One of the South West’s most anticipated rail schemes has moved decisively into delivery, with £200m of contracts formally signed this morning at Bristol Temple Meads to reinstate passenger services on the Portishead railway line for the first time in more than 60 years.
The project will see two brand new stations built at Portishead and Pill and the reopening of the railway corridor, which has been closed to passenger services since 1964. Construction is now underway, marking the transition from years of planning into full-scale delivery.
Three major contracts have been awarded to deliver the scheme. Morgan Sindall Infrastructure will lead construction of the reinstated railway and associated highways improvements at Portishead. Colas Rail has been appointed to design and install a new digital signalling system, while AmcoGiffen will deliver bridge refurbishments and associated highway works in Bristol.
At the heart of the project is the construction of two new stations, the relaying of three miles of track and the installation of modern rail infrastructure to support a reliable and high-performing passenger service along a corridor that has been dormant for generations.
The scheme is funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and North Somerset Council, and is being delivered by Network Rail.
When the line opens in winter 2028/29, it will reconnect more than 50,000 people to the national rail network for the first time since the 1960s. Journey times are expected to transform local connectivity, with services taking around 25 minutes from Portishead to Bristol Temple Meads and 20 minutes from Pill – roughly half the equivalent road journey time.
To mark the signing of the contracts, invited guests joined a special observation train from Bristol Temple Meads along the reinstated route towards Portishead and the site of the new Pill station. Attendees included the Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell, Network Rail Western route managing director Marcus Jones, Great Western Railway managing director Mark Hopwood, Karin Smith, MP for Bristol South, Kerry McCarthy, MP for Bristol East and Sadik Al-Hassan, MP for North Somerset.
The economic impact of the scheme is expected to be significant. As part of Great Western Railway’s Growing Places research, stations across the South West are projected to contribute billions of pounds in economic value and support thousands of jobs by 2036. The Portishead Line alone is forecast to generate £43m in economic growth each year once operational.
Marcus Jones, managing director of Network Rail’s Western route, said:
“This is a significant milestone in the return of the railway to Portishead and Pill, and a proud moment for everyone involved in bringing this scheme to life. With these contracts now signed, we’re moving from years of planning into full delivery.
“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.
“Working closely with the Department for Transport, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, North Somerset Council, Great Western Railway and our industry partners, we’re committed to delivering a modern, reliable railway that supports long term growth for the region and meets the needs of local communities for generations to come.”
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“This is an historic moment for Portishead, Pill and the whole of the West of England, as we continue to grow our regional rail network and look to increase the frequency of trains across the board.
“Through this new £200 million train line, the West of England and North Somerset, alongside our industry partners, we can connect more people to work, nature, and leisure. This investment will also help unlock sites for new homes and strengthen the country’s fastest-growing regional economy.
“Travel times between Bristol and Portishead will be halved by train services, helping the West get out of the slow lane and cutting congestion. Our record investment in more trains and better buses will get our region moving, while we continue developing mass transit plans for the longer-term.”
Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council, said:
“After decades of waiting, trains are finally on their way back to the Portishead and Pill to Bristol rail line, and that is a huge achievement. We are delighted to welcome Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, Colas Rail and AmcoGiffen to the project as work on site ramps up and full construction gets underway, taking us another major step closer to opening the line.
“Today’s observation train along the line towards Portishead gave me an exciting glimpse of what is to come. As ever, I would like to thank the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, Network Rail, the Department for Transport and Great Western Railway for their continued support and collaboration as we turn the Portishead line into a reality for residents.”
Mark Hopwood, Managing Director of Great Western Railway, said:
“It is really pleasing to officially mark the start of work here today and to invite people back onto this stretch of the railway - which represents a major step forward in reconnecting this area by rail.
“But this isn’t just about trains and track – it is about reconnecting people to rail and providing a vital economic catalyst across the region. This project validates our belief that reliable rail services are essential for local and national growth.
"The line will allow thousands more direct access to the rail network and in the fullness of time will connect with our other new station, Bristol Brabazon, and the new Aviva Arena, creating further sustainable links for residents and visitors."
“We’ve worked closely with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, North Somerset Council and Network Rail to reach this stage and are looking forward to operating train services from this new station in due course."
Ian Shuffleton, Operations Director of Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, said:
“We’re delighted to be playing a leading role in bringing passenger services back to the Portishead Line. As construction gets underway, our focus is on working safely, collaboratively and efficiently alongside Network Rail and our industry partners to deliver high quality infrastructure that will stand the test of time and support the region’s future rail ambitions.”
Ondrej Roubicek, Deputy CEO of Colas Rail, said:
“We are proud to have been awarded the contract to design and install the new digital signalling system on the Portishead Line. This investment will support improved journey times and a more reliable railway, delivering a better experience for passengers. It will also create opportunities to generate lasting social value through local employment, skills development, and support for communities along the route.”
Patrick Rosborough, Regional Manager of AmcoGiffen, said:
“We’re proud to be supporting this important programme to introduce passenger services between Portishead and Bristol Temple Meads. We’re already working closely with partners and stakeholders as we prepare to deliver four key bridge refurbishments and five vital highway improvements, helping bring this complex investment project to the community.”
On the ground, preparatory works are already progressing. In Portishead, site compounds are being established off Harbour Road and the A369 Portbury Hundred, with works due to begin shortly to remove the remnants of the old railway and prepare the corridor for new track.
In Pill, compounds are being constructed off Monmouth Road and at Lodway, near the Hammer and Spanner sculpture. Station House will soon be demolished to make way for the new station forecourt, followed by the demolition of garages off Avon Road to enable bridge renewal works and embankment reinforcement.
Image credits: Network Rail
