Portishead rail link gets council unanimous approval

Portishead will get a new station as part of the reopening of the line

Plans to restore a rail link between Bristol and Portishead have moved a step closer after North Somerset Council vote proposals through unanimously.

The authority has decided leader Mike Bell can submit the full business case for the long-awaited scheme to the Department for Transport (DfT).

An operator would need to build two new stations at Pill and Portishead.

Mr Bell is expected to submit the business case in February.

He said: "The new line stands to be transformative for both North Somerset and the region.

"By connecting 50,000 residents back into the rail network, it will provide better connections for Portishead and Pill, but it will offer green alternatives to getting around, cutting road traffic with expected train journeys of around 20-25 minutes."

Spades from construction company, VolkerFitzpatrick could be in the ground by August if plans are approved by Department for Transport (DfT).

A new station will also be opened at Pill

The project's price tag of £152m has been funded by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), DfT and North Somerset Council but it will be down to the government to cover any unexpected extra costs.

Mr Bell said: "We have played our part with local resources, and we now expect the Department of Transport to take responsibility for any capital delivery risk or cost pressures going forward," reported the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

'Crying out for a railway'

Portishead East councillor Roger Whitfield added: "The people of Portishead and Pill have been crying out for this railway link for as long as I can remember — almost since it was closed in the 1960s.

"I am sure everyone here knows how much residential development has taken place in Portishead over the last 25 years, with little or no associated improvements in the road networks.

"So I hope you can all understand that the people of Portishead feel that they are owned this significant public transport upgrade."

The railway line between Bristol and Portishead has been closed since 1964.

Councillor Peter Burden warned: "Portishead Railway Station reopening has been five years in the future from every regional assembly meeting I attended in the early 2000s.

"Now, hopefully we are there but - I'm sorry but like a lot of other people in Portishead we have our fingers crossed - but pardon us for being cynical."

Reopening the line to Portishead is part of the WECA Metrowest project.