£27m funding helps to get Portishead rail plans back on track

The West of England Combined Authority has put forward £27m to bring back the Portishead Railway line, with work on the long-awaited project set to start in the summer.

The line closed in the 1960s and the news of the project getting the go-ahead comes after a period of uncertainty last year when government funding for the scheme was withdrawn.

The Bristol & Portishead Line will cut travel times between Temple Meads and the North Somerset town in half, compared to driving, and is anticipated to see an additional 1.2 million rail journeys within 15 years of opening.

Business case development work for potential new railway stations including Ashton Gate, Saltford, and St Anne’s has also been approved to begin as part of a new regional rail strategy to support the region’s Local Growth Plan.

Dan Norris, the Mayor of the West of England, said: “Thanks to the deal I struck with the Rail Minister, residents can look forward to work getting back on track this summer to reopen the Bristol & Portishead Line.

“With another £27m of funding approved by my Mayoral Combined Authority, we’re investing in jobs and growth, and creating opportunities for new homes for local people along the line that was dreamed up by Isambard Kingdom Brunel almost 200 years ago.

“Once trains are running again between Temple Meads and Portishead, journey times will have been halved and my reverse Beeching programme will have unlocked an extra £43m a year for our regional economy.”