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Portishead Branch
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 1:40 pm
by ian_cr_roberts@hotmail.co
Is the Portishead line (alongside the Avon) still in operation? I travelled on it in 1985 (GW150) and the rails appeared to be in place last month. Where does it end?
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 4:10 pm
by James
It was reopened for freight only to a point just south of the M5 Avonmouth bridge, where a new junction was built and a new section of line to the Royal Portbury Dock was constructed.
The stations along the route are all disused, and the section from the new junction to Portishead is still in a derelict state, although with the old rails still in situ beneath the undergrowth.
There was a major outcry from the people in Portishead when the new line opened, as part of the agreement with the council/railway company was the the full length of the line to Portishead would be reopened for passenger services.
Naturally nothing came of it...
Re: Portishead Branch
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 5:55 pm
by madhattie
ian_cr_roberts@hotmail.co wrote:Is the Portishead line (alongside the Avon) still in operation? I travelled on it in 1985 (GW150) and the rails appeared to be in place last month. Where does it end?
Further to James comments about the freight only section of the line. The line to Portishead itself is still in situ but has been cut in two on the approach to the town centre to allow a new road to be built leading to the new developments at Portishead Wharf. They obviously couldn't be bothered to spend the cash on sticking a level crossing in place in readiness for any re-opening, and are clearly planning on keeping it closed.
I have pics of what's left at Portishead, plus stations en route such as Portbury and Pill, and they should be the next pics to go up on this site.
Pete
Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 12:45 pm
by James
Here's a site about the Portishead branch...with annoyingly tiny pictures!
http://www.lanternfilms.ukphotographers ... rtline.htm
Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:30 pm
by James
How come the Portishead line track was left in place when it was lifted from nearly all other closed lines?
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 5:14 pm
by madhattie
James wrote:How come the Portishead line track was left in place when it was lifted from nearly all other closed lines?
It was classified as a 'protected transport corridor' (or some similar terminology) and this meant the rails stayed in place.
The Portishead page really needs some before and after shots doesn't it!
