A rail link to Bristol Airport could help reduce increasing traffic levels on the nearby road network – and could also be configured to provide transport alternatives for the new housing development planned at The Vale, south of Bristol.
That’s according to Paul Matthews, Head of Bruton Knowles’ Bristol office, who believes the link could speed commuting times into the city and ease the burden on the already congested A38 and A370 routes into the city.
He said: “It’s been reported that turnover at Bristol Airport is now approaching £90m, thanks to an 11 per cent rise in passenger numbers to 7.53m.
“Every one of these passenger journeys would have been via road – as Bristol is one of the few major European cities which doesn’t have a direct rail link to its airport.”
North Somerset Council has already earmarked £650,000 for a study into transport links to Bristol Airport covering rail, road, public transport and even driverless car options – in the hope that a favoured scheme could then be put forward to the Department for Transport for funding.
Paul Matthews said: “We believe a rail route – linking in to the main line at Flax Bourton – could provide a much-needed rapid transit link to the airport and could improve the heavily used route into the city for new residents and commuters.”
The new South Bristol Link Road goes through one corner of The Vale providing an opportunity to extend the Metrobus network to serve the development, connecting through to the A38 and Bristol Airport.
“Either way we believe any airport rail link being brought forward should also serve the new population at the Vale. This could serve to strengthen the business case for the new line.”
