Construction work has begun on a new train station in Portishead, a major boost for the UK seaside town. The project, worth nearly £200m, is set to reconnect over 50,000 residents to the national rail network, with the station scheduled to open in the 2028/29 winter.
The new Portishead station will reconnect the coastal town directly to Bristol Temple Meads. Portishead has been one of the largest towns in England without a railway station since the Beeching cuts in 1964.
Economic and transport benefits
The new station is expected to boost the local economy by an estimated £43 million annually by improving access to regional jobs and education. It is also projected to reduce traffic on the congested A369, taking up to 8 million car journeys off the road by 2044.
The station is being delivered by Network Rail as part of the MetroWest programme, built off Quays Avenue in Portishead. Funding comes from the Department for Transport, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, and North Somerset Council, with Great Western Railway (GWR) set to operate services once the station is operational.
Infrastructure changes and journey times
To accommodate the station, the local road network will be modified, including a newly positioned roundabout on Quays Avenue. Locals have been warned of road closures and diversion routes while work is taking place.
According to Network Rail, trains will take around 25 minutes to travel between Portishead and Bristol Temple Meads. The route will cut through the Avon Gorge and pass underneath the Clifton Suspension Bridge. The line will offer an hourly direct service in each direction, with GWR running three-carriage trains providing around 270 seats per journey.
Cost increases and project scope
The project has faced significant price increases since it was initially planned. Developers said in 2017 that it would cost an estimated £116m, but this figure has since risen to £150m in 2025 and, most recently, £200m.
This funding covers the new station at Portishead, upgrading around three miles of rail track, installing a new digital signalling system in the area, and strengthening the bridge through the Avon Gorge.
Network Rail said: "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."
