You may soon be seeing a lot more of Portishead (the town, not the band). Thanks to an agreement between the Department for Transport, West of England Combined Authority, and North Somerset Council, the Portishead Railway will start running very soon.
The first passengers in over 60 years could be using the line between Bristol and Portishead by the end of 2027. West of England Combined Authority announced that construction will begin this summer, as it aims to slash travel times in half and reduce car commuting by 5.5%.
“This is a massive moment for the West of England: one that generations have eagerly waited to see”, said Dan Norris, the Mayor of the West of England. “This is great news for residents, businesses, and our environment – and a truly red-letter day for our fantastic region.”
“The Bristol & Portishead Line was a victim of historic rail cuts, but today, with a Labour government and a Labour mayor, we’re delivering the latest stage of my ‘reverse Beeching’ plan. I’m delighted to confirm that this project is now finally steaming ahead.”
WECA has invested £25m into the project so far, with a further £30 million to be ratified in March, with a contribution from North Somerset Council. The new route will build new stations in Portishead and Pill, with new stations potentially eyed-up for Ashton Gate, St Anne’s Park, Lockleaze and Saltford too.
“With a reopened line bringing new commuter trains along the tracks through Ashton Gate, the prospect of reopening the long-abandoned station can be brought a step closer,” said Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council. “Likewise, our ambition remains high for further stations in Bristol to connect residents to the rail network.”
The last time you could catch a train to the coastal town from Bristol was in 1964. It’s estimated that £43 million in economic growth could be unlocked each year and 50,000 people reconnected to the rail network. If all goes smoothly, we’ll be enjoying day trips to Portishead’s Marina, open-air swimming pool, beach and more very soon.