Portishead Railway Group

18/08/2026

You may have seen that the new National Planning Policy Framework gives a default ‘Yes’ for new homes within reasonable walking distance of well-connected stations, so what does that mean for Portishead?

Actually, nothing at all for now - the policy requires 2 trains per hour for a station to be ‘well-connected’.

When the Portishead line has 2 trains per hour, the second requirement is that development must be within ‘reasonable walking distance’ of the station. The government defines that to be 800 metres (about 10 minutes at moderate walking speed), so let’s allow 1 km and see what areas of Portishead that includes ….

Everything within the green line is upto a 1 km walk from the station.

You can see all the latest news about the Portishead line here: www.portisheadrailwaygroup.org
And the construction project here:
https://www.facebook.com/portisheadline
and here: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/.../the-portishead-line/

17/08/2026

In case you've not seen it, the latest news from the construction team explains more about the works starting in Pill and how access to the railway compound on the Portbury Hundred will work:

Access works are complete, so no more traffic lights. Construction traffic using the compound is only allowed to turn left into and out of the compound, so that it can't cross the Portbury Hundred. If you see this requirement not being obeyed, just the let the project team (or Portishead Railway Group) know.

For safety, the speed limits will remain in place whilst the compound is in use (so roughly throughout 2027). As the compound may be in use at any time, these limits unfortunately have to be permanently in place.

You can see all the latest news from the construction project here:
https://www.facebook.com/portisheadline
and sign up for the construction newsletter here:
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/our-work/our-routes/western/the-portishead-line/
www.portisheadrailwaygroup.org

16/07/2026

Network Rail have released a great visualisation of the new Portishead station, which makes very clear the new road layout, station site, crossings and access roads that are currently being constructed. You can view it here :
https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/3bekameca3
and also on our website:
www.portisheadrailwaygroup.org

Portishead Railway Group - campaigning for the reopening of the Portishead to Bristol Railway.

15/07/2026

As well as the drop in session with all the project team at the Somerset Hall 3.30-7.30pm on Thursday, there's lots of information about the railway construction works here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DwWHGFVw9/
and on our website: www.portisheadrailwaygroup.org

So we thought we'd look at a less visible activity - the restoration work on the footbridge over the rhyne behind Sainsbury. This is a vital link on the footpath that connects the Lidl car park to the new station car park and station.

14/07/2026

If you want to ask questions about the current construction works or find out more about what happens next, there's a drop-in session this afternoon at Pill Community Centre and on Thursday at the Somerset Hall, Portishead, hosted by Network Rail and MetroWest

20/05/2026

Latest news from the project team ….

19/05/2026

Good to see progress at both station sites. The derelict building in Pill is being cleared to create space for the station forecourt. Meanwhile in Portishead the station car park and new roundabout on Quays Avenue are taking shape, creating the space for the Portishead station and platform to be constructed where the roundabout currently is.

25/03/2026

Portishead Railway Group will continue posting news here as we get it, but now that construction is under way you might like to know that Network Rail have a dedicated web page for the Portishead & Pill line reopening:
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/our-work/our-routes/western/the-portishead-line/
You can sign up there for e-mail newsletters on construction progress.
They also have a dedicated page, in case you've not already seen it:
https://www.facebook.com/portisheadline

We’re restoring the Portishead Line from Bristol to Portishead. When reopened, it will reconnect more than 50,000 people to the railway.

25/02/2026

If you'd like the chance to find out more about the construction works for the Portishead & Pill railway and speak to members of the project team, here's a couple of drop-in meeting dates for your diary.

28/01/2026

The Portishead end of the line is very visible, but the Bristol end much less so. Here's where the trains from Portishead and Pill join the main line, a couple of hundred metres west of Parson Street station.

Trains will have to fit in amongst all the services on the main line, before carrying on to Parson Street, Bedminster and Temple Meads.

The Pill & Portishead line is two tracks for only a short distance, along to near Ashton Gate stadium.