand new entrance to Bristol Temple Meads. The Eastern Entrance, set to open in 2026, will coincide with the unveiling of the £500m University of Bristol campus.
Despite being completed, the entrance will remain unused for two years due to ongoing developments at the new Enterprise Campus. Network Rail predicts that by 2030, an estimated 2.5 million passengers will use the entrance, which began construction in 2023 and cost around £25m.
Once finished, the University of Bristol’s campus will accommodate 4,600 students and 650 staff and the entrance will provide a direct link from the campus building to the pedestrian subway running beneath the platforms. The campus building adjacent to the entrance is part of the wider Temple Quarter regeneration project, which includes new student accommodation, flats and other facilities.
Commenter YosserBlues says: “Great to read that Bristol continues to be re-fashioned for the increasing student population and everyone else can go hang. Next step must be to introduce them to a council tax bill for the services they use during the months they reside here. I see no reason why they shouldn’t contribute along with the rest of us. Or are we expected to continue to subsidise them as our bills rise (and services diminish)? It needs looking at, particularly for cities with an increasingly generous student population and a budgetary shortfall.”
Twinkle2 agrees: “Great to see money wasted on students who don’t contribute with council tax and get discounts on everything. Where there should have been the Bristol Arena we have now a space of no use for Bristolians.”
Magnus1975 asks: “How on earth can it cost 25 million quid to build this?”
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Parcel quotes: “’The entrance first began construction in 2023 and was estimated to cost £25m.’ £25m, but it’s left to deteriorate for two years. They are well on track.”
Pachacuti adds: “They can afford to spend £25 million on a new entrance to Temple Meads station that they didn’t need, but they can’t afford to reintroduce the railway line from Portishead to Bristol. Shame they can’t get their priorities right!”
John Moriarty agrees: “So the public purse paid £94.7 million for this but the public can’t use it for two years? Unreal!”
Russell Edwards says: “Until they start getting in the 10,000 homes planned for Temple Quarter, it’ll be used only by the campus and students residing in the area.” Rob Angus replies: “The university should be made to pay for it.”
Bristol_Girl writes: “Looks fab, soon to be ruined by the thousands of ‘protected’ seagulls that terrorise Bristol, along with lots of ‘street art’ tagging, after our Bristol was put on the map by asking people to come here and vandalise anything they could.”
Mick Graham says sadly: “What a joke Bristol has become.”
How do you feel about the regeneration plans? Will they benefit Bristol? Have your say in our comments section.