AS Britain marks the 200th anniversary this autumn of the modern railway, one of the newest stations in the network celebrates its first year of operation by unveiling an artwork.
The mural at Ashley Down train station has been created by Bristol-based artist Andy Council on a 24-metre wall that runs along Concorde Way and depicts many local landmarks.
More than 100,000 journeys have been taken to/from Ashley Down since it opened in September 2024. It is the first of five stations due to open in the West of England as part of a £400 million investment plan aimed at transforming public transport.
Work is under way on North Filton station, at the new Brabazon development on the former Filton airfield, while long-awaited planning permission was granted last month for Henbury Station.
Street artist Andy’s train of thought…
ARTIST Andy Council worked with local creatives and organisations to develop a colourful mural at Ashley Down rail station.
The artwork features wildlife found in the area and Victorian housing, as well as trains – both old and new – bikes and a green WEST bus, on a bright, lilac background.
Andy worked with Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust, Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, Bristol Rovers FC, and local councillors to get ideas and inspiration for the mural.
He said: “The artwork I have created for Ashley Down is based on the small creatures that are found in the area and made up of its local landmarks. I’m very happy with the mural – it is colourful, welcoming and friendly.”
The project was made possible thanks to a £3,000 grant from Great Western Railway (GWR), £1,000 investment from the Mayoral Combined Authority, and permission from Bristol City Council for the mural to go on its wall.
The artwork was unveiled by the West of England Mayor Helen Godwin watched representatives from GWR, Network Rail, contractor BAM, and Severnside Community Rail Partnership, members of the community and councillors James Crawford, Emma Edwards, Heather Mack, Ed Plowden and David Wilcox.
The event coincided with the national Railway 200, marking the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. On 27 September 1825, the Stockton & Darlington Railway opened with the first steam train journeys on a public railway.
Helen Godwin said: “Andy has really captured so much of the local area and it’s great that people from the community have helped shape the mural. The artwork looks fabulous and I love seeing local landmarks featured like the Memorial Stadium and the County Ground, with the station so handy for fans on match days.
“Ashley Down has been a real success since opening and just shows, if you build train stations, people will use them. The West’s newest train station will soon be followed by Charfield, North Filton, Henbury, Pill, and Portishead.”
Tom Pierpoint, of GWR, said: “We’re thrilled to support this stunning new mural to celebrate one year of Ashley Down station, and how it’s brought people closer together, helping them to make more sustainable travel choices.”
Ashley Down is the newest station to open in the West of England. On the site of the former Ashley Hill station, which closed in the Beeching Cuts of the 1960s, it was the second new station to open in Bristol in under a century – one year after Portway Park & Ride station opened in 2023. It forms part of the West’s wider £400 million rail investment plans for the region which includes building new stations and adding extra services.