Train trophy treble for West of England
Two multi-million-pound rail projects in Bristol scooped three top honours at the Institute of Civil Engineers’ (ICE) South West awards.
The new Eastern Entrance to Bristol Temple Meads railway station won the People’s Choice Award and the Community Award. Scheduled to open in 2026, it was the only engineering project to take home two awards on the night.
Meanwhile, Ashley Down railway station won the Over £10 million New Build award at a ceremony with 400 guests in Bristol last week. Judges described the year-old station as “engineering at its very best”.
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 for Bristol Temple Meads’ new Eastern Entrance as their People’s Choice Award winner. The West’s newest station, Ashley Down, which picked up the Over £10m New Build award, 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!”
Marcus Jones, Network Rail’s Western route director, said
“We’re delighted that two of our projects in Bristol have been recognised at this year’s prestigious Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West Civil Engineering Awards, with the eastern entrance to Bristol Temple Meads becoming a double winner.
“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 new Eastern Entrance at Bristol Temple Meads is a major investment into the Grade I listed station that will dramatically improve access to the station for communities and businesses in St Philip’s Marsh and east Bristol.
The entrance is the first of three new entrances to the station to have been delivered using part of the £94.7 million awarded to the Bristol Temple Quarter project by national government.
Judges described the project as a “shining example of how thoughtful infrastructure projects can transform public spaces and enhance communities.”
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of Bristol City Council’s Transport and Connectivity Committee, said:
“We are incredibly proud to see Ashley Down station recognised in the Over £10m New Build category. This award reflects the strength of the partnership working and dedication of everyone involved. It is an example of how thoughtful infrastructure can connect communities and support sustainable travel across our city.
“We are also delighted that Bristol Temple Meads Eastern Entrance won both the People’s Choice and Community awards – a fantastic endorsement of the impact it is having on access and connectivity for Bristol communities.”
Karen Mercer, CEO of Bristol Temple Quarter LLP, said:
“Winning two awards for the new Eastern Entrance is testament to the success of the Bristol Temple Quarter partnership.
“By working together with our partners at Network Rail and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, we have delivered a new entrance to the station on time and on budget.
“This will dramatically improve access to the station for communities and businesses in east Bristol and is a key part of our wider aspirations for connectivity around Temple Quarter.”
Phil Bowcock, Operations Director at BAM, said:
“Winning three awards for the work at Ashley Down and Temple Meads Eastern Entrance is fantastic. It is a result of the great collaboration and hard work of all the parties involved including MCA, BCC, Network Rail, Great Western Railways and BAM.
“BAM are especially proud to construct and leave a legacy that benefits the local community and the wider travelling public for many years in the future.”
Tom Pierpoint, GWR Business Development Portfolio Director, said:
“New stations such as Ashley Down are vital in bringing the railway closer to people as we become mindful of the need to live and travel more sustainably.
“Working successfully with our partners at the West of England Combined Authority, Bristol City Council, and Network Rail, we were really pleased to be able to open the station, once again connecting the local community to the wider rail network for the first time in 60 years.
“This reward is recognition of the value that the station brings to the local economy, to residents, businesses and to leisure travellers alike.”
After £23 million investment, Ashley Down station opened in September 2024. It was the second new railway station to open in Bristol in nearly a century. Since opening last year, more than 100,000 journeys have been taken to/from Ashley Down, click to open in a new windowwith a new mural celebrating the local area.
Ashley Down forms part of the West’s ambitious wider £400 million rail investment plans for the region which includes building new stations and adding extra services.
The judges commented that the project showcased a “bold and innovative approach to transforming a challenging and busy transport route.” They added the project teams showed commitment towards community engagement.
Press release by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority
