Bristol Live readers have been reacting to the news that Network Rail has revealed the first look at the brand new entrance to Bristol Temple Meads. The Eastern Entrance, set to open in 2026, will coincide with the unveiling of the £500m University of Bristol campus. Despite being completed, the entrance will remain unused for two years due to ongoing developments at the new Enterprise Campus.
Network Rail predicts that by 2030, an estimated 2.5 million passengers will use the entrance, which began construction in 2023 and cost around £25m. Once finished, the University of Bristol's campus will accommodate 4,600 students and 650 staff and the entrance will provide a direct link from the campus building to the pedestrian subway running beneath the platforms.
The campus building adjacent to the entrance is part of the wider Temple Quarter regeneration project, which includes new student accommodation, flats and other facilities. Commenter YosserBlues says: “Great to read that Bristol continues to be re-fashioned for the increasing student population and everyone else can go hang. Next step must be to introduce them to a council tax bill for the services they use during the months they reside here.
I see no reason why they shouldn't contribute along with the rest of us. Or are we expected to continue to subsidise them as our bills rise (and services diminish)? It needs looking at, particularly for cities with an increasingly generous student population and a budgetary shortf.
