Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
 Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 03:15 17 Feb 2026
 
- US build-up of warships and fighter jets tracked near Iran
- Five injured as Swiss train derails in heavy snow
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]		 21/02/26 - Inspiration Train, Salisbury
21/02/26 - Romsey Signal Box Open
24/02/26 - Portishead RAG AGM
04/03/26 - Routmaster Auction

On this day
17th Feb (2003)
Introduction of London congestion charge (link)
Train RunningCancelled
17/02/26 05:22 Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple
17/02/26 21:41 Barnstaple to Exeter St Davids
17/02/26 23:46 Barnstaple to Exeter St Davids
Short Run
17/02/26 06:12 Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple
17/02/26 06:25 Barnstaple to Exeter Central
17/02/26 07:07 Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple
17/02/26 07:22 Barnstaple to Exeter Central
17/02/26 08:04 Exeter Central to Barnstaple
17/02/26 08:35 Barnstaple to Exeter Central
17/02/26 09:14 Exeter Central to Barnstaple
17/02/26 09:35 Barnstaple to Exeter Central
17/02/26 10:14 Exeter Central to Barnstaple
17/02/26 10:35 Barnstaple to Exeter Central
17/02/26 11:14 Exeter Central to Barnstaple
17/02/26 11:35 Barnstaple to Exeter Central
17/02/26 12:14 Exeter Central to Barnstaple
17/02/26 12:35 Barnstaple to Exeter Central
17/02/26 13:12 Exeter Central to Barnstaple
17/02/26 13:35 Barnstaple to Exeter Central
17/02/26 14:14 Exeter Central to Barnstaple
17/02/26 14:35 Barnstaple to Exeter Central
17/02/26 15:14 Exeter Central to Barnstaple
17/02/26 15:35 Barnstaple to Exeter Central
17/02/26 16:13 Exeter Central to Barnstaple
17/02/26 16:31 Barnstaple to Axminster
17/02/26 17:15 Exeter Central to Barnstaple
17/02/26 17:33 Barnstaple to Exeter Central
17/02/26 18:15 Exeter Central to Barnstaple
17/02/26 18:38 Barnstaple to Exmouth
17/02/26 19:17 Exeter Central to Barnstaple
17/02/26 19:42 Barnstaple to Paignton
17/02/26 20:19 Exeter Central to Barnstaple
17/02/26 20:41 Barnstaple to Exeter St Davids
Delayed
An additional train service has been planned to operate as shown 17/02/26 23:29 Crediton to Exeter St Davids
•
PollsOpen and recent polls
Open to 17/02 11:37 If I was to concentrate on up to 3 "Social Media"s which would best reach you?
•
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
•
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
•
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
•
Train companiesSelect from:
GWR
SWR
XC
Chiltern
TfL
TfW
WMR
Southern
• Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple Meads • Bath Spa • Chippenham • Swindon • Didcot Parkway • Reading • London Paddington • Melksham
Exeter St Davids • Taunton • Westbury • Trowbridge • Bristol Parkway • Cardiff Central • Oxford • Cheltenham Spa • Birmingham New Street
February 17, 2026, 03:16:24 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[201] Plus bus plus Rover
[100] Itchy feet - where have they taken me?
[97] North Wales, Valentines, 2026
[91] SETG take custody of 455871 at Strawberry Hill
[59] A379 at Slapton Sands in south Devon - sea related incidents
[34] Class 175s to Great Western Railway (GWR)
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Great Western Coffee Shop > Sideshoots - associated subjects > Campaigns for new and improved services > Portishead Line - possible meeting of forum members to explore the route?
Pages: [1]
« previous next »
  Print  
Author Topic: Portishead Line - possible meeting of forum members to explore the route?  (Read 1597 times)
Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 5641


There are some who call me... Tim


View Profile
« on: January 21, 2026, 10:56:40 »
I took the bus out to Portishead a couple of days ago, and then walked to Pill to see progress. The photos are in this BRC post, for those who may be interested:

https://bristolrailcampaign.org.uk/portishead-railway-january-2026-update/
Logged
Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
IndustryInsider
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 10635


View Profile
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2026, 11:19:50 »
Quote from: Red Squirrel on January 21, 2026, 10:56:40
I took the bus out to Portishead a couple of days ago, and then walked to Pill to see progress. The photos are in this BRC post, for those who may be interested:

https://bristolrailcampaign.org.uk/portishead-railway-january-2026-update/

A really nice report and that may well have sparked my own interest to do something very similar in the Spring/Summer.  It's the X4 bus, isn't it?
Logged
To view my GWML▸ (Great Western Main Line) Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/
Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 5641


There are some who call me... Tim


View Profile
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2026, 15:13:45 »
Yes, the X4. Quite frequent, and usually a Yutong electric jobby!
Logged
Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
johnneyw
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 2693


From station to station, back to Bristol city....


