Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[chuffed]

News,Just In.....The present Metro mayor is Helen Godwin elected 2 months ago replacing Dan Norris who is dealing with rather more than a little local difficulty.

[chuffed]

Portishead railway group are showing the full business case GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects - Network Rail's process for project management of schemes through development and implementation) 5 as being completed. Next stage is initial preparation for construction this Autumn and then full steam ahead proper construction in Spring 2026.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Today is the anniversary of the Portishead Line's closure to passengers, in 1964. 

[chuffed]

Today is spades in the ground day....or rather chainsaws and strimmers at the ready. The avenue of trees that have grown up either side of the line since it was abandoned, are due to be felled and cleared..... starting today.... at the new station site and working back towards Pill. With the number of trees to fell, I wonder whether we could see Canadian style logging barges floating down the Bristol Channel


Railway Upgrade Plan
We’re restoring the Portishead Line from Bristol to Portishead.



The branch line was closed in 1964 but when reopened in 2028, it will reconnect more than 50,000 people to the railway. The project is funded by Government, the West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset Council and is being delivered by Network Rail.

The restored railway will provide an hourly direct train from Portishead to Bristol Temple Meads in 25 minutes. The route runs along one of the most scenic stretches of railway in the country, through the Avon Gorge and past the Clifton suspension bridge.

The railway still exists from Bristol through Pill to Royal Portbury Docks, but only for freight. We need to rebuild three miles of railway from Pill to Portishead, build new stations at Portishead and Pill and install signals.

What work is taking place?
From Monday 27 October 2025, work begins to remove trees along sections of the disused railway. This will create the space needed to build site compounds, car parks, the two new stations and the railway line.

Pedestrian crossings over the disused railway at Tansy Lane and Moor Lane will be temporarily closed to help keep everyone safe.


Work then continues towards Pill, starting at Sheepway Gate Farm and Marsh Lane. This is expected to continue until early 2026. There will also be works taking place at Quays Avenue in Portishead as the current roundabout will need to realigned.

Ecology work has taken place to ensure species living near the railway are protected, such as toads, reptiles, badgers and bats.

Portishead Line residents' letter can be seen on the Network Rail site.

[IndustryInsider]

It’s incredible and depressing how long we’ve had to wait for that to happen…but it has happened.

Now, let’s see if we can get it open before this thread reaches 100 pages!

[grahame]

It’s incredible and depressing how long we’ve had to wait for that to happen…but it has happened.

Now, let’s see if we can get it open before this thread reaches 100 pages!

Indeed - though I am aware I am "upping the auntie" by posting this comment.

It has started - but still the community and others need to remain vigilant to ensure it carries on to completion.  I am aware of the verticals for overhead line addition, and what I believe is an electrical substation not in active use, at Thingley Junction.

[ChrisB]

"Upping the ante"?

[Mark A]

I'm advised that the Thingley Junction installation, the ATFS*, fed from the national grid, supplies the Wootton Bassett ATFS - which energises the OHLE^▸ (Over-Head Line Equipment (electrification via catenary)) back to the point at which it currently terminates east of Chippenham.

As I understand it, Thingley Junction ATFS is also ready to provide the supply for the unbuilt electric infrastructure west of where the OHLE currently ends, through Chippenham and to Bath and Bristol - and presumably up Filton Bank.

Mark

*Not yet found a glossary for railway electrification terms. ATFS, SATS^▸ (Signal And Testing Simulation, or Sectioning Auto Transformer Site, depending on context), ATS^▸ (Automatic Train Supervision, or Auto Transformer Site, depending on context), TSS^▸ (Traction Sub Station), anyone? (These all relating to lineside electrical installations for OHLE...)

[chuffed]

The amount of civils,equipment and personnel adjacent to the first railway bridge at Portbury this morning makes me think they want the first trains running before the end of half term !!

[grahame]

The amount of civils,equipment and personnel adjacent to the first railway bridge at Portbury this morning makes me think they want the first trains running before the end of half term !!

It takes a surprising number of people to do even the smallest of jobs though - see this article in the Daily Mails

So how many council workmen DOES it take to fix a pothole?

[Chris from Nailsea]

From WECA^» (West of England Mayoral Combined Authority - about), see https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/news/final-enabling-works-underway-for-portishead-line/

Final enabling works underway for Portishead Line

Reopening the Portishead railway line to passengers for the first time in 60 years is moving closer with the final phase of enabling works now underway, paving the way for construction to start in 2026.

