Bristol Brabazon Station Reaches Major Milestone As Footbridge Installed

The new Bristol Brabazon railway station has taken a visible step forward after its accessible footbridge was lifted into place on the former Filton Airfield site.

The installation took place over the Bank Holiday weekend, with a 750-tonne all-terrain mobile crane used to position the nine sections that form the staircases and bridge deck.

The lift shafts for the bridge were completed last month, and cladding work is now set to begin following the installation of the main stairs and deck structure.

Construction is also continuing on the station platforms, with further work due in the coming weeks on coping stones, canopies, furniture, fencing and surfacing.

Bristol Brabazon station is scheduled to open this autumn. When complete, it will restore regular passenger services to the Henbury line for the first time since 1964 and serve Brabazon, the new town being developed on the former airfield site.

The station will later move into a second phase of construction ahead of the opening of the Aviva Arena in 2028.

Funding for the project is being provided by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, with contributions from South Gloucestershire Council, Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council and Great Western Railway. Network Rail is a key partner in the scheme.

Progress is also being made on Henbury station, which is due to follow Bristol Brabazon. The Mayoral Combined Authority has confirmed that Network Rail has been awarded the contract for detailed design work at Henbury, having also delivered earlier design stages and the designs for Bristol Brabazon and Ashley Down stations.

Bristol Brabazon and Henbury stations will serve a wider area that has been shortlisted as one of the Government’s new towns. The area is also set to fall within the region’s first Mayoral Development Zone, with the possibility of 40,000 new homes over the long term.

Once the new links are in place, trains from Henbury and Bristol Brabazon will be able to travel to Portishead via Bristol Temple Meads, creating a new cross-region connection.

Network Rail Western route director Marcus Jones said:

“The installation of the accessible footbridge is a major milestone for Bristol Brabazon station and alongside the ongoing platform construction, marks significant and visible progress. Once complete, the new station will play a key role in connecting people to jobs, homes and opportunities, providing sustainable access to everything the wider region has to offer. We’re proud to be part of a project that supports both the growth of this new neighbourhood and stronger transport links across the West of England.”

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:

"Last week, we showcased Bristol Brabazon station and the wider emerging new town to Chancellor Rachel Reeves and investors while announcing the region's first Mayoral Development Zone. This week, it's brilliant to see work continue on track for new stations on the Henbury Line. The new bridge was installed over the bank holiday at Bristol Brabazon, as we progress towards opening the station later this year - ahead of the Aviva Arena opening and more new homes being delivered. Our combined authority has also confirmed further investment in developing plans for Henbury station, alongside continuing work to upgrade the track to help enable faster trains and more frequent services in the future. Our growing regional rail network, with more trains and more stations, is an important part of building a transport system that people across the West can trust. We're using record transport funding from government to make a difference that residents can see and feel, including these new stations."

South Gloucestershire Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for transport, Councillor Chris Willmore, said:

“The installation of the new footbridge marks a major step forward for the station and the wider rail network here in South Gloucestershire and across the West of England. Following the announcement of the station’s new name, significant progress has been made with construction. This new infrastructure will help improve accessibility, reconnect communities, and support the substantial growth planned for the area in the years ahead.”

Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council and Deputy Mayor of the West of England, said:

“It’s great to see the new accessible footbridge in place. When it opens, the new station will be a real boost for how people travel between the new Brabazon neighbourhood and Bristol, giving residents and visitors a rail link into the city and onwards across the region. With thousands of new homes and a growing population in this area, it’s vital we make it easier to choose public transport from the outset. This station will support more sustainable journeys, help ease pressure on the road network, and provide a convenient way for people to get to major events at the Aviva Arena when it opens.”

YTL UK Group chief executive Colin Skellett said:

“The installation of the new footbridge at Bristol Brabazon station marks another significant step in the transformation of the former Filton Airfield into Brabazon, a thriving new town. High quality transport infrastructure and strong connectivity are fundamental to creating sustainable, well-connected communities, and this station will play a vital role in linking Brabazon to the wider region. With planning permission for 6,500 new homes, schools, office space, and a community centre, as well as work on the new 20,000-capacity Aviva Arena underway, momentum continues to build. This progress demonstrates our commitment to delivering a place where people can live, work and connect, supported by the modern transport links essential for long-term growth and success.”

GWR’s managing director, Mark Hopwood, said:

“I’m delighted to see significant progress being made on Bristol Brabazon station, which once open will help to expand the services that we provide in this new community and across the region as a whole. This is in addition to the construction of new stations at Charfield, Henbury, Pill and Portishead, all of which will open up access to rail services across even more communities.”

Image: Network Rail