Portishead railway line cleared ahead of track checks [BBC News]





Date: 12/03/2013

Work to clear the disused Portishead railway line has begun 49 years after passenger trains last used the route. Contractors employed by North Somerset Council, which owns the line, have moved in to start cutting back the vegetation. The track is being inspected to see how much work would be needed before trains could start running again. The Department for Transport is expected to make an announcement on funding later this year. Part of the line into Bristol - from Portbury - was reopened in 2002 but the rest of the route remains disused. Network Rail is currently in discussions with the West of England Partnership to develop the Greater Bristol Metro which will include Portishead. [From Richard Buckby]


External links

Railway line cleared after 49 years
View along the disused Portishead railway line

BBC News

Work to clear vegetation from the a disused railway line is under way to see if the track is suitable to run trains on again.

Related images

The future of Bristol looks on as Freightliner 66560 passes Ashton Gate on the Portishead branch with a loaded coal train from Portbury import terminal on the morning of 9 February 2010. The probable destination in this case is Rugeley power station.
Location: Ashton Gate
Company: Bristol and Portishead Pier and Railway
09/02/2010 Peter Todd
This new station in Portishead, photographed in the summer of 1960, had a life of only ten years, (1954-1964). It was built to replace the previous station (shared with the Weston, Clevedon and Portishead light railway) which had been closed to make way for a new power station.
Location: Portishead
Company: Bristol and Portishead Pier and Railway
/07/1960 John Thorn
The Clifton Suspension Bridge, with the Portishead line in the background running alongside the River Avon.
Location: Nightingale Valley Halt
Company: Bristol and Portishead Pier and Railway
// Ewan Crawford


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