Campaigners are urging North Somerset Council to consider reopening the disused Uphill railway station in Weston-super-Mare. This move aims to improve local transport connectivity and better serve key community locations.
Currently, the Bristol to Exeter main line runs through Worle, where a loop line branches off to serve the existing Weston Milton and Weston-super-Mare stations. However, the long-forgotten Uphill station, which once operated near Devil’s Bridge, has been dormant for decades. The Bristol Rail Campaign now advocates for its reopening to enhance access to Weston Hospital, Weston College’s Loxton campus, surrounding residential areas, Uphill Beach, and nearby walking trails.
Christina Biggs, campaigns lead for the Bristol Rail Campaign, presented the proposal to a North Somerset Council scrutiny panel on February 26. She suggested the council should lobby the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to fund a feasibility study for a new Uphill station, especially if North Somerset Council joins WECA by late 2024 or early 2027. The proposed station would be located slightly differently from the original, positioned on the loop line serving Weston Milton and Weston-super-Mare to avoid delays on the mainline.
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Ms. Biggs emphasized, “The plan is to utilize local trains stopping at Weston Milton, Worle, and Weston-super-Mare, so there’s no disruption to mainline services.”
WECA currently manages millions in transport funding and has supported projects like the reopening of the Portishead Railway, set for 2028 after years of advocacy. Ms. Biggs highlighted that reopening Uphill would be relatively straightforward since it involves an existing line, unlike the more complex Portishead project.
At present, North Somerset Council has yet to formally decide whether to pursue reopening Uphill station. A public consultation on the council’s potential membership in WECA is open until April 10, which could influence future transport initiatives in the area.