News - latest at top                                Summary of current situation >>               Contact details for protest letters.

Bristol City Council launch Bristol Metro 2013 campaign

18 January 2012: The authority has launched the Bristol Metro 2013 campaign to fight for a half-hourly local train service at all existing local stations and any new potential new ones such as Portishead. See Evening Post article 18 Jan 2012.

Rail Planners debate local rail improvements

4 November 2011: Rail industry bosses have met to debate plans for revitalisation of suburban train travel, including the Portishead line. They took a railcar tour of the local network, including down to Portbury. See BBC News Website.

Government rejects bid for funds

1 November 2011: The bid for funding from the Government was not successful. PRG is already pursuing local MPs to seek out further central Government funding options and by the time of our AGM, we will endeavour to have a full update on why the NSC bid failed and what we, as a campaigning group, will do next. See also Evening Post article 1 Nov 2011.

Meeting backs £43.3m Portishead to Bristol rail link

1 July 2011: At a meeting in Weston-super-Mare, the West of England Partnership decided to put forward a bid for £43.3m of government cash from the Regional Growth Fund to reopen the Portishead to Bristol railway line. Plans were also announced for a rail summit in the autumn as part of a drive to tackle rail issues across the West. See BBC Web site and North Somerset Council Website.

New campaign launched

20 June 2011: Portishead Railway Group have joined forces with Transport for Greater Bristol Alliance, Friends of Bristol Suburban Railways, and Sustainable Pill And District to support a new campaign highlighting the failure of the West of England Partnership – the body that represents Bristol and its three neighbouring councils – to deliver the long-awaited passenger service to Portishead. See Evening Post article 20 June 2011.

Dr Liam Fox letter

10 June 2011: Portishead Railway Group is asking local people to send letters to Liam Fox, to seek his support regarding North Somerset Council’s application for funding through the Regional Growth Fund. Details and reply from Dr Fox....

GRIP 3 Report issued

18 October 2010: North Somerset Council have announced that the GRIP 3 report has been published. This is an important milestone in the progress towards reopening. See North Somerset Council article and North Somerset Times Article 18 Oct 2010. Also Evening Post article 19 Oct 2010.

Read full GRIP 3 report here. Listen to Radio Bristol interview (19 Oct) of Peter Maliphant here. See also Current Situation for short precis.

Special rail trip down Portishead branch

25 Sept 2010: A special HST train ran down the line from Temple Meads to Portbury. See photos ... and Video.

See also article in North Somerset Times 29 Sept 2010.

Railway prospects hit by Government cuts

9 July 2010: Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has told North Somerset MP Liam Fox there is no money to pay for the railway reopening. In a letter to Dr Fox, Mr Hammond says: "Whilst we support improvements to regional and local rail services, the Government's key priority at present is to tackle the budget deficit.

Alan Matthews, chairman of PRG, said he was disappointed but not surprised. He said PRG would be pressing for the paperwork to be completed so that when money became available, a start could be made without delay. He said the paperwork alone could take two years to complete. "If we get everything ready, then at least we could start straightaway," he said. See Evening Post article 9 July 2010.

Local MP becomes Cabinet Minister

May 2010: Dr Liam Fox, MP for North Somerset is now Defence Secretary. Dr Fox has consistently supported the reopening of the Portishead railway. His election literature said “It is disgraceful that we still don’t have the Portishead rail link that Liam has consistently campaigned for. Despite tremendous local support we have been badly let down”. Now that he is in a position of power, we hope to see some real progress. (to write to Dr Fox, see contact details)

New Supermarket/ Hotel planning application - PRG objects

12 March 2010: A new planning application for a Lidl store and hotel incorporates the car park designated as the station car park at Portishead and already built, into its parking area. Alan Matthews has formally objected on behalf of PRG. The objection is not against the store and hotel per se but against the moving of the current Station/Park & Ride car park into the demise of the Lidl/Hotel car park. Portishead Town Council has recommended the application be refused. Details of planning application.

See also Evening Post article 12 March 2010.

Cost to re-open line could increase by £millions

12 February 2010: Network Rail say that the current line is only suitable for freight working and to re-open for passenger use could cost up to £10 million. See Evening Post article 12 Feb 2010.

Bendy buses could run on old rail link

13 January 2010: North Somerset Council are considering using Bendy buses running along the old track bed instead of rail. Portishead Railway Group and the Greater Bristol Transport Alliance are opposed to this, as is the Evening Post which comments: “It beggars belief that anyone with a scrap of intelligence could think this is a good idea. Bendy buses are a poor man’s tram system with none of the benefits”. These buses would have to negotiate the narrow and twisty A369 and Rownham Hill.  See Evening Post article 13 January 2010.

Campaign for an Integrated Transport Authority

January 2010: Transport for Greater Bristol Alliance is running a campaign for the establishment of an Integrated Transport Authority and the bringing forward of the Portishead railway reopening project. We fully support this campaign and urge everyone to support it. PRG is mailing a card to supporters to be sent to their councils. Alternatively see TfGBA website.

News from previous years ...>