News / Bristol
Rail improvement bid hits hurdle
A bid to improve Bristol to Bath rail links and reopen Portishead’s passenger line has hit a serious hurdle with costs set to rocket by as much as £117m.
Transport bosses are proposing to scale back implementation of the MetroWest Phase One project which is part of a major overhaul of the region’s network – but have promised it is not the end of the line for scheme.
Initial plans to upgrade the Severn Beach Line, increase the service at Kensham and Oldfield Park stations to two trains an hour and reopen Portishead’s disused passenger line with a half-hourly service were estimated to total £58.2m.
is needed now More than ever
Network Rail is overseeing the upgrade and now estimates the figure could almost triple to between £145m and £175m.
Project managers have been forced to review the project and are now recommending it is delivered in staggered stages.
Much of the additional cost is swallowed up in challenges thrown up by the scope of work required through the Avon Gorge and track changes necessary to increase the speed on the Portishead line from 30mph to 50mph in order to run two trains an hour.
As such, the proposal on the table is to press ahead with delivering service improvements on the Severn Beach and Bath Corridors, and reopening the Portishead passenger line.
The ambition to run a half-hourly service to Portishead, will be held back until additional funding is sought.
Costs have tripled for the rail improvement works from £58.2m to as much as £175m
Project manager James Willcock, admitted there is an element of disappointment over the setback to a long-awaited scheme that has already had approximately £8m ploughed into it.
He said: “Having been dedicated to the project for a couple of years, it’s tough to accept it’s going to cost more than we expected.
“There is also a determination to work through it. People want this scheme to be delivered and all major transport schemes hit problems.”
Despite the lack of figures, David Carter, the director of development for North Somerset Council, estimated that – if the recommendations are accepted – work will begin in 2021.
Senior communications manager for Network Rail Julian Burnell said: “It’s a great idea, it needs to happen and we are determined to do everything we can to support it.”
Members of the West of England Joint Transport Board will make a final decision on the recommendations.
Speaking on behalf of the Joint Transport Board, its chair Colin Hunt, said: “It seems likely that the Joint Transport Board will not be able to commit to delivery of the full MetroWest Phase One at this stage as the estimated costs are outside the existing allocated budget.
“Now we know what is required to deliver the full scope of Phase One, we can look at how best to move forwards to deliver these much needed improvements to the local rail network and are already working closely with Network Rail and Great Western Railways on this.”
Read more: Portishead line ‘delayed by a year’
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