The Portishead Line

We’re restoring the Portishead Line from Bristol to Portishead.

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The Portishead Line

The branch line was closed in 1964 but when reopened in 2028, it will reconnect more than 50,000 people to the railway. The project is funded by Government, the West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset Council and is being delivered by Network Rail.

The restored railway will provide an hourly direct train from Portishead to Bristol Temple Meads in around 25 minutes. The route runs along one of the most scenic stretches of railway in the country, under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and through the Avon Gorge.

New stations will be built at Portishead and Pill. Three miles of new track will be laid from Portishead to join the existing railway at Pill, which is currently used only for freight to Royal Portbury Dock. An additional line will be added through Pill to allow trains to pass each other. The whole railway from Portishead to Parson Street will be upgraded and signals and communication masts will be installed.

What work is taking place?

Portishead

We’re building a new Quays Avenue and roundabout to make space for the new station. A new road layout is in place on Quays Avenue but two-way traffic remains. A one-way system is in place on Harbour Road until autumn 2026, with traffic only able to travel towards the roundabout from Newfoundland Way.

From mid-July, we’ll also be setting up our compound off the A369 Portbury Hundred, which involves temporary traffic management.

Between Portishead and Sheepway, the old rail has been removed and the area prepared for new track to be laid in 2027. Work continues to remove old rail towards Pill.

Work has also begun to strengthen Sheepway bridge. The bridge is closed to all traffic and pedestrians until autumn 2026. The NCN26 is diverted via Quays Avenue, Phoenix Way and the Ecology Park.

Buses will not run along Sheepway and bus stops at Conference Close, Portishead Ecology Park and Shipway Farm are suspended during the bridge closure. A shuttle bus will operate between Elm Tree Farm, Station Road, a temporary stop on Wyndham Way near the roundabout with Sheepway and Sainsbury’s in Portishead. The shuttle bus runs every 20 minutes from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Pill

The site of the old Station House has been prepared for the next stage of construction, which begins in July. The embankment alongside the railway will be cut back and then reinforced with over 2,000 steel rods. The work will be completed by the end of 2026.

From 6 July, work begins to build a temporary haul road from Marsh Lane bridge to Pill. This is to avoid construction traffic driving through Pill. The public right of way will be diverted until early 2028.

Ecology

Extensive work has taken place to ensure species living near the railway are protected while the work takes place, such as toads, reptiles, badgers and bats. Rare whitebeam trees have also been grown and planted in Leigh Woods in the Avon Gorge. All the work has been completed in conjunction with Natural England.

Why is the work needed?

The Portishead Line is phase one of the wider Metro West project to improve rail links in Bristol and surrounding areas, improving connectivity and enhancing the local economy. Phase two will include new stations on a rail line to Henbury.

In total Metro West aims to provide seven new stations and five new or enhanced rail links by 2028.

Get in touch

If you have any questions or require further information in the meantime, you can get in touch with us by visiting our contact us page or by calling our 24-hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41.