New railway stations could open in Lockleaze, St Anne’s, Saltford and Ashton Gate

Four new train stations could soon open in Lockleaze, St Anne’s, Saltford and Ashton Gate in a major boost for public transport.

Transport experts at the West of England Combined Authority are due to start looking in detail at how much the stations would cost to build.

Stations at Lockleaze and Ashton Gate would allow passengers to alight at the stadiums of Bristol’s two main football teams, Rovers and City.

Meanwhile Saltford, in between Keynsham and Bath, and St Anne’s are both poorly served by buses but lie right next to the main railway line to London.

The West of England is expected to sign off spending £100,000 on the project on Friday, January 26, during a public meeting. A report to the meeting suggested more details about whether the stations could be afforded should become available next year.

The report said: “Providing high quality public transport alternatives will be vital to achieving behaviour change and reducing the overall volume of trips made by road in the region. Continued investment in the rail network will contribute to achieving net zero and reducing the 44 per cent of carbon emissions coming from transport.

“This study will recommend the best performing stations for further business case development. Some of these stations could be discounted at the end of the initial stage, and the study may conclude that alternative transport interventions are required to address the transport challenges identified in these areas.”

The new stations study forms part of a wider programme on upgrading the railways. This also includes exploring how services could be made more frequent on the Severn Beach line, as well as making stations more accessible for people with disabilities or pushchairs.

But the new stations won’t be getting built immediately. Combined authority bosses expect the project to have reached an outline business case by summer next year, meaning they should know by then how much construction would cost as well as design requirements.

A new train station opened at the Portway Park and Ride last summer, while another one is under construction at Ashley Down. Five other stations are planned at North Filton, Henbury, Charfield, Pill and Portishead.