Temple Meads chosen for technology contest

Bristol Temple Meads has been selected for a competition in which small companies try out ideas to make all UK stations more passenger-friendly places.

An unspecified sum described as ‘multi-millions’ has been set aside to make Temple Meads safer, provide better information (including when there is disruption), and a place to spend time other than for catching trains.

Calling it a ‘Station Innovation Zone’, Network Rail has joined with private firm Connected Places Catapult in a five-year deal to look at smarter ticketing and using technology to make the facilities at Temple Meads’ more accessible. 

A competition for entrants opens on November 13, with the aim of awarding ten £2 million contracts to the winners early next year.

Bristol has been chosen as it follows the Government’s decision to pump £95m into regenerating the area around Temple Meads, of which two-thirds will be spent on three new entrances and nearby public spaces. The University of Bristol has also set up a research centre in the nearby Temple Quarter.

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