A growing concern has emerged in the North Somerset village of Long Ashton, where residents and their MP, Sadik Al-Hassan, are urging for the return of a local railway station. It has been 85 years since trains last stopped in the area, and many feel the absence of rail service leaves the community increasingly isolated.
More than 250 people have signed a petition demanding the government conduct a feasibility study into reopening a station in Long Ashton. Presenting the petition in the House of Commons, MP Al-Hassan emphasized the pressing need for rail access, describing the lack of a station as a “glaring gap” in local transport. He pointed out that without this vital link, more residents are forced to rely on cars, increasing congestion and environmental impact.
Unlike some other parts of North Somerset, where new stations are being constructed in Pill and Portishead as part of a major rail line reopening to Bristol, Long Ashton’s potential station would not require laying new tracks since it sits on the existing Bristol-Exeter main line. This makes the prospect more viable and critical for the village’s connectivity.
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The call for a station gains even more urgency with the ongoing development of a £1.25 billion health technology campus adjacent to Long Ashton. The campus, set to host the European headquarters of American healthcare giant Epic, is expected to employ over 2,000 people and generate significant economic growth. MP Al-Hassan stressed that without efficient public transport links, the expansion may unwittingly result in increased traffic and missed opportunities for sustainable commuting.
The location for a new station remains undecided, complicated by the railway line passing through a cutting near the village. Historically, Long Ashton’s original station, closed in 1941, was situated a short distance away and now lies beneath the Long Ashton bypass.
North Somerset has seen a resurgence in rail enthusiasm, with successful campaigns leading to the reopening of the Portishead Railway and plans to revive Clevedon’s miniature railway tourist line. Proposals for reopening Uphill station near Weston-super-Mare also exist, though local support there is limited.
For Long Ashton, the campaign reflects a broader push to ensure growing communities are not left behind in regional transport planning. Reintroducing a railway station could offer residents greener, faster, and more convenient travel options, aligning with the area’s economic and population growth.