The reopening of the railway line from Bristol to Portishead could mean a new station for South Bristol, with council chiefs backing the reopening of a station at Ashton Gate.
Council leader Tony Dyer said the news that the Government had pledged the final bit of funding for the Portishead line meant a station for Ashton Gate will also take a big step forward.
Cllr Dyer (Green, Southville) was one of the West of England delegation who met with Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy last week, along with metro mayor Dan Norris, which secured the funding for the Portishead line, and Mr Norris also said he was keen to reopen the Ashton Gate station.
Two new stations are being created with the reopening of the Portishead line – at Pill and Portishead itself, and the first passenger trains could run as early as 2027 – in just two years – if work gets underway in the next few months.
The news was announced earlier this week by metro mayor Dan Norris and North Somerset MP Sadik al-Hassan, but there could be other benefits for South Bristol too in the coming years, according to Cllr Tony Dyer, the leader of Bristol City Council.
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The history of Ashton Gate station
Opened in 1906 mainly for fans heading to watch Bristol City, Ashton Gate was one of the later stations added to the original Portishead line, which also had another station at Rownham Hill called Clifton Bridge, and a halt stop at the Nightingale Valley, just a few yards past the point where the line goes under the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
The station closed to regular passengers with the Beeching Cuts in 1964, although it continued in use during the 1970s for football specials. It was brought back into use as a one-off when American evangelical preacher Billy Graham held a series of gatherings at the stadium over four days in May 1984, which saw tens of thousands of people come from all over the country to Ashton Gate.
The Portishead line was brought back into use for freight to Royal Portbury Docks in 2001, but the station at Ashton Gate was not brought back into use. Football fans travelling by train tend to either walk from Temple Meads or travel to Parson Street, which is around three-quarters of a mile from the stadium.
When the Alderman Moore’s Allotments in Ashton Vale were developed in the late 2010s, then city council housing chief Paul Smith ensured land was set aside next to the railway line close to the Ashton Gate stadium so that a new station could be created, so there would be no issue with finding a location for the proposed station – the site is at the point where the 2017 Metrobus link road meets the railway line, with access from the other side into the South Bristol Trade Park, and a short walk to the stadium.
The prospect of the new Ashton Gate Sporting Quarter bringing a 5,000-capacity arena, hotel, new homes and offices to the land between the stadium and Winterstoke Road will boost the business case for the station reopening. That business case will have to be made separately to the Government to provide extra funding for the new station at Ashton Gate, with it likely that the reopened line will have trains running first, before work begins on the new station.
What council leader Tony Dyer said
“This agreement to reopen the Portishead to Bristol rail line is a landmark deal that opens up new opportunities for residents and businesses alike,” said Cllr Dyer, who added that a new station at Ashton Gate would be the next step.
“A new route from Bristol Temple Meads offers new options for commuters, day visitors and others to travel around the region quickly and in a way that helps further reduce emissions produced by transport.
“The agreement we, as the leaders in the West of England, have reached with the Department for Transport is an example of the kind of joint working we aim to achieve across the region to unlock new opportunities and offers for those travelling across our area,” he added.
“Reopening the branch line not only brings travel and environmental benefits for the region, but also brings us closer to realising more local ambitions or expanding access to rail for residents across south Bristol. The approach complements our plans for South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood, which we are working on with communities across Southville, Bedminster and Windmill Hill, to design safer and quieter streets.
“With a reopened line bringing new commuter trains along the tracks through Ashton Gate, the prospect of reopening the long-abandoned station can be brought a step closer. The prospect of reconnecting the area with a direct rail service into the city and the wider region is one this administration is campaigning hard for and will continue to work with our regional partners to make a reality.
“Likewise, our ambition remains high for further stations in Bristol to connect residents to the rail network. Working with our regional partners we are progressing investigations into new stations at St Anne’s Park and Lockleaze as well the potential for electrifying the Filton Bank to enable more frequent services and cleaner trains. These options offer clear benefits to the communities around them and would massively expand the number of travel options for residents in the area,” he added.
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