Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Accident closes part of A369 from Portishead to Bristol

One of Bristol's main commuter routes has been shut after two cars collided and an electricity pole was damaged.
Emergency services were called to the A369, near its junction with the turn-off for Pill, just after 0600 BST.
A man in his 40s was taken to hospital with chest injuries but they are not thought to be life-threatening.
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said the road would stay closed until engineers from Western Power can inspect the damage.
He said calves from a nearby field also escaped on to the road but had since been rounded up.
"Western Power have indicated that the road may need to be closed for most of the day, while they carry out repair work," he added.
The closure on the A369 is between the Bush Lane and Sandy Lane junctions.
The police spokesman advised motorists to avoid the area if possible.
Traffic in and out of Portishead was also disrupted by a separate accident on the Portbury Hundred close to Station Road.

Yet another example of the need for some alternative to the A369 ... 

[Timmer]

Sad news but not unexpected as another rail related project hits the buffers as a result of spending cuts:
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Rail-link-plan-hit-spending-cuts/article-2397867-detail/article.html

A ^30 MILLION passenger rail link between Portishead and Bristol has been put back years because of public spending cuts. The link would have provided a vital commuter route into Bristol and eased congestion on traffic-clogged roads in the area. But Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has told North Somerset MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Liam Fox there is no money to pay for the scheme. In a letter to Dr Fox, Mr Hammond says: "Whilst we support improvements to regional and local rail services, the Government's key priority at present is to tackle budget deficit.

[paul7575]

Had this ever been confirmed for funding by the Labour Govt - or was it for a future decision? 

What I mean is as it is only mentioned in the CP4^▸ (Control Period 4 - the five year period between 2009 and 2014) plan as a potential application for Regional Funding Allocation - is it really a cut?

Paul

[Electric train]

Parlance in the rail industry is not cut as that has "Beeching" connotations things are now deferred into CP5^▸ (Control Period 5 - the five year period between 2014 and 2019) or even 6

There is more of this to come  unless the proposed schemes could get private funding then public funding may be possible

[JaminBob]

I don't know how true this is, but I've been told the promised cascaded rolling stock from the Thames valley will also not make its way west? Can anyone confirm / deny?

[JayMac]

Don't think that cascade was ever 'promised'. Merely an aspiration should GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) electrification go ahead.

Also, what relevence is this to the Portishead Line?

[JaminBob]

Don't think that cascade was ever 'promised'. Merely an aspiration should GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) electrification go ahead.

Also, what relevence is this to the Portishead Line?

Just on the subject of 'cuts'.

Sorry. 

[caliwag]

Not enough people shouting for the project...lobbying is it called? Same in Yorkshire, Haxby station (not strategic it has to be said) has sunk again. Trouble is it seems to take more than the life of a parliament to approve these things...the only winners are the fee earners and the local journalists that can fabricate an article..."Haxby station on track" being fairly typical since 1991

Crossrail wins because there are big playing lobbiests...not least clown Boris

[Chris from Nailsea]

In a possibly light-headed moment, having reached 5,000 posts on this forum ( ), I've merged these topics here, as they relate specifically to the campaign to re-open the Portishead Line to passengers.

C. 

[Mookiemoo]

I know its selfish but I never shouted for it before

I do now!

I won't comment on any cotswolds line threads from now on - I'll redirect my focus

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Re-opening of Portishead to Bristol rail line examined

Plans to re-open the Portishead to Bristol railway could cut the journey time into the Temple Meads station to 17 minutes.

A report from Network Rail showed that although the project cost was greater than anticipated journey time was much quicker than previously thought.

Passenger services from Portishead were cut in the 1960s although part of the line was re-opened in 2002 for freight.

The estimated cost of the project is estimated at ^38.9m

North Somerset Council spokesman said at present traffic congestion on the A369 meant some commuters spent more than an hour or more on their journey.

"This route would represent a considerable time saving for residents of Portishead and surrounding villages who currently have limited travel choices into Bristol," he added.

It is hoped as a minimum to operate passenger trains every half hour at peak times and hourly off-peak. They will run from Portishead - via a reopened Pill station - and terminate at Bristol Temple Meads.

