NEW PLATFORM FOR BRISTOL PARKWAY

Wednesday 9 May 2007

NEW PLATFORM FOR BRISTOL PARKWAY

Region & Route:: | Wales & Western: Wales & Borders; | Southern: Wessex; | Wales & Western; | Southern

Bristol Parkway's new platform was officially opened today by Rail Minister Tom Harris as part of a wider investment to improve train performance and make services more reliable between London Paddington and the West Country over the next few years. The £3 million platform (called Platform 4) has been funded by Network Rail to ease congestion for trains coming into and departing from Bristol Parkway towards London and Birmingham. First Great Western has contributed £100,000 towards a new waiting room and help desk. Mr Harris said: "This shows how the right investment in rail delivers real benefits for passengers. The new platform will mean smoother and more reliable journeys through Bristol to London, Birmingham, South Wales and the South-West." Robbie Burns, Network Rail's Western Route Director, said: "As part of our wider investment in the railway in the West Country, we are really pleased to have been involved in this project. The new platform will ease congestion so that passengers will see an improvement in the reliability of trains passing through the station." The London end waiting room on Platform 1 has been demolished and has been replaced with an extended waiting area, along with a customer help desk. Alison Forster, Managing Director of First Great Western, said: "This new platform is really good news for our customers. It is a tangible example of investment in the network and industry partners working together to improve services for customers. It will reduce journey times and improve the reliability of our services on the busy South Wales-London route." Network Rail is currently evaluating the business case for a further platform on the down line (services towards Wales and the West Country) to turn the current Platform 2 into an island platform.

Notes to editors

The main construction work started in December 2006. The platform is adjacent to the existing Platform 1, forming an island platform. The new platform is Platform 4 and the existing Platform 1 will become Platform 3.

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