Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[TonyK]

We now learn that Marvin Rees hasn’t banned the LDR’s; however he has stopped inviting them to his press briefings. To explain the distinction, he says that if he has a birthday party and doesn’t invite you that doesn’t mean you’re banned.

Hmm.

I should imagine his next birthday is going to be a bit of a dour affair, probably spent watching movies on DVD. I might suggest "Dead Man Walking" to him, as I might to the Prime Minister. The book is by a nun, Helen Prejean, so would be right up his street. I've read it, it's very good. There isn't a happy ending.

[ChrisB]

From the North Somerset Times

Portishead Railway project boosted by £15million funding
A £156million plan which would reopen the Portishead Railway line has received a healthy chunk of Government funding

The Department for Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) has granted more than £15 million of funding for the MetroWest Phase One scheme, which includes plans to reopen the Portishead railway line.

Uncertainty has loomed over the railway's reopening with 'environmental issues and inflation' threatening to derail the project.

The MetroWest plans aim to rejuvenate public transport in the South West by giving train access to 80,000 more residents with North Somerset's Portishead and Pill rail stations set to be reopened.



North Somerset Council leader, Steve Bridger, said he was 'thrilled' to hear the DfT was to pump another £15.5m of funding into the scheme - on top of the council's £10m pledge.

Cllr Bridger said: “This is more good news for Portishead, Pill and the region.

"As part of MetroWest Phase 1, Portishead rail is one of our key schemes with the potential to transform the area through greener travel, access to jobs and sustainable economic growth.

“I am thrilled that our commitment and determination is paying dividends and has brought the rail line a step closer to becoming a reality for our residents."

Projected capital costs for the scheme had risen to £152m earlier in the year as a result of the approval of the scheme’s Development Consent Order (DCO^▸ (Driver Controlled Operation)) taking longer than anticipated and 'unprecedented global increases to the cost of energy, labour and construction materials'.

This rise in cost created a shortfall of £35.5m - leading to North Somerset Council's £10m pledge and the DfT funds.

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about)), will meet on Friday (July 29) to reach an agreement on contributing a further £10m, which would close the remaining funding gap.

The MetroWest project will also include train services upgraded on the Severn Beach line and between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads.

Cllr Bridger added: "I would like to thank our officers, my councillor colleagues, our West of England Combined Authority partners, the Department for Transport, Liam Fox MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) and the rail minister for their continued efforts in pushing this much-anticipated scheme forward.”

Portishead and Pill railway lines are currently scheduled to reopen in 2024.

[Red Squirrel]

Well goodness gracious me.

Here's North Som's press release: https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/news/additional-funding-secured-deliver-portishead-rail-line

[johnneyw]

Hurrah....just the small matter of the DCO^▸ (Driver Controlled Operation) then.

[stuving]

Hurrah....just the small matter of the DCO^▸ (Driver Controlled Operation) then.

Unless approving the business case isn't a formality ...

The additional funding will be subject to Department for Transport approval of the scheme’s full business case and the DCO, as well as the £10m in funding from both North Somerset Council and the West of England Combined Authority.

[chuffed]

Grant Shapps has already said he is minded to approve the DCO^▸ (Driver Controlled Operation)....but what will a new SoS think ??

[Red Squirrel]

The scheme which WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about) will vote on on Fri 29th includes the following changes:

o Reduction of scope to bring the existing freight line up to passenger train line standards
o Reduction of Portishead and Pill platform lengths from 5-Car to 3-Car
o Removal of Portishead Station building
o Reduction in selected highway scope (car parks, bridge works)
o Change in governance model, with DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) taking on the client role.

Worth noting that the report considers, and discounts, the option of cancelling the project.

The full report is here:

https://westofengland-ca.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s5167/MetroWest%201%20Portishead%20Line.pdf

[froome]

Presumably 3-car units would be sufficient for off peak usage but could they cope with expected peak time demand? (perhaps they could if commuting doesn't fully return to pre-Covid levels)

Also, am I right in thinking that the intention was always that services from Portishead would continue after Temple Meads as local services to Bath? Or have I just dreamed that one up.

[grahame]

o Reduction of Portishead and Pill platform lengths from 5-Car to 3-Car

Noting the stations on the way to "The Beach" can now only take 3 carriages ...

[froome]

Do you actually save much by building a reduced length of platform? I would have thought most of the costs went on land acquisition, laying on the infrastructure needed (electricity etc) and clearing and building the foundations. I would have thought the extra cost involved in a longer platform wouldn't be much.

[Red Squirrel]

Do you actually save much by building a reduced length of platform? I would have thought most of the costs went on land acquisition, laying on the infrastructure needed (electricity etc) and clearing and building the foundations. I would have thought the extra cost involved in a longer platform wouldn't be much.

Next to nowt at Pill, I would have thought, given that there is already a long platform in situ.

Note revised opening date: of 2026...

[chuffed]

For as long as I can remember since this whole sorry saga started, the opening date ALWAYS seems to be 4 years away.

[Bmblbzzz]

It's the rail equivalent of nuclear fusion.

[chuffed]

An extraordinary meeting of the West of England Combined Authority Committee will be held on Friday 29 July, at 1pm at Ashton Gate Stadium, Ashton Road, Bristol, BS3 2EJ.

The meeting will discuss contributing an additional £10m to help deliver MetroWest Phase 1, which includes reopening the Portishead to Bristol rail line. The meeting will be chaired by the Metro Mayor Dan Norris and attended by Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol City and South Gloucestershire Councils who will vote on this matter.

For more details and agendas visit: www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/meetings.

What makes this meeting even more extraordinary, is that it is being held at Ashton Gate (almost in North Somerset) , is about the line that is 80% in North Somerset,  is next door to the line, and yet North Somerset representatives aren't invited ! You couldn't make it up!. I just hope they can hear us yelling JFDI^▸ (just flipping do it (polite version)) from over the border at 150 decibels.

[TonyK]

And at that meeting:



Go on, Shapps and DfT^» (Department for Transport - about), I dare you to say no again!