UK’s Network Rail has completed the installation of two railway lines between Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Temple Meads as a part of a £130m upgrade programme.

The installation will increase the number of lines into Temple Meads from two to four and help improve the reliability of train services.

Network Rail route managing director Mark Langman said: “This upgrade will transform rail travel for passengers across Bristol.

“It will also ease congestion at the bottleneck into Bristol Temple Meads, where trains are often delayed getting into the station.”

The introduction of the lines will enable the rail operator to run local services on separate lines, eliminating frequent delays of intercity services.

Additionally, the lines will help in avoiding delays and resume normal services faster during incidents.

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“Better and faster transport connections are crucial to building Bristol’s success, ensuring accessibility to new jobs and homes and supporting inclusive growth.”

They will also support the introduction of a direct London–Bristol Parkway–Bristol Temple Meads services, set to be introduced at the end of next year.

Construction works under the upgrade programme started in 2015, with the final phase of testing completed in the last two weeks.

The local authorities Bristol City and South Gloucestershire Council have also supported the upgrade programme.

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said: “By investing in infrastructure with our partner organisations, we move closer to delivering a thriving transport exchange at Temple Meads that will support our ambitions for Temple Quarter, Bristol and the wider city region.

“Better and faster transport connections are crucial to building Bristol’s success, ensuring accessibility to new jobs and homes and supporting inclusive growth across the West of England.”

Last month, Network Rail announced that it will roll-out ‘faster safer isolations’ technology across the South Western Railway route.

The technology will help to make rail maintenance processes safer and more efficient.

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