The report also shows that there is the capacity to call at other stations - where deemed necessary - along the branch line although this would delay journey times and could substantially increase costs.

Subject to funding and planning the line could open by 2017.

Further details are available on the North Somerset Council website:

Portishead Rail link moves forward

The prospects for re-opening the Portishead to Bristol rail line to passenger train services have taken a significant step forward with the publication of a report by Network Rail.

The option selection report, also known as a GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects) 3 report, is the result of a year-long study by Network Rail working with North Somerset Council on the engineering feasibility and estimated cost of re-opening the line.

Our deputy leader, whose portfolio includes strategic planning and transport, Cllr Elfan Ap Rees, said he was very encouraged by the findings.

"Network Rail has examined all the options and associated engineering implications very thoroughly and while the estimated costs are higher than previously thought, the train journey times are much better (quicker) than we had initially estimated.

"The re-opening of the line would put an end to years of commuting misery with a journey time into Bristol from Portishead of around 17 minutes.  This would represent a considerable time saving for residents of Portishead and surrounding villages who currently have limited travel choices into Bristol, with traffic congestion on the A369 meaning that commuter journeys often take an hour or more."

Passenger train services from Portishead to Bristol were cut in the 1960s, although the line to Portbury Dock was re-opened in 2002 for freight trains only.

However this is mainly a single track line and, to accommodate both freight and passenger trains in both directions of travel, will require major capacity upgrade works and completion of the line into Portishead town centre.

The GRIP 3 report takes account of the need to continue freight train operations on the line, and sets out the engineering and infrastructure requirements to operate a passenger train service.

The base project option is to operate passenger trains every half an hour at peak times and hourly off-peak, from Portishead calling at Pill and terminating at Bristol Temple Meads.

This represents the minimum level of service that the project would deliver.  The  report also indicates that there is capacity to call at other stations along the branch line subject to detailed business-case feasibility, although this would delay journey times and could substantially increase costs.  There is also potential to operate services to destinations beyond Temple Meads, subject to more detailed analysis with train- operating companies.

The engineering requirements identified in the report include:
- Upgrading works to the existing Portbury freight line to a line speed of mainly 55 mph
- Reinstatement of Pill railway station
- Replacement of the dis-used track between Portbury Dock Junction and Portishead
- A new road bridge at Quays Avenue (road over the railway)
- A new station at Portishead in Harbour Road.

The estimated construction cost of the project is ^38.9 million in 2010/11 prices.

In addition to this are costs of preparing detailed funding submissions, costs of preparing supporting information to secure powers to build and operate the project and costs associated with underwriting the operation of the train service for the first few years of operation.
 
Cllr Ap Rees warned that although the GRIP 3 report is highly encouraging and a major step forward, it is not a quick fix and he is keen to now talk with government and in particular the Department of Transport to speed up the various processes and establish a funding package for the project.

"Taking account of the major project milestones in terms of funding approval, further Network Rail processes and other approval hurdles, at present the earliest construction could probably start is late 2015, with passenger train services re-introduced in early 2017.

"While that may seem some time away and progressing the project in the current climate of government budget restrictions is certainly a challenge, five years is a typical lead time up to beginning construction for projects of this scale. At least by this time the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)^s budget position should have recovered, giving us a greater chance of success," he added.

The Portishead Rail project forms part of the prioritised programme of major transport schemes for the West of England sub-region, set out in the draft Joint Local Transport Plan 3, put together and agreed by the councils for Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol City, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.  The final version of the plan comes into effect on 1 April 2011 and covers a 15 year period to 2026.

[JayMac]

A short documentary about the Portishead Line, it's history and the campaign to see it re-opened:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXLMLlglOe0

[anthony215]

There is a report on WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes), saying that on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) radio bristol This morning that the portishead line is to be cleared  so that a passenger trial  can be run by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) this autumn.

Any further information on this?

 

[JayMac]

One line in a BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) News online story, about cuts to subsidised public transport, mentions this trial.

See: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=8990.msg92851#msg92851

[anthony215]

Thanks that wasn't on here when i looked earlier. nice to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) looking at it though