Plans in motion Long-awaited rail line restoration work set to begin

WORK to reopen a railway closed more than 60 years ago is set to begin in the new year.

- John WIMPERIS Local democracy reporter johnwimperis@reachplc com

From left, North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell, North Somerset MP Sadik Al-Hassan, Bristol City Council leader Tony Dyer, and West of England Helen Godwin celebrating the long-awaited return of the railway line to Portishead

In 1964, passengers from Bristol reached Portishead by rail for the last time. On the recommendation of the Beeching Report, the railway which had served the town for almost a century was closed down.

But now, in 2026, construction work is set to begin to reopen it.

Already “enabling works” have been carried out along the route of the railway which used to connect Bristol to Portishead, clearing away the trees and vegetation which had overgrown the line since it was closed in 1964. Early in the new year, full-on construction work is due to begin. The railway is expected to reopen to passengers in 2028, serving two new stations in Pill and Portishead.

Campaigners and local government leaders have fought a long battle to get the historic railway reopened once again. The idea of building a railway to Portishead had been first proposed by Brunel, but it was not until after his death that such a railway was eventually built. It opened in 1867 for passengers and goods traffic.

The line ran down Avon Gorge, where trains stopped at Clifton Bridge station, before running under the bridge, in a tunnel under Ham Green, and across the viaduct through Pill where it pulled into the station there before continuing to Portbury and Portishead. After Portishead Pier opened, the line was extended out to the pier. Passengers disembarking from steamers could now immediately board a train right into Bristol.