Portishead rail line: what are the costs?

Phase I of the MetroWest project hopes to re-open the Portishead rail line to passenger train services.

It also plans to enhance local passenger train services on the Severn Beach and Bath to Bristol lines including a new rail station at Portishead and the reopening of the former station at Pill.

The project was originally estimated to cost £58.2 million - which has now risen to between £145m to £175m.

So where have costs spiraled?

ORIGINAL COST EXPECTATION:

Where did it come from?

• £4.3 million from the local Councils

• £53.4 million from the WoE LEP Local Growth Fund

• £0.5 million was yet to be funded.

HOW MUCH HAS IT COST TO DATE?

• Approximately £8million has already been invested in the investigations, preparations and design of the scheme by the Councils and the Local Enterprise Partnership through the Local Growth Fund.

• A further £950k has been invested by North Somerset Council in strategic land acquisition.

WHY HAS IT INCREASED SO MUCH?

• A "significant increase" in the scope of work through the Avon Gorge to meet safety standards, allowing the passenger service to run twice an hour.

• Creating an alternative access from the A370 to compensate for two trains an hour alongside the existing freight services at the Ashton Vale Level crossing.

• The impact of this on the land.

• Increased risks associated with the project