Work starts this week to remove trees and vegetation along the Portishead Railway so that construction to reopen the defunct line can begin early next year.
This represents the final phase of "enabling works" preparing for the actual reopening project. A new "bat corridor" was established for wildlife away from the railway line in 2023, while the old railway tracks were lifted and donated to the Avon Valley heritage railway in 2024.
The vegetation clearance begins in Portishead and will progress along the route to Pill.
Network Rail's Western route director Marcus Jones said: "This project has been a long-standing ambition and we're excited to now be at the delivery phase."
The work will create space for temporary construction compounds and car parks, alongside the railway itself and two new stations at Pill and Portishead. The new Pill station will be constructed on the original site beside the Station Road railway bridge, whilst the new Portishead Station will be built off Quays Avenue.
The railway, which ceased passenger services under the Beeching Cuts in 1964, is scheduled to reopen by 2028.
West of England Metro Mayor Helen Godwin has praised the development as "a new chapter" for the West.
She said: "Working with North Somerset Council, the government, Network Rail, and GWR, this investment in new train stations at Pill and Portishead will cut congestion, provide a quicker, greener travel option, and unlock sites for much-needed new homes."
North Somerset MP Sadik Al-Hassan added: "I know how important the reopening of these two stations in Pill and Portishead are to the residents of North Somerset, and the understandable scepticism following years of broken promises.
"The project has resembled more a rollercoaster than a train over the past decade, but the delivery of this long-awaited trainline shows what we can achieve working together. I can't wait to take that first train, and I will keep pushing every step of the way to make sure delivery meets expectations."
The government confirmed its financial support for the project in July, following a year of uncertainty after Rachel Reeve's 2024 announcement that the government was scrapping the scheme set to fund its contribution.
The government has invested over £47m into the project, with the remaining cost of its £182m price tag being covered by North Somerset Council and the West of England Combined Authority.
North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell said: "I know trains from Portishead have been a long time coming, which is why it's great to be able to announce a start to works that will pave the way for construction in 2026.
"It is really happening. When journeys to Temple Meads make a return to train timetables, the reopened Portishead to Bristol line will transform our region as 50,000 people are connected back into the rail network.
"This makes the line more than just the new stations at Portishead and Pill, because when passengers finally pull into platforms at Temple Meads, they will also be able to enjoy all the benefits of onward travel. These are journeys that will unlock the West and the rest of the country, whilst also creating inward and outward investment that's key to an estimated £43m of economic growth each year."
