News / Transport
Campaigners urge government support for Portishead rail line
Campaigners gathered at Temple Meads to show their support for the Portishead rail project.
The reopening of the line from Bristol to Portishead is now in serious doubt after the new Labour government cancelled the Restoring Your Railway programme in order to reduce national public spending.
Newly elected Labour MP for North Somerset, Sadik Al-Hassan, attended the rally on Tuesday evening, with North Somerset Council previously pledging their continued commitment to the “transformative” scheme.
is needed now More than ever
A group of cross-party campaigners gathered at Temple Meads on Tuesday evening – photo: Rob Browne
The rally was organised by Bristol Rail Campaign and saw a number of campaigners gathered from different political parties all united in their ambition to connect Portishead to the national railway network.
Campaigners estimate that the total budget should be less than £200m, over half of which has been secured, with a new line resulting in a travel time of just 17 minutes between Bristol and Portishead.
The journey would use an already-operational freight track along the Avon Gorge as far as Pill.
Bristol Rail Campaign’s Tina Biggs said: “We urgently need to persuade the new Labour government that the Portishead rail project should quickly receive the funding it needs to become a reality.”
Newly elected North Somerset MP, Sadik Al-Hassan (above right), was among the campaigners – photo: Rob Browne
Main photo: Rob Browne
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