A NEW train platform was officially opened in Bristol on Friday.

It is hoped that the addition to Bristol Parkway station will address a 'historic bottleneck' in the region's rail network.

Network Rail says the new platform will allow for an increase in capacity on the network, enabling new services to be introduced and reducing delays.

Unveiling a plaque to mark the official opening, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "These improvements will boost reliability, increase the number of trains serving Bristol and along the route, and also allow new intercity trains to stop at the station too.”

CrossCountry’s managing director, Andy Cooper, said: “This additional platform will help alleviate an historical railway bottleneck, where trains travelling north, south, east and west are all sharing the same small piece of railway infrastructure."

Mark Langman, route managing director for Network Rail’s Western route said: “The opening of the brand new platform 1, together with the extension of existing platforms at Bristol Parkway marks another key milestone in the Greater West Programme.

“This region will continue to benefit from investment in the railway as later in the year we will be doubling the number of tracks into Bristol allowing more services to run to London and the west, as well as improving reliability and punctuality for services to the south west, Birmingham and the north.

“Over Easter we completed Network Rail’s biggest ever signalling upgrade in the city which together with the doubling of the tracks and installation of this new platform are key enablers for future expansion of the suburban rail network around Bristol.

"Freight operators will also benefit from the updated track layout at Bristol Parkway, easing strain on the network overall. I would like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding whilst we have been undertaking these upgrades to transform the railways around Bristol”.

Bristol Parkway is a significant station in the region, linking the West country to Wales, south-west England and London Paddington.