Fresh artist's impressions of the new stations at Portishead and Pill have been released, marking a key milestone in the £200m project to reinstate the Portishead–Bristol railway.

Residents who attended a drop-in information event at Pill Community Centre were the first to view the designs.

The visuals showcase modern, accessible facilities that will serve local communities when passenger services are scheduled to begin in winter 2028/29.

Once open, the restored line will provide an hourly direct service from Portishead to Bristol Temple Meads, with journey times of about 25 minutes. The route follows one of the country’s most scenic rail corridors, passing under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and through the Avon Gorge.

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Closed to passenger services since 1964, the Portishead Line is being funded by the Department for Transport, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and North Somerset Council. Network Rail is delivering construction, with services to be operated by Great Western Railway (GWR).

Niall Spencer, senior sponsor for Network Rail's Great Western route, said: "It's been fantastic to share these new images with the community and give people a clearer picture of what the new stations at Portishead and Pill will look like when they open. These images help bring the project to life and show the high-quality, accessible gateways we are creating for local people.

"The enthusiasm and interest we've seen from residents has been incredibly positive. We've always said that engagement would be at the heart of this project, and drop-in events like today's are an important opportunity to listen, answer questions and keep communities informed as work progresses.

"There's now visible progress right across the route, from bridge upgrades and site clearance to preparations for the new stations themselves. It's exciting to see this long-awaited railway taking shape and moving another step closer to reconnecting local communities with the rail network for the first time in more than six decades."