The railway line to Portishead is expected to reopen in 2026 despite inflation and years of delays causing costs to increase by £35 million.
Two new train stations will be built at Portishead and Pill, running services to Bristol Temple Meads, on the railway line which closed to passengers in 1964. The project has been on the cards for more than a decade, recently facing delays due to environmental regulations.
Last month West of England mayor Dan Norris hinted the project’s future was uncertain, as the initial £116 million earmarked in 2017 was not enough to pay for the whole works. But Mr Norris and local transport bosses agreed a “historic” deal for extra funding, at a West of England combined authority (Weca) meeting on Friday, July 29.
