Contracts worth £200 million have been signed to deliver the long-awaited reopening of the Portishead Line, marking a major milestone in the return of passenger rail services to Portishead and Pill for the first time since 1964.
The agreements, signed at Bristol Temple Meads, cover the construction of two new stations, the reinstatement of the railway line and associated infrastructure works.
Morgan Sindall Infrastructure will lead construction of the line and highways improvements in Portishead, Colas Rail will design and install a new digital signalling system, and AmcoGiffen will carry out bridge and highways works in Bristol.
The scheme includes relaying three miles of track and delivering the infrastructure required to support a new passenger service between Portishead, Pill and Bristol Temple Meads.
Funded by the Department for Transport, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and North Somerset Council, the project will be delivered by Network Rail.
Construction is now underway, with the line expected to open in winter 2028/29. Once operational, journeys to Bristol Temple Meads are expected to take around 25 minutes from Portishead and 20 minutes from Pill.
To mark the occasion, invited guests travelled along the line from Bristol Temple Meads towards the site of the future Pill station. Those attending included West of England Mayor Helen Godwin, Network Rail Western route managing director Marcus Jones, North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell and Great Western Railway managing director Mark Hopwood.
Marcus Jones said the project represented a “significant milestone” in reconnecting local communities to the rail network.
“This project will reconnect more than 50,000 people to the rail network for the first time in decades, unlocking better access to jobs, education and services, while offering a faster and greener alternative to road travel,” he said.
Helen Godwin described the project as an “historic moment” for the region, adding that the new rail line would support economic growth, reduce congestion and improve connectivity across the West of England.
Great Western Railway managing director Mark Hopwood said the line would provide a “vital economic catalyst” and strengthen sustainable transport links across the region.
Early works are already progressing at both Portishead and Pill. Site compounds have been established, with demolition and preparation works due to begin shortly ahead of the main construction programme.