View Profile
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2026, 16:13:27 »
Quote from: Red Squirrel on January 21, 2026, 15:13:45
Yes, the X4. Quite frequent, and usually a Yutong electric jobby!


Corking stuff, I'm fully intending to make use of that service to go and have the occasional nose around there too.  Reminds me a bit of my visits to the Filton Bank during the redoubling.
Logged
Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 5641


There are some who call me... Tim


View Profile
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2026, 16:19:40 »
Worth pointing out that the last couple of hundred metres of Sheepway as you approach old Portbury Station from Portishead are really nasty to walk along, with some blind bends and fairly fast traffic. Most motorists I met were very courteous, but one of two were on me before either party had much chance to react.
Logged
Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
johnneyw
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 2693


From station to station, back to Bristol city....


View Profile
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2026, 18:26:45 »
Quote from: Red Squirrel on January 21, 2026, 16:19:40
Worth pointing out that the last couple of hundred metres of Sheepway as you approach old Portbury Station from Portishead are really nasty to walk along, with some blind bends and fairly fast traffic. Most motorists I met were very courteous, but one of two were on me before either party had much chance to react.

Worth pointing out indeed and I'll definitely take that into account in my planning....a train would be a preferable future transport option to an ambulance.
Logged
Chris from Nailsea
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 21332



View Profile Email
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2026, 01:36:32 »
Possibly splitting this off into a new topic - if the idea takes off - but could we recent posters here possibly meet up to explore the restoration of the Portishead Line together?

I am retired, with no particular calendar or timetable constraints, and I would welcome the opportunity to meet up with any others from the Coffee Shop forum for 'a bit of a jolly', just exploring the Portishead area.

If anyone is interested, please reply here initially: we'll see what potential there might be for such a meeting.

CfN▸ (Chris from Nailsea, an administrator on this forum).
Logged
William Huskisson MP▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
chuffed
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1610


View Profile
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2026, 09:19:21 »
As a regular user of the X4. I would advise getting off at Portbury footbridge and observing the terrain from there. The top of the road bridge is the highest point for miles around apart from the Portbury footbridge which crosses the M5. How many of you know that the M5 swept away the old Portbury Methodist chapel which had a 1840 broad gauge railway carriage in use as a Sunday school room, which I understand is in store at the NRM» (National Railway Museum, at York and Shildon - about) in York awaiting restoration. I did a geography degree dissertation on the effect of the M5 on the village of Portbury way back in 1972 !!
Logged
Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 5641


There are some who call me... Tim


View Profile
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2026, 10:13:38 »
Quote from: Chris from Nailsea on January 22, 2026, 01:36:32
Possibly splitting this off into a new topic - if the idea takes off - but could we recent posters here possibly meet up to explore the restoration of the Portishead Line together?

I am retired, with no particular calendar or timetable constraints, and I would welcome the opportunity to meet up with any others from the Coffee Shop forum for 'a bit of a jolly', just exploring the Portishead area.

If anyone is interested, please reply here initially: we'll see what potential there might be for such a meeting.

CfN▸ (Chris from Nailsea, an administrator on this forum).

I'm up for that.

I did my trip solo because I wanted good weather for taking photos, and sunny days are far and few at the moment. But I'd be very happy to join in a Coffee Shop adventure!
Logged
Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
Chris from Nailsea
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 21332



View Profile Email
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2026, 11:09:40 »
As several members of the Coffee Shop forum have expressed support for the idea, I've now split these recent posts off into this new topic here.

Please do suggest any preferences as to days and / or dates for such an adventure!  CfN▸ (Chris from Nailsea, an administrator on this forum).  Wink
Logged
William Huskisson MP▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Mark A
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2550


View Profile
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2026, 12:03:34 »
Not near the railway (now) and a long time since it's been an arm of Bristol Corporation, the Royal Inn's position relative to Portishead's bus network... does it rather indicate that *that* needs a reboot in order to serve the town more comprehensively? Perhaps the new station will catalyse this.

Mark

https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7139472
Logged
Chris from Nailsea
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 21332



View Profile Email
« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2026, 12:39:35 »
Quote from: chuffed on January 22, 2026, 09:19:21
I did a geography degree dissertation on the effect of the M5 on the village of Portbury way back in 1972 !!

That was when the re-opening of the Portishead Line to passengers was 'just three years away'. Roll Eyes

CfN▸ (Chris from Nailsea, an administrator on this forum). Grin
Logged
William Huskisson MP▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1]
  Print  
« previous next »
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules via admin@railcustomer.info. Full legal statement (here).

Jump to top of page • Jump to Forum Home Page