Portishead line's first trains could run in two years

Restoring the rail line between Bristol to Portishead could be "fast-tracked", with construction beginning this year and the first trains running by 2027.

North Somerset Council leaders have approved measures to start construction - if the government agrees to fund the project.

Plans to bring the line back came under threat after the new Labour government announced it was axing the scheme's funding.

Councillor Mike Bell, leader of the council, said the government is now reviewing the project and there have been "encouraging indications that it is being fast-tracked".

The full council meeting on 14 January was told construction of the Portishead line had been set to begin last year and £32m had already been spent on the project.

Restoring the line only requires about three miles of new track.

About £152m had already been committed from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), the Department for Transport and North Somerset Council.

But shortly before Network Rail submitted the full business case, the new Labour government announced that the Restoring Your Railway fund was being axed - impacting projects across the UK.

Mr Bell added: "What we know with this project is that delay equals more costs, which equals more delay — and we have been stuck in that doom loop for far, far too long.

"So I am very pleased that our local MPs and all parties in the council have been supporting the case to the Department of Transport for a quick decision."

WECA's mayor Dan Norris previously said the project is in a good position to still be funded by the government because it is "so close to starting".

"Economically it makes a lot of sense compared to the other lines that are in contention against us," he added.

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