The
project
to
rebuild
the
18.5km
railway
to
Portishead
near
Bristol
has
been
given
the
green
light
by
transport
secretary
Mark
Harper,

who
has
signed
a
Development
Consent
Order.

In
a
letter
published
by
National
Infrastructure
Planning,
Mr
Harper
says
he
is
‘satisfied
that
the
costs
of
the
scheme
have
been
appropriately
assessed’.
It
has
been
calculated
that
the
reopened
line
will
serve
a
catchment
area
of
50,000
people,
forming
part
of
MetroWest
Phase
1.

There
has
been
a
long
campaign
to
reverse
the
withdrawal
of
passenger
services
between
Parson
Street
station
in
Bristol
and
Portishead
by
British
Railways
in
September
1964.

North
Somerset
Council
leader
Steve
Bridger
said
the
announcement
was
’the
result
of
over
three
years’
hard
work
from
our
officers
and
delivery
partners,
including
Womble
Bond
Dickinson,
Ardent,
Jacobs
and
Network
Rail.
I
would
like
to
thank
everyone
who
has
put
in
a
tremendous
effort
to
secure
the
DCO.

‘The
local
population
has
quadrupled
since
the
original
Portishead
rail
line
closed
almost
60
years
ago.
In
reopening
this
route
and
stations
at
Portishead
and
Pill,
we
can
better
connect
our
communities
and
businesses
to
the
opportunities
offered
by
continued
growth
across
our
region,
both
now
and
in
the
future.

‘With
expected
journeys
of
just
23
minutes,
the
reopened
line
would
also
provide
a
reliable
alternative
to
the
A369/M5
Junction
19,
unlocking
new
ways
for
people
to
get
around
more
sustainably
as
we
all
do
our
bit
to
reach
Net
Zero.

‘As
a
scheme
of
vital
importance,
North
Somerset
Council
and
West
of
England
Combined
Authority
are
committed
to
continuing
the
work
needed
to
finally
make
Portishead
rail
a
reality,
rising
to
tackle
national
challenges
where
necessary,
with
an
aim
of
starting
construction
in
2024.’

Network
Rail
Wales
&
Western
investment
director
Francis
McGarry
said:
‘We
warmly
welcome
the
approval
of
a
Development
Consent
Order
which
is
an
important
milestone
in
the
reopening
of
the
Portishead
line.

‘This
line
has
been
long
awaited,
and
we
look
forward
to
working
with
our
partners
to
deliver
this
major
scheme
which
will
play
a
significant
role
in
supporting
sustainable
travel
in
and
around
Bristol.’

In
July
North
Somerset
Council
had
said
that
the
projected
capital
cost
of
the
scheme
had
risen
to
£152
million,
and
the
granting
of
the
DCO
has
followed
an
agreement
between
local
authorities
and
the
Department
for
Transport
to
collectively
pledge
£35.58
million
in
additional
funding
to
meet
the
shortfall.
This
funding
and
the
start
of
construction
will
depend
on
a
decision
about
the
project’s
Full
Business
Case
in
2024.