North Somerset Council strives to close funding gap for Portishead rail line
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 Sadik Al-Hassan for his continued backing.”
