Contracts worth £200m have been signed at Bristol Temple Meads, which will reinstate the Portishead railway line for the first time in 60 years.

Work will involve building two new railway stations, relaying three miles of track and installing the infrastructure needed to run a rail service.

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure have been appointed to lead the construction of the line, as well as any highway improvements that are needed at Portishead.

Colas Rail will be in charge of a new digital signalling system, and AmcoGiffen will construct bridge work as well as highway improvement work in Bristol.

This project is funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and North Somerset Council and will be delivered by Network Rail.

It is expected that the railway line will be opened in Winter 2028/29 and will connect 50,000 people to the railway for the first time, with journeys taking around 25 minutes between Portishead and Bristol and 20 minutes from Pill.

A special charter, operated by Locomotive Services Group with 142003, ran towards Portishead with those on board including the Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell, Network Rail Western route managing director Marcus Jones, Great Western Railway managing director Mark Hopwood, Karin Smith, MP for Bristol South, Kerry McCarthy, MP for Bristol East and Sadik Al-Hassan, MP for North Somerset.

Work will start soon in Portishead to remove the old railway and prepare the trackbed for the new track. Station House in Pill will be demolished to make way for a new station forecourt.

Marcus Jones, managing director of Network Rail’s Western route, said:

“This is a significant milestone in the return of the railway to Portishead and Pill, and a proud moment for everyone involved in bringing this scheme to life. With these contracts now signed, we’re moving from years of planning into full delivery.

“This project will reconnect more than 50,000 people to the rail network for the first time in decades, unlocking better access to jobs, education and services, while offering a faster and greener alternative to road travel.

“Working closely with the Department for Transport, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, North Somerset Council, Great Western Railway and our industry partners, we’re committed to delivering a modern, reliable railway that supports long‑term growth for the region and meets the needs of local communities for generations to come.”

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:

 “This is an historic moment for Portishead, Pill and the whole of the West of England, as we continue to grow our regional rail network and look to increase the frequency of trains across the board.

“Through this new £200 million train line, the West of England and North Somerset, alongside our industry partners, we can connect more people to work, nature, and leisure. This investment will also help unlock sites for new homes and strengthen the country’s fastest-growing regional economy.

“Travel times between Bristol and Portishead will be halved by train services, helping the West get out of the slow lane and cutting congestion. Our record investment in more trains and better buses will get our region moving, while we continue developing mass transit plans for the longer-term.”