Bristol to Portishead Train Service Could Expand, Says Council Leader 2026

Key Points

• North Somerset Council leader Councillor Mike Bell has expressed confidence that the new hourly train service between Bristol and Portishead could be expanded in the future to meet customer demand.
• The Portishead line, closed since 1964, is currently being restored with construction work underway and passenger services expected to begin in winter 2028/29.
• The project is backed by more than £63 million of government investment, with additional funding from the West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset Council.
• When operational, the line will provide an hourly direct service from Portishead to Bristol Temple Meads in around 25 minutes, reconnecting more than 50,000 people to the railway.
• Two new stations will be built at Pill and Portishead as part of the £200 million MetroWest Phase 1B project, delivered by Network Rail and operated by Great Western Railway.
• Campaigners spent 25 years fighting for the connection to be reinstated, with the Portishead Railway Group playing a central role in the long-running effort.

Bristol (Bristol Express News) July 28, 2026 –North Somerset Council leader Councillor Mike Bell has indicated that the new hourly train service between Bristol and uk/local/portishead/">Portishead, currently being rebuilt more than 60 years after it was axed, could be expanded in the future to meet customer demand. Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol, Bell said he was “confident” the line would be “well supported” by commuters and visitors, and hinted that services could improve beyond the current business case, which is based on one train an hour.

As reported by BBC News, Bell stated:

“At the moment the business case is predicated on one train an hour and what we hope obviously is that that can be improved in the future.”

His comments come as construction work continues on the restoration of the Portishead line, a project that has been in the pipeline for decades and is now moving into its final phases ahead of passenger services expected to begin in winter 2028/29.

What is the current status of the Portishead line restoration?

Work is ongoing to reopen the line between Bristol and Portishead, after campaigners spent 25 years fighting for the connection to the city to be reinstated.

The branch line was closed in 1964 but, when reopened in 2028, it will reconnect more than 50,000 people to the railway, according to Network Rail.

As reported by the UK government’s Department for Transport, work has started to restore passenger rail services between Portishead and Bristol for the first time in 60 years by reinstating the Portishead line and building two brand-new stations.

The project is backed by £63 million of government investment and will provide faster journeys to Bristol Temple Meads, taking around 25 minutes.

Network Rail confirmed that the site of the old Station House has been prepared for the next stage of construction, which begins in July, with the work expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Full-scale construction kicked off in early 2026, following preliminary enabling works that included the removal of overgrown trees and foliage along the former route.

How much funding has been secured for the Portishead railway project?

The Portishead line project has received significant financial backing from multiple sources. As reported by the UK government, the scheme is supported by £63 million of government investment, with additional contributions from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and North Somerset Council.

According to ITV News West Country, a further £27 million has been approved from the region’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), bringing the total local and regional funding to more than £90 million.

The overall project cost is estimated at £200 million, with the Department for Transport, WECA and North Somerset Council jointly funding the restoration.

As reported by BBC News, North Somerset Council allocated £25 million to the project, with an additional £30 million, including a contribution from the council, set to be approved at a WECA meeting in March 2025.

The council unanimously voted in January 2025 to approve steps to begin construction, contingent upon government approval of the final business case.

Who has been campaigning for the return of the Portishead rail line?

The campaign to restore the Portishead line has been led by the Portishead Railway Group, which spent more than 20 years fighting for the reconnection.

As reported by BBC News, Gareth Jones, a member of the Portishead Railway Group committee, expressed his astonishment upon hearing the announcement in February 2025 that trains might return as soon as 2027.

Dan Norris, the Mayor of the West of England Combined Authority, confirmed that construction on the project would initiate in summer 2025, following years of advocacy by local campaigners.

The group’s efforts have been instrumental in securing political and financial support for the scheme, which is now a key part of the MetroWest Phase 1B project.

What will the new stations at Pill and Portishead look like?

New artist’s impressions of the Portishead and Pill stations have been unveiled, offering a glimpse of the modern, accessible facilities that will serve local communities when passenger services begin operating in winter 2028/29.

As reported by Network Rail, the visuals show contemporary station designs with improved accessibility features, reflecting the project’s commitment to serving a wide range of passengers.

The restored railway will provide an hourly direct train from Portishead to Bristol Temple Meads, with journey times of around 25 minutes.

The line will call at Pill, Parson Street and Bedminster, improving connections and unlocking housing and employment opportunities.

When will passenger services begin on the restored Portishead line?

Passenger services on the restored Portishead line are expected to begin in winter 2028/29, according to Network Rail.

Earlier projections had suggested services could start by 2027, but the latest timeline indicates a slightly later opening to allow for full construction and testing.

As reported by the UK government, with services due to begin in 2028, passengers will be able to travel directly between Portishead and Bristol Temple Meads in around 25 minutes – less than half the time journeys can take by car during rush hour traffic. The line will be operated by Great Western Railway (GWR), with Network Rail delivering the construction.

Background of the Portishead railway development

The Portishead railway line was originally opened in 1867 as part of the Bristol and Portishead Pier and Railway Company, designed by the renowned engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The line provided a vital connection between the port town of Portishead and Bristol, facilitating both passenger and freight services for nearly a century.

The line was closed to passenger services in 1964 as part of the Beeching cuts, which saw widespread closure of railway lines across the UK.

Freight services continued for a short period before the line was fully decommissioned. For more than 60 years, the track remained disused, with the route gradually becoming overgrown and fragmented by development.

Campaigns to restore the line began in earnest in the late 1990s, led by the Portishead Railway Group and supported by local residents, businesses and politicians.

The project gained momentum as part of the wider MetroWest initiative, which aims to improve rail connectivity across the Bristol region. Final approval for the restoration was granted by the Secretary of State for Transport in November 2022, with construction work beginning in 2026.

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Prediction: How could expansion of the Portishead line affect commuters and local communities?

If the hourly service between Bristol and Portishead proves successful and is expanded in the future, as suggested by Councillor Mike Bell, the impact on commuters and local communities could be significant. Increased frequency would reduce waiting times, improve reliability and make the service more attractive to a wider range of passengers, including those who currently rely on cars or buses.

For residents of Portishead and Pill, an expanded service could mean faster and more flexible access to employment, education and leisure opportunities in Bristol, potentially reducing congestion on local roads and supporting sustainable travel.

Businesses along the route may also benefit from improved connectivity, with easier access for customers and employees.

However, any expansion would depend on passenger demand, infrastructure capacity and additional funding. If demand exceeds expectations, further investment could be justified, leading to a more frequent service or even extensions to other parts of the regional network.

Conversely, if initial ridership is lower than projected, expansion plans may be delayed or scaled back. The long-term success of the line will ultimately hinge on how well it integrates with existing transport services and meets the needs of the communities it serves.