Final funds agreed for Portishead to Bristol line
Construction is set to begin in summer to bring back a railway line axed 60 years ago after an agreement was reached with the Government over funding.
The first passengers could be using the line between Bristol and Portishead by the end of 2027, it was announced by Mayor Dan Norris.
Construction should begin this summer.
The reopening of the railway, which was axed back in 1964, will slash travel times in half, reduce car commuting by 5.5%, and unlock an estimated £43m in economic growth each year.
“This is a massive moment for the West of England: one that generations have eagerly waited to see”, said Norris, who pledged in his manifesto in 2021 to make progress on the iconic rail project. His Mayoral Combined Authority has invested £25 million into the project to date.
The final £30m boost to ensure that the long-awaited reopening becomes a reality will be ratified in March at the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority Committee. This includes a contribution from North Somerset Council.
The Bristol & Portishead Line first opened in 1867. Passenger services were scrapped in 1964.
Cllr Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council, said: “The Portishead to Bristol rail line stands to be transformative for North Somerset and the wider area, connecting 50,000 people back into the rail network through regular and sustainable transport whilst offering access to the opportunities of growth across the southwest.
“Working in partnership with West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, Department for Transport and Network Rail, we have put in the hard work and were the country’s first passenger rail scheme to secure a Development Consent Order to re-open a branch line.
“Together, we have risen to challenges of rising costs, understanding the value that these train services will offer to our communities. I’d like to thank everyone involved for their effort to date and look forward continuing our work to get the first trains up and running.”
