• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Monday March 17 2025
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Work starts on new Brabazon train station as YTL confirms Arena opening date

Work has started on the railway station that will serve Bristol’s new Brabazon neighbourhood.

The station is due to open in 2026. The rail link will connect the residents of the 6,500-home ‘urban community’ at the former Filton Airfield – as well as visitors to the planned 19,500-capacity YTL Arena Bristol – to the city’s main Temple Meads station, with journey times of around 15 minutes.

On Friday (March 14) representatives of developer YTL were joined by metro mayor Dan Norris, Filton MP Claire Hazelgrove, and leader and co-leader of South Gloucestershire Council Councillors Maggie Tyrell and Ian Boulton.

During the visit, Colin Skellett, chief executive of YTL UK, said the long-awaited arena is set to open in 2028.

The entire project is being backed by a £2 billion investment from the government of Malaysia, where the YTL corporation is headquartered.

Brabazon is named after the Bristol Brabazon, the post-war commercial airliner designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in a massive hangar on the site.

“Brabazon is where the pioneers of aerospace created the future. Today the next generation of pioneers are shaping the way we will live, work and play in the 21st century,” said Colin Skellett.

“The West of England faces a housing crisis, so Brabazon, the region’s largest Brownfield site, is part of the solution.

“Less than five miles from the centre of Bristol, at the heart of a world-leading cluster of aerospace, engineering and technology companies and with a rail line, metrobus route and cycle paths.

“The new train station is essential to our shared vision to create the UK’s most sustainable New Town.”

Dan Norris added: “Work is now underway on yet another new train station for the West of England.

“I’m proud to have opened two new stations in as many years, including the first new one in Bristol in almost a century, but there’s plenty more coming down the track for our region.

“My Mayoral Combined Authority is going full steam ahead to open this station too – serving the new town at Brabazon and helping people get to the new arena.

“The West of England is continuing to secure major investment to create new jobs and economic growth now and over the coming years.”

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