Bath Spa railway station Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Bath Spa

Main buildings seen from Dorchester Street
Location
Place	Bath
Local authority	Bath and North East Somerset
Grid reference	ST752643
Operations
Station code	BTH
Managed by	Great Western Railway
Platforms in use	2
Live arrivals/departures and station information from National Rail
History
Original company	Great Western Railway
Pre-grouping	Great Western Railway
Post-grouping	Great Western Railway
31 August 1840	Opened as Bath
1949	Renamed Bath Spa
National Rail - UK railway stations
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Bath Spa railway station is the main train station in the historic city of Bath, Somerset, located in South West England. It's a very busy station that connects Bath to many other places. Several train companies use this station, including Great Western Railway, South West Trains, and CrossCountry. The station is an important stop on the Great Western Main Line and also links to the Wessex Main Line.

History of Bath Spa Station
- When the Station First Opened
- How the Station Got its Name
Modern Changes and Upgrades
- Improving the Station for Passengers
- New Facilities Around the Station
Future Plans for Train Travel
- Faster and Bigger Trains
Images for kids
See also

History of Bath Spa Station

When the Station First Opened

The station first opened its doors on 31 August 1840. Back then, it was simply called Bath. It was built by the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. He designed many important railways and bridges.

How the Station Got its Name

The station was renamed Bath Spa in 1949. This new name highlights Bath's famous hot springs. People have visited Bath for its natural spa waters for thousands of years.

Modern Changes and Upgrades

Improving the Station for Passengers

Over the years, Bath Spa station has seen many improvements. Great Western Railway manages the station. In 2005, the main station building was given a special protected status. This means it's an important historical building.

Recent changes have made the station more modern. New lifts were added to help people get to the platforms easily. Ticket barriers were also installed to improve safety and ticket checking.

New Facilities Around the Station

More big changes happened in 2011. A new bus station was built next to the train station. This makes it easier for people to switch between trains and buses. Some of the old station car parks were also turned into a new restaurant area. These upgrades cost about £12 million.

Future Plans for Train Travel

Faster and Bigger Trains

There are exciting plans for the future of the Great Western Main Line. The railway line is set to be electrified. This means trains will run on electricity instead of diesel. Electric trains are usually faster and quieter. They can also be bigger, carrying more passengers. This will help make journeys shorter and more comfortable for everyone.