The multi-million-pound project was given the green light by the Department for Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) back in July thanks to an over £47 million government funding boost. 

The reopening of the line, which was axed in the 1960s during Beeching cuts, will slash travel times in half and help reduce road congestion. 

New stations will be built at Portishead and Pill, with trains initially running hourly along the line to/from Bristol Temple Meads in 2028.

This new phase of preparatory works includes clearing vegetation and trees along sections of the disused line. Clearing the land will create the space needed to build temporary construction compounds, car parks, the two new stations, and the railway line itself.

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:

"In a new chapter here in the West, the final enabling works are underway to move towards building two new stations and reopening the Portishead railway line.

“Working with North Somerset Council, the government, Network Rail, and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), this investment in new train stations at Pill and Portishead will cut congestion, give people a quicker, greener travel option, and unlock sites for much-needed new homes.

“We have secured a record £752 million from government for further transport improvements over the coming years, with an ambition for four trains per hour at stations across our growing regional rail network.”

Councillor Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council, said:

"I know trains from Portishead have been a longtime coming, which is why it’s great to be able to announce a start to works that will pave the way for construction in 2026. It is really happening!

“When journeys to Temple Meads make a return to train timetables, the reopened Portishead to Bristol line will transform our region as 50,000 people are connected back into the rail network.

“This makes the line more than just the new stations at Portishead and Pill, because when passengers finally pull into platforms at Temple Meads, they will also be able to enjoy all the benefits of onward travel. 

“These are journeys that will unlock the West and the rest of the country, whilst also creating inward and outward investment that’s key to an estimated £43m of economic growth each year. 

“As always, it’s joint effort and I’d like to thank the continued support of our partners at the West of England Combined Authority, Network Rail, Department for Transport and GWR.”

Sadik Al-Hassan, 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) for North Somerset, said:

“I know how important the reopening of these two stations in Pill and Portishead are to the residents of North Somerset, and the understandable scepticism following years of broken promises. 

“The project has resembled more a rollercoaster than a train over the past decade, but the delivery of this long-awaited trainline shows what we can achieve working together. I can't wait to take that first train, and I will keep pushing every step of the way to make sure delivery meets expectations.”

Marcus Jones, Network Rail Western Route Director, said:

“This week marks the start of our work to reopen the Portishead line as we begin clearing vegetation to allow for construction work to begin early next year. This project has been a long-standing ambition and we’re excited to now be at the delivery phase. 

“Working closely with our partners at the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, North Somerset Council and GWR, we’ll be delivering faster, greener travel options for communities that haven’t been directly on the railway network for more than 60 years, and opening doors to economic opportunities across the region.” 

Matt Barnes, Great Western Railway’s Head of Strategic Service Development, said: 

“It is exciting to see the start of these preparatory works – a major milestone in realising this long held ambition for train services between Bristol and Portishead as part of the wider Metro West programme.

“Great Western Railway is focused on working with our partners to help bring to fruition the reopening of this route for communities in the region.”

The clearance works, which begin in Portishead and continue onward to Pill, follow on from comprehensive ecological works which have helped to protect local wildlife and their habitats. The works will continue to be closely monitored by qualified ecologists. 

Two new railway stations have opened in the region since 2023 - Portway Park & Ride and Ashley Down - with five more in total planned including North Filton, Henbury and Charfield as part of a wider £400 million investment.

To find out more go to: Portishead rail line: MetroWest Phase 1 - WEST

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The speed at which the clearance is going is amazing. The line being lifted in short 3 sleeper lengths and neatly stacked for recycling/retrieval.

[Chris from Nailsea]

The 'speed at which' anything can happen in North Somerset is worthy of headline news.

[chuffed]

From Network Rail


From Monday 8 to Friday 19 December, some trees will be cleared along Quays Avenue and Harbour Road in Portishead. Work will mainly take place from 8am-5pm on weekdays. To keep everyone safe, temporary traffic lights will be installed on all approaches to the Quays Avenue roundabout adjacent to Harbour Care Centre, from Quays Avenue itself, Harbour Road and Phoenix Way. There will also be single sections of Harbour Road and Quays Avenue where trees are being cleared that will need temporary traffic lights installed and minor footpath diversions.

Ecology work has taken place to ensure species living near the railway are protected, such as toads, reptiles, badgers and bats.

[Red Squirrel]

It looks like Class 99s are being imported at Portbury - this YouTube vid shows a couple of them coming down the line towards Parson Street:

https://youtu.be/18YvL103CRo?si=fU8uQ4qIy-Yid6Pl