A direct link to the airport from Bristol Temple Meads railway station, branching from the Bristol to Exeter line from Long Ashton, was considered to be a "fully segregated high quality link to the airport, which should provide short journey times" with "good connections with wider rail network at Bristol Temple Meads" despite a significant altitude gain between the railway line and the airport – of around 150 meters – for which a light rail option was seen to be more flexible.