04.05.17
Council admits Portishead Line reopening running £600k over budget
North Somerset Council has this week told passengers that extra funding has been agreed to complete works on the Portishead Line as costs for the much-anticipated project have spiralled up.
In a statement released this week, it was confirmed that the budget had been increased to £1.603m from the £1m originally set aside to deliver the project.
The authority also confirmed that to deliver the Portishead service, the council will have to scale back the number of services running on the line due to a lower frequency of services requiring less infrastructure.
Relaunching the services from Portishead has also been described as a “top priority” for the council, as it makes up a key part of the MetroWest Phase One scheme.
The scheme, being co-ordinated by four councils in the west of England, is a large project designed to improve transport in the area.
North Somerset Council’s leader, Cllr Nigel Ashton, said: “The early indications are that substantial cost savings can be made based on a reduced train service frequency which requires less infrastructure.
“However, the objective remains to ultimately deliver the full half-hourly service and we will continue to work with Network Rail and the DfT to realise our ambitions.”
Cllr Ashton added that he was delighted the scheme continues to have the backing of both the government and the rail industry.
“The re-opening of the Portishead Line is vital to strengthening the transport infrastructure of the area and key to the success of a thriving west of England economy,” he explained. “We are committed to working together with all parties to deliver this scheme in full.”
The programme is set to begin construction in late 2017 and open in May 2019.
Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become an RTM columnist? If so, click here.