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Local representatives and rail campaigners in
Portishead have reacted enthusiastically to a study by North
Somerset Council into a rail link for Portishead, which shows that
the idea is feasible with no "show stoppers".
At a meeting in the town last night (Tuesday 17 June)
consultants for the council presented to local parish, town and
district councillors and other invited groups, the results of a
major feasibility study into the rail link.
This had been carried out over the last several months with the
aid of a council steering group and input from 11 different bodies,
including the Portishead Rail group, town council and other
interested parties.
The study looked at several different options, based on one
train per hour between Portishead and Bristol Temple Meads, either
direct or stopping at interim stations such as Pill and Ashton
Gate. It also evaluated the cost of building the necessary
infrastructure including a new station for Portishead west of Quays
Avenue, and re-laying track between the town centre and the
existing Portbury Dock spur.
Detailed calculations show that building the necessary
infrastructure is likely to cost between £7.5 - £15 million, whilst
annual operating costs would be between £1.6 - £2.4 million, of
which approximately a third will need to be covered by a
subsidy.
Identifying the funding for the infrastructure and operating
subsidy will now be the subject of ongoing work, as will a more
detailed analysis of the route to meet Network Rail rail planning
guidance. The Department for Transport will also have to accept the
plan and add it to the rail franchise.
Cllr Elfan Ap Rees, North Somerset Council's deputy leader with
responsibility for transport, said after the meeting:
"Investigating a Portishead rail link was one of the priorities the
new Conservative administration set itself when we took over last
year and I am delighted that this report shows that the idea is not
only feasible but would positively contribute to reducing road
traffic on the A369 though M5 junction 19 and have economic
benefits too for the town.
"We hope now that the government will support the plan and help
us find the funding needed to bring this to fruition, either
through the Transport Innovation Fund process or, if that should
prove unworkable for some reason, through alternative transport
bids."
The full report on the study is expected to be available next
month (July). |