Media centre

Monday 27 Oct 2025

Network Rail’s Western route scoops four awards at annual celebration of engineering achievement

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Several projects on Network Rail’s Western route were named the winners at the annual awards ceremony held by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West, including three in Bristol and one in Devon.

The new eastern entrance to Bristol Temple Meads station, due to open in 2026, was the only double winner of the night, taking home both the People’s Choice Award and the Community Award at the ceremony held in Bristol last Thursday evening (23 October).

Eastern entrance, Bristol Temple Meads

The eastern entrance was built as part of the Bristol Temple Quarter programme, one of the largest and most ambitious regeneration programmes in Europe, which aims to deliver thousands of new homes, jobs and opportunities for Bristol and the West of England.

Last September, work on the new £23m eastern entrance was completed, marking a key milestone. Delivered in two phases, the project overcame complex engineering and heritage challenges to create a fully accessible gateway linking the station to the new University of Bristol campus and the growing Temple Quarter community.

A standout engineering achievement involved tunnelling through the station’s existing subway concrete and masonry using a robotic breaker. This was completed without incident despite taking place within a live station environment with trains running overhead.

The judges described the project as a “shining example of how thoughtful infrastructure projects can transform public spaces and enhance communities”. The judging panel was particularly impressed with how the project teams balanced modernisation with heritage preservation and maintained full operation of the station with minimal disruption for passengers. They noted that this project sets a strong foundation for a thriving, inclusive urban future that reflects the city’s character.

Ashley Down station

Another winner for Bristol in the category for new builds that cost over £10m to deliver was Ashley Down station – the second new railway station in Bristol in nearly a century. The station opened in September 2024 and forms part of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s £350m MetroWest programme, which is enhancing regional rail services and connectivity.

Fully accessible and designed with inclusivity at its core, Ashley Down offers convenient rail access for 35,000 adults within a 1km radius. The station helps tackle congestion along the A38 corridor, saving an estimated seven million minutes in travel time each year.

It is expected to reduce car journeys by 5.5% and increase walking, cycling, and public transport use. The station supports economic growth, improves access to jobs, and strengthens links to key regeneration areas across the city.

The judges thought this project “showcased a bold and innovative approach to transforming a challenging and busy transport route”. They noted the commitment the project teams showed to community engagement as especially impressive, describing the project as engineering at its very best.

Dawlish to Holcombe Cliff Stabilisation

The cliff stabilisation between Dawlish and Holcombe in Devon took home the Over £10m Re-Engineered Award.

This project, which was completed last year, stabilised 1.2km of steep, geologically sensitive coastal cliffs above the main railway line between Dawlish and Holcombe in Devon, safeguarding a vital transport link.

The £34.7m Government-funded project involved installing coir matting on the cliff face, followed by 19,700 square metres of stainless steel netting, secured by more than 6,000 soil nails drilled to depths of up to 13m into the face of the cliff. Workers reached the rock face by abseiling down from the top, and special consideration was given to working within the Dawlish Cliffs Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Remarkably, the works were completed without disrupting rail services, even during one of the wettest winters on record.

The project has helped protect local homes, supported over 250 jobs, and included a skills development programme for local college students. It now provides a 100-year design life, ensuring long-term resilience for this iconic stretch of railway.

The judges thought this project “offered a pioneering approach to resilience work that has the potential to influence similar projects across the country”. They felt this project embodied innovation, fresh thinking, and collaboration at its core while tackling complex challenges with agility, strong community engagement, and effective teamwork.

Marcus Jones, Network Rail’s Western route director said: “We’re delighted that three of our projects have been recognised at this year’s prestigious Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West Civil Engineering Awards.

“These wins are a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved, including our partners and contractors, as well as the local communities that have supported the projects.

“It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to build on the success of last year’s awards, when Portway Park & Ride station took home the award for collaboration, highlighting the close working relationship between Network Rail, the West of England Combined Mayoral Authority, and Bristol City Council. It shows how we’ve taken the collaborative ethos of that scheme forward to continue delivering improvements for Bristol and the surrounding area. It’s an exciting time for train travel in the city, with work continuing on the Bristol Temple Quarter project and the new (award-winning!) eastern entrance due to open next year.

“The cliff stabilisation scheme between Holcombe and Dawlish will ensure the resilience of the coastal line in Devon for decades to come and it’s great to see the effort receive the recognition it deserves. Our teams worked innovatively in a challenging environment, battling the weather during one of the wettest winters on record, abseiling down cliff faces, and even protecting the nest of a family of owls – all while ensuring the trains kept running. The project demonstrates our commitment to delivering lasting improvements for the communities we serve.”

Speaking about the three Bristol winners, Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “To come away with three awards from one ceremony is quite the achievement for two significant rail projects in our region.

“I’m delighted that the public voted Bristol Temple Meads’ new Eastern Entrance as it’s People’s Choice Award. The West’s newest station, Ashley Down, picked up the Over £10m New Build award and will soon be followed by stations at Charfield, North Filton, Henbury, Pill, and Portishead.

“With our partners, we have our eyes on the prize. Investing the record £750 million of transport funding secured from government since May will get our region out of the slow lane, get the West moving, and unlock jobs and growth – including through more trains!” 

Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of Bristol City Council’s Transport and Connectivity Committee, said: "These awards endorse Bristol’s commitment to sustainable, inclusive infrastructure that puts people and communities first. The recognition of the new eastern entrance at Temple Meads and Ashley Down’s new railway station reflects the city’s ambition to deliver transformative transport projects that connect residents to opportunity, reduces congestion, and supports regeneration. These projects couldn’t have happened without a collaborative approach - congratulations to everyone involved."

Miranda Housden, regional director, ICE South West said: “This year’s award winners reflect the outstanding skill, creativity and commitment driving civil engineering across the South West. It’s especially encouraging to see emerging talent celebrated alongside experienced professionals, with all finalists contributing to a vibrant and resilient industry. Many of the winning projects stood out for their meaningful public engagement, showing how engineers are working closely with communities to shape solutions that truly serve them. These awards are a powerful showcase of the positive impact civil engineering delivers across our region.”