Government officials have finally given planning permission to restore the Portishead rail line, but there are still a few more barriers to overcome before the first passengers will be travelling from Temple Meads along the Avon Gorge.
Ministers have finally approved a Development Consent Order - which gives planning permission and environmental consent to the restoration of the line all the way from Parson Street in Bedminster, past Ashton Gate Stadium, out along the Somerset side of the Avon Gorge and into Portishead itself.
But, contrary to other media reports, the line has not - yet - got the go-ahead from the Secretary of State. The final decision on whether or not the Department for Transport will back the business case for the restoration of the line and fully fund the multi-million project that has been in the pipeline for more than 30 years, still has not been taken.
Read next: The M49 ghost junction missing link is finally being connected
That isn’t expected to happen until the summer of 2024 and only then will work actually be able to begin on the project. If the timetable goes forward with no further hitches, it will be 2026 that the first passengers will be able to travel into Bristol from Portishead on the line which, at present only takes freight trains and runs from the Royal Portbury Docks.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris welcomed the latest boost to the project, and said the Department for Transport granting the approval of a Development Consent Order was ‘another important step forward’. Additional funding of £35 million was agreed last summer between Mr Norris’ West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset Council, but the Full Business Case is still yet to be approved by ministers.
Mr Norris said it was possible there could still be more 'bumps in the road'. The planning approval now only means detailed design work can take place, and only then will a copper-bottomed projection of how much the restoration will actually cost be fully known. And it won't be for another 18 months that the Government will be required to make a final decision on whether or not the funding should be granted for the project.
“The last time you could catch a train along this line was before a man walked on the moon and the Beatles were taking America by storm,” said Mr Norris. “So I’m pleased to have passed another important milestone. This is a project long in the making and undoubted there will be more bumps in the road.
“However, this important thumbs up keeps us firmly on the right track, and means the hard work of physically bringing this rail line back to life can begin. This is a really important project that will see communities in south Bristol and across our city reconnected to Portishead and help in our vital quest for net-zero,” he added.
The Portishead Line is phase 1b of a wider project called MetroWest, to improve the suburban rail network around Bristol. The first phase was increasing the number of trains running on the Severn Beach line, which runs from Temple Meads through Easton, Montpelier, Redland, Clifton and out to Avonmouth, to every half an hour - something that happened in December last year.
Read next:
Portishead rail line's future uncertain as questions raised over funding and inflation
Dismay as Government delays Portishead rail line project again
To keep up-to-date with the latest South Bristol news, join our community of subscribers with my South Bristol newsletter here.
