Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Lee]

Go for 1. If it ever gets approved, there will undoubtedly be limits on the number and speed of trains anyway to save money.

[Bmblbzzz]

1 is the least unlikely to happen this century.

[SandTEngineer]

This was posted on the Cornwall Railway Society site today:

Re-opening a step nearer
From a letter received on the 20th February 2019

​Dear Member,
Last night North Somerset Council approved a number of very significant steps for the project to reopen the Portishead line.
 
The most significant is committing an extra £15 million from NSC’s own Tier 3 business rate funding  to reduce the funding gap. This means that the funding is now in place for roughly three-quarters of the total cost and hopefully makes it easier for WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about), central government, Network Rail or other sources to come up with the remainder over the next few months.
 
Other commitments approved include:
Signing the Initial Promotion Agreement which underpins WECA and NSC working together through to delivery of the railway

Spending a further £4.5 million in 2019/20 and £7.2 million in 2020/21 to progress the project, taken from the existing Local Growth Fund source

Spending £300k on land purchases

Jointly promoting Phase 1 with WECA  (para 3.2)

Tram Trains review by NSC and Network Rail will report by end February that tram trains are more expensive than heavy rail and that it will be easy to convert Portishead to trams later if needed


The Bristol Feasibility Study (referred to in Chris Grayling’s letter last year) will report later in 2019 and it assumes that MetroWest Phase 1 and 2 are implemented
 
The DCO^▸ (Driver Controlled Operation) Submission is now scheduled for June 2019 (para 3.08), presumably to allow some of the above and other work required to be completed first.

You can find the whole document here under 19 February MetroWest Phase 1: http://apps.n-somerset.gov.uk/cairo/committees/comidx163-2018.asp
 
This all sounds very encouraging. In particular, if NSC are committing a further £15 million, then possibly WECA and Central Government could each do something similar, to close the funding gap completely.
 
Regards, Peter.
 
Peter Maliphant
Membership Secretary
Portishead Railway Group

[TonyK]

I rather like that, despite opting out of WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about), north somerset parish council can play if they want to. Their money will come in handy too. The report that tram-trains would be more expensive suggests to me that tram-trains were not wanted, or the report would have said they were cheaper. The extra expense of electrification is probably the difference, although tram-trains could have been more flexible, extending into the town.

Still, encouraging for sure. Roll on 2025-ish.

[chuffed]

AT LAST !

The £31 million shortfall funding gap has finally been plugged by the goverment. So it's now full steam ahead at 4mph with Chris Grayling walking in front with a red flag !

Source Bristol Evening Post April 8th 2019

The re-opening of Portishead rail line has been secured,  after Government transport chiefs confirmed millions in funding for the project.

The final £31.9 million needed to plug a funding gap in the £116 million project, known as MetroWest, to re-open the line has been agreed by the Department of Transport meaning all the funding for the scheme is now in place.


The funding boost was announced by Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling in a meeting held last week with North Somerset leader, Councillor Nigel Ashton, and West of England Mayor Tim Bowles.

[grahame]

AT LAST !

The £31 million shortfall funding gap has finally been plugged by the goverment. So it's now full steam ahead at 4mph with Chris Grayling walking in front with a red flag !

Source Bristol Evening Post April 8th 2019

Thanks - link at
 https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/local-news/opening-new-portishead-rail-line-2732666

[johnneyw]

Good news indeed but what with planning permission being granted for Portway station just a few days ago, by railway standards, aren't things currently moving forward round here with reckless haste?

[martyjon]

AT LAST !

The £31 million shortfall funding gap has finally been plugged by the goverment. So it's now full steam ahead at 4mph with Chris Grayling walking in front with a red flag !

Source Bristol Evening Post April 8th 2019

The re-opening of Portishead rail line has been secured,  after Government transport chiefs confirmed millions in funding for the project.

The final £31.9 million needed to plug a funding gap in the £116 million project, known as MetroWest, to re-open the line has been agreed by the Department of Transport meaning all the funding for the scheme is now in place.


The funding boost was announced by Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling in a meeting held last week with North Somerset leader, Councillor Nigel Ashton, and West of England Mayor Tim Bowles.

Where's the £ millions of 'over budget" going to come from ?

[mjones]

Surely the bats and newts will turn up shortly to add a few more year's delay?

[martyjon]

AT LAST !

The £31 million shortfall funding gap has finally been plugged by the goverment. So it's now full steam ahead at 4mph with Chris Grayling walking in front with a red flag !

Source Bristol Evening Post April 8th 2019

The re-opening of Portishead rail line has been secured,  after Government transport chiefs confirmed millions in funding for the project.

The final £31.9 million needed to plug a funding gap in the £116 million project, known as MetroWest, to re-open the line has been agreed by the Department of Transport meaning all the funding for the scheme is now in place.


The funding boost was announced by Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling in a meeting held last week with North Somerset leader, Councillor Nigel Ashton, and West of England Mayor Tim Bowles.

I thought announcements like this weren't supposed to be made at such a time as this, weeks before an election albeit local ones, something called purdar ?

[martyjon]

Surely the bats and newts will turn up shortly to add a few more year's delay?

Don't forget the badgers also.

[martyjon]

Good news indeed but what with planning permission being granted for Portway station just a few days ago, by railway standards, aren't things currently moving forward round here with reckless haste?

Could do with some haste to get the Long Ashton Park and Ride to open on Sundays and later in the evening.

[Phantom]

Good news indeed but what with planning permission being granted for Portway station just a few days ago, by railway standards, aren't things currently moving forward round here with reckless haste?

Could do with some haste to get the Long Ashton Park and Ride to open on Sundays and later in the evening.

Still mind blowing it isn't open for events at Ashton Gate

[johnneyw]

What stages now remain before one of our great and good take their photo opportunity of digging the first turf to commemorate the commencement of it's construction?

[Bmblbzzz]

What stages now remain before one of our great and good take their photo opportunity of digging the first turf to commemorate the commencement of it's construction?

Oh, several more election cycles (ref Martyjohn) and a couple of telegrams from the Queen!