Work to start on new lift for Lawrence Hill station

Passengers using Lawrence Hill railway station will benefit from funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, with work beginning this summer to install a new lift serving Platform 2. The project is part of ongoing efforts to make the region’s transport network more accessible, inclusive and easier to use for everyone.

Almost 300,000 passengers per year use the station, which is currently accessed via two staircases from Lawrence Hill Road (A420). Although there is an alternative step-free entrance to Platform 1, Platform 2 can only be accessed via the staircase on the Church Road Overbridge. The improvements will mean the station will be step free for the first time since it was opened in 1863.

The new lift will mean step-free access to Platform 2, allowing more people the chance to travel. Alongside the new lift, the scheme will deliver replacement stairs, improved CCTV coverage, and other station enhancements designed to improve the passenger experience.

Site set-up will begin on 10 August, with construction work continuing through to summer 2027. The improvements will include:

  • Installation of a new lift providing step-free access to Platform 2
  • Construction of a new staircase to serve Platform 2, replacing the existing stairs
  • Upgrades to CCTV coverage for security and safety at the station
  • Repositioning the Platform 1 shelter with added spaces for Disabled people, replacement fencing to allow greater passing clearance, and resurfacing of the stairs

A temporary route for passengers to Platform 2 will be in place during construction, with extra signage and information. A temporary footbridge will link Platform 1 and Platform 2.

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

“Everyone should be able to access public transport. That’s why we’re investing in Lawrence Hill station to make train journeys easier and more accessible for local people and visitors.

“With our rail partners, we’re delivering another five new railway stations around the West and actively working to improve access to older stations. This is all as part of our commitment to building a transport network that people can trust with better connections across our region.”

Councillor Ed Plowden, Bristol City Council’s Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, said:

“These improvements to make the station step-free will be hugely welcomed by residents of Lawrence Hill and nearby areas, who want to use the train but haven’t been able to because of barriers to access. We look forward to seeing the new lift when it’s completed next year.”

Marcus Jones, Great Western Route Director for Network Rail said:

“The railway is among the most sustainable ways to travel, and we certainly need to make sure everyone has access to it via their local station. This project will do exactly that, opening the door to the railway for more people in Lawrence Hill and the surrounding area.

“We appreciate it may be a little disruptive to residents while the work is in progress – we’re sorry about that. This is truly a project for the greater good that will benefit the local community.”

Letters have been sent to local residents to confirm that:

  • Work at Lawrence Hill station will begin with vegetation management on Network Rail land adjacent to Morton Street, followed by the installation of site cabins and welfare facilities
  • Temporary parking restrictions will be introduced on Morton Street outside the site access gate, to support deliveries and safe access to the worksite
  • Some nearby parking spaces (on the road directly alongside the fenceline) will be suspended until work is complete, with notices placed on affected vehicles to inform residents and motorists
  • Every effort will be made to minimise noise and disruption, with Network Rail informing nearby residents of the works taking place, including regular updates will be provided throughout the project

Once complete, the upgrades will provide a more accessible, safer and user-friendly station, helping more people take advantage of rail travel in Bristol and the wider West of England.

Every railway station in the West has been assessed for station accessibility, identifying issues that present challenges for users. Nine stations, including Lawrence Hill, are undergoing feasibility studies on design solutions to achieve step-free access:

  • Bedminster
  • Clifton Down
  • Keynsham
  • Lawrence Hill
  • Nailsea & Backwell
  • Oldfield Park
  • Parson Street
  • Stapleton Road
  • Yate

Original press release by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority