Category: News
Ocean Jubilee Bridge
The new Ocean Jubilee rail bridge was officially opened in May 2022. This replaced the bridge over the Stroudwater Navigation Canal in Stonehouse. It is part of a project to allow Stroud to be re-connected to the national canal network. This bridge is on the main Bristol-Gloucester line near Stonehouse. It crosses the canal south…
Funding agreed for Portishead Railway
On Friday 29th July the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) voted to allocate an additional £10m funding for MetroWest Phase 1 (Portishead Line). This money, from the Investment and Transforming Cities Fund, will bridge the latest funding gap and allow the project to proceed. Escalating costs Projected capital costs for the re-opening of the…
Window Seater audio travel guides
Start-up tech company Window Seater launched a new series of immersive audio travel guides on 17th February 2022 to connect rail passengers with the world outside their train window. These travel guides are the result of a collaboration between Window Seater, the Community Rail Network and GWR. The project was backed by the Department for…
WECA mobility hub survey
WECA are doing a mobility survey on how people travel in North Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Please help us by responding by 6th March 2022!
Progress at Portway Park and Ride station
Construction work by Bristol City Council and Network Rail at the Portway Park and Ride station site is finally underway. The £4.2 million station, part of the West of England Combined Authority’s wider MetroWest plans, is billed as the first new railway station within the City of Bristol since Parson Street was built in 1927.…
SevernNet Transport Charter
SevernNet is a not-for-profit enterprise that represents businesses and the community across the Royal Portbury Dock, Avonmouth, Severnside and Western Approach area (PAS). The PAS area is covered by 3 local authorities, Bristol City Council, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The local authorities acknowledge that the area is significant in terms of employment and regeneration…
FoSBR AGM 2022
Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FoSBR) will be holding our Annual General Meeting on Friday, 28th January 2022. Because of the continuing uncertainties around Covid-19, we have again decided to hold this as a Zoom meeting. The meeting will start at 7.30pm and end at approximately 9.30pm. Members may renew their subscriptions online: £10 for…
Covid-19 impact on local rail usage
The latest data from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) shows that passenger rail usage in 2020-21 (1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021) was significantly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Nationally, rail passenger journeys decreased 78% on the previous year. Media coverage focused on the fact that this was the lowest level of…
Celebrating half-hourly service on Severn Beach Line!
To celebrate the new half-hourly service on the Severn Beach line we’d like to invite you to take a trip with us to Severn Beach on Sunday 12th December 2021. This is the first day of the new timetable and the first step towards half hourly services at most local stations. This timetable also sees…
Stroudwater, Corsham and Tavistock stations
Campaigns to reopen three stations in the South West have received funding under Round 3 of the Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund process. Stroudwater station, as well as Corsham station and the Tavistock line, will get money to support the development of their business cases. These in turn may be submitted to the Department for…