Portishead Line reopening for passengers - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[RichardB]

The Press Release from North Somerset Council is a bit more nuanced, and uses words like 'if' and 'could':

Council strives to close funding gap for Portishead rail line
5:50pm - 10 February 2025

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and North Somerset Council have come together to announce that they are looking to contribute the additional funds needed to deliver the Portishead to Bristol rail line.

The Full Business Case for the long-awaited reopening of the rail line was submitted to the Department for Transport in December last year. Through detailed design, the business case identified an emerging gap in the scheme’s funding, caused by delays, inflation and rising costs across the construction industry. 

To tackle this challenge, the West of England Combined Authority are set to contribute another £27m to this important railway scheme, with North Somerset looking to provide the remaining £3m. 

The additional funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority is set to be ratified at their March Committee meeting with North Somerset Council's contribution to be approved at their Council meeting in February. 

If the additional funding is committed and the Full Business Case is approved by the Department for Transport, which they have indicated will follow quickly, construction of the rail line and stations at Portishead and Pill could begin soon afterward.

Councillor Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council and Executive Member for Major Projects, said: “The reopening of the Portishead to Bristol rail line is set to be a transformative project for our area, connecting 50,000 people back into the rail network so that they can use a regular and sustainable transport service to reach a wealth of opportunities across the southwest. 

“Not only would this essential investment in local communities slash travel times in half and reduce car commuting by 5.5%, it would also unlock an estimated £43 million in economic growth every year. 

“This makes the Portishead to Bristol rail line a scheme of significant long-term benefit and something we’re proud to be pushing forward in partnership with the West of England Combined Authority, the Department for Transport and Network Rail. 

“The additional funding from both the West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset Council would close the gap on this shovel ready scheme, bringing us ever closer to the first trains making their journeys in 2027 – the first passenger trains to do so since the line was originally closed almost 60 years ago.

“As ever, I’d like to thank everyone who has put the work in over the past few years to get this vital project so close to construction. In particular, I’d like to thank Mayor Dan Norris for his strong support and North Somerset MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Sadik Al-Hassan for his continued backing.”

Source: North Somerset Council

I suspect this is because the money isn't 100% committed until both authorities have voted it through but from the statements, no-one seems to be expecting any difficulty with the votes.

[Richard Fairhurst]

I'm delighted, perhaps even a little Numb, to see that Dummy transport ministers have finally approved this scheme for Portishead. The line has been through some Sour Times but this reopening - well, It Could Be Sweet. It will be a real alternative to nearby Roads.

Let's just hope it gets some proper rolling stock and not a 153 Glory Box.

[simonw]

Am I right to assume that the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) Government is not offering any extra money, but WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about) and NS are making up the shortfall?

[Chris from Nailsea]

That is what it says, in the press release quoted above:

To tackle this challenge, the West of England Combined Authority are set to contribute another £27m to this important railway scheme, with North Somerset looking to provide the remaining £3m.

[johnneyw]

Did I just hear correctly on the local news this evening?  After yesterday's announcement about the Portishead Line, there's an announcement today that another station is to be added...the reopening of Ashton Gate on the same line?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Yes, Ashton Gate station and Pill station are (and probably always have been) in the plans for the reopening of the Portishead branch line for passengers. 

[TonyK]

Interesting to note this line in the WEMCA press release:

The Mayor is also leading work to explore more new stations including at Ashton Gate, which sits on the Bristol & Portishead Line; Lockleaze; St Anne’s Park, and his personal favourite, Saltford.

Typical. You wait 60 years for two stations, then 6 come along all at once.

This is excellent news, though! I look forward to seeing the first train, to be followed within a week by the first complaint about not being able to get on at Pill because it's packed to bursting point.

[johnneyw]

Yes, Ashton Gate station and Pill station are (and probably always have been) in the plans for the reopening of the Portishead branch line for passengers. 

I was under the impression that Ashton Gate was only on the wish list with just Pill and Portishead station being the first ones to be built for the line reopening.

Edit to add that info about this online is not very clear.

[Chris from Nailsea]

To be fair, johnneyw, you may well be right on that.

