Network Rail is inviting local residents to meet its project team to learn more about work to reintroduce railway services on the Portishead and Pill line in North Somerset.

The community drop-in events will take place as Network Rail continues its preparation for the £200m scheme, including awarding contracts for construction work. With new stations at Poretishead and at Pill, the line will reopen a service that was closed in 1964.

Over the coming week, two events will take place, one in each of the two towns. People who attend will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss issues directly with the team which is delivering the project. Households near the railway in Portishead and Pill have received direct invitations to the event, but everyone is welcome to attend.

The two events are as follows:

• Tuesday 23 June, 3.30–7.30pm, at Pill Community Centre
• Thursday 25 June, 3.30–7.30pm, at Somerset Hall, Portishead
  

The Department for Transport, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and North Somerset Council are funding the reopening of the Portishead line. Network Rail is carrying out the construction, and Great Western Railway (GWR) will operate train services.

Network Rail has given an update on the work, claiming that it is making “significant progress”.

It has started work on a new road and roundabout in Portishead. These will realign Quays Avenue further west, which will make space for the new station. To enable this work to be carried out, there will be a temporary one-way system on Harbour Road from Monday 22 June until autumn.

Workers have removed the old track between Portishead and Sheepway, and have cleared vegetation in preparation for the new track to be laid.

The old Station House in Pill has been demolished. The site has been cleared, and will be the forecourt of the new Pill station. The next work to be started will be excavating and strengthening the embankment alongside the railway.

Network Rail has already finished its work to improve Marsh Lane bridge. The reopening of the line required four bridges to be upgraded. Work on the next, Sheepway bridge, will begin on Thursday 25 June.

“This project is about much more than new stations, it’s about giving thousands more people direct, reliable access to the rail network.

“When complete, this line will connect residents and visitors to Bristol city centre, and in time will link with Bristol Brabazon station and the new Aviva Arena, creating a sustainable public transport corridor that this part of the region has long needed.

“We know that reliable rail services make a real difference to people’s lives, to local businesses and to the wider economy, and that is exactly what we are working to deliver here.

“Drop-in sessions like these are really important to us. We want the people who will use this line to be part of the conversation as we build towards opening, and we’re grateful for their patience and interest as this work progresses.”

Hannah Shackleford, GWR Wales and West of England development manager