North Somerset Council has revealed that final enabling works on the Portishead railway line located in the west of Bristol, England, have commenced.
Work crews are clearing vegetation and trees along the former railway route, a process required to provide access for construction activities scheduled to start in 2026.
The enabling works will create space for building temporary compounds, two new stations at Portishead and Pill, car parks, and the railway infrastructure itself.
The project is part of the wider Metro West project to enhance rail links in Bristol and surrounding regions.
The UK Department for Transport approved the project in July, which has also received more than £47m ($61.77m) in government funding.
Officials expect hourly train services between Portishead, Pill, and Bristol Temple Meads to begin in 2028.
North Somerset Council leader and councillor Mike Bell said: “I know trains from Portishead have been a longtime coming, which is why it’s great to be able to announce a start to works that will pave the way for construction in 2026.
“When journeys to Temple Meads make a return to train timetables, the reopened Portishead to Bristol line will transform our region as 50,000 people are connected back into the rail network.
“As always, it’s joint effort and I’d like to thank the continued support of our partners at the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, Network Rail, Department for Transport and GWR [Great Western Railway].”
The line was originally closed during nationwide railway reductions in the 1960s.
The current phase follows earlier ecological assessments designed to safeguard local wildlife and habitats.
Qualified ecologists will continue to monitor these activities throughout the preparatory period.
Project leaders anticipate that reopening the line, expected in 2028, will reduce journey times by half and help ease road congestion in the area.
West of England mayor Helen Godwin said: “Working with North Somerset Council, the government, Network Rail, and GWR, this investment in new stations at Pill and Portishead will cut congestion, give people a quicker, greener travel option, and unlock sites for much-needed new homes.”