My rather fond recollections of the whole Portishead reopening campaign possibly suggested to me that the reopening of Ashton Gate station was included in that.

And it could be: the platform is still there - it just needs a bit of vegetation clearance. 

[johnneyw]

To be fair, johnneyw, you may well be right on that.

My rather fond recollections of the whole Portishead reopening campaign possibly suggested to me that the reopening of Ashton Gate station was included in that.

And it could be: the platform is still there - it just needs a bit of vegetation clearance. 

I know what you mean CfN but if it is a new feature then, given the funding shortfall up until yesterday....where did this cash come from?
I think you're correct in observing that a platform still exists.  It might even be in a reasonably reusable condition but there will still be considerable costs to reinstate it....access, signalling and so forth.


Just a thought.... might some of those costs be contributed to by the Lansdown family who own and manage Ashton Gate stadium?  I think that I heard mention of it somewhere before.

[Red Squirrel]

Yes, Ashton Gate station and Pill station are (and probably always have been) in the plans for the reopening of the Portishead branch line for passengers. 

The possibility of a station at Ashton Gate was discussed and investigated, but ruled out of MetroWest 1 in 2014:

Our studies have shown that it is not feasible to build a new Ashton Gate station as part of Phase 1. A new station at Ashton Gate remains within the MetroWest new stations package.

Source: https://travelwest.info/projects/metrowest/

So if it really is back on the agenda, it's very good news.

[Mark A]

Please could someone remind me where the temporary park and ride station for the 1996 Bristol festival of the sea was?

Mark

[ellendune]

Reopening confirmed again!

The Railway Gazette is reporting....

Regional mayor claims victory in Portishead railway reopening funding fight

UK^▸ (United Kingdom): West Of England Mayor Dan Norris has announced a ‘landmark’ agreement with the government which paves the way for construction works needed to restart passenger services on the Bristol to Portishead line to begin this summer to enable operation by the end of 2027.

[TonyK]

Reopening confirmed again!

The Railway Gazette is reporting....

Regional mayor claims victory in Portishead railway reopening funding fight

UK^▸ (United Kingdom): West Of England Mayor Dan Norris has announced a ‘landmark’ agreement with the government which paves the way for construction works needed to restart passenger services on the Bristol to Portishead line to begin this summer to enable operation by the end of 2027.

Mayor Dan was very quick off the mark, but is it really a victory for him? The real victory will come with the first train. Dan will not be the Western Super Mayor (thank you JayMac) by then, so is getting his claim to a part of history in quickly.

There are still potential stumbling blocks, but plenty of reasons to believe it will really happen this time. Not least is having the political ducks in a row, with WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about) and the national government being of the same party. That national government will need all the good news it can present come the next local elections, and this fits the bill. Others will claim some of the credit, as all have a hand on the controls at one time or another - this has been going on for so long that even the Whigs may have been involved - but if Dan and the current powers that be get this line over the line, I would think they can claim most of it. The previous administration did rather drag its heels and go back to square one a couple of times, entirely without need. A lot of the preparation has been done already, granted, but always without giving the final nod. I expect to see former Mayor Dan on the first service with whoever the transport secretary is by then. Whoever is wearing the WECO hat by then will have only a supporting role on the podium.

To be fair, johnneyw, you may well be right on that.

My rather fond recollections of the whole Portishead reopening campaign possibly suggested to me that the reopening of Ashton Gate station was included in that.

And it could be: the platform is still there - it just needs a bit of vegetation clearance. 

The platform was still there in 2012, and I can't think of anything that has happened since that would have caused it to be ripped up. There's two as it happens, either side of what was once double track here.



I may be wrong, but I don't think this is the site envisioned by WECA for the reopened station.  Land has been set aside by the Ashton Rise development, adjacent to the car park side end of the MetroBust skew bridge. This Bristol Post article is unusually helpful in describing the location, with a bonus photo of the station in use in the Olden Days.

[JayMac]

Western Super Mayor (thank you JayMac)

You're welcome! Although I don't remember if I came up with that sobriquet or read it somewhere.