Ritika Janiya
It’s one train station reopening in a very long time. At least not since the trains stopped rumbling into this Ashley Down station for some 60 years. Today, the trains have returned to the Ashley Down, and the excitement cannot be avoided. It is part of a wider improvement program for train services to and from the West of England. Expected to ease the jam-packed roads of the area, especially on match days at the close-by sports grounds, the station is expected to make easier life for many.
A Station Revived
Situated in the heart of Bristol, Ashley Down station boasts a rich history. The original station, Ashley Hill, was closed way back in the year 1964. Why? Well, it was due to something known as the “Beeching cuts.” These were the railway system cuts during the 1960s that closed over 2,300 stations and ripped up about 5,000 miles of train tracks. Cost-cutting effort, but one which proceeded to sever train links for much of the rest of the country.
Forward to today, and the station is finally back in action! A major event was hosted on Friday to mark the re-opening. The dignitaries were the Mayor of Bristol and the Mayor of the West of England, Dan Norris. Others were a bunch of excited schoolchildren. They had a massive pair of scissors simply to cut a banner that boldly and proudly declared “Ashley Down.” The festive atmosphere was such that the entire station was crowded to witness the much-awaited comeback after so many years.
Why This Station Matters
So why is this station’s re-opening such a big deal? The first and foremost reason is the location. Ashley Down station is nearly adjacent to some significant venues such as the Memorial Stadium and the County Cricket Ground, which can become decidedly overcrowded on days of major matches or other events. The hope is that, once it’s open, people will use the train to get to such places, which in turn will help reduce traffic jams and make life easier for all concerned.
In fact, some 13,000 people live nearby, according to Tom Pierpoint, of GWR. He is tasked with coming up with new business ventures for the railway, and to him, the new station will be a great asset to the community. “This station will reconnect Ashley Down and Lockleaze to the rail network,” Pierpoint said. This means that people living in those areas now would have an easier and cheaper way to get around, which could make a lot of difference to their daily lives.
A Team Effort
Working towards reopening Ashley Down station was not easy, nor overnight work. It requires a collaborative approach from various organizations joining forces to do the same. The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA) did play an enormous role in revamping the station. The improvement in transport and infrastructural facilities in West of England is the function of WECA, and reopening Ashley Down station is one part of the plan whereby further stations are to be added or reopened in the region.
However, WECA didn’t go at it alone. Great Western Railway and the Bristol City Council helped pay for the work necessary to bring the station back to life. Now that is not just a case of reopening the old station; rather new-produced platforms and pedestrian walkway will be ready for passengers once again.
The Bigger Picture
Ashley Down station is not the first of its type in Bristol. To the contrary, the second of its type was recently opened. Last year, Portway Park and Ride station became the first new station for over a hundred years in Bristol. This was indeed a big milestone for Bristol, and the reopening of Ashley Down is yet another step.
The new Ashley Down station is part of the existing hourly train service between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood. According to reports, it will offer people a regular and reliable way of getting about the city, such as when major sporting venues are located close by, and therefore might be pretty busy on match days.
Included to this excitement is Dan Norris, the Mayor for the West of England, on the reopening of the railway station. He said that it is “a strong signal to Bristol that we are investing in public transport.” He said, “We are investing in railways and fantastic news.” Many are of the same enthusiasm with him for the reason that improving train services could mean a lot in making Bristol a better connected city.
Looking Forward
It is coming: a new Ashley Down station that will be officially open to passengers on Saturday, bringing excitement and hope for what the future might bring. For the families living in the vicinity of the station, it becomes something more: a point of access and benefit rather than just a station to take a train at. In general, the opening has the potential expectation of making traveling easier to people, reducing traffic, and therefore giving the area a much-needed boost.
