[2] In November 2006 the airport's Master Plan stated that "the provision of a direct rail service is not a realistic prospect".
[2] It was also reported in the Bristol Evening Post in September 2016 that North Somerset Council had applied to the government for "nearly £2 million in funding to draw up proposals to improve links on the A38 between the city and the expanding Bristol Airport",[6] which included new road options as well as a light or heavy rail line.
In October 2016 the local authorities proposed £7.5 billion in public transport investments for the West of England,[7] including the airport rail link.
In early 2017 a light rail link to the airport was listed as an election promise in the upcoming West of England mayoral election, 2017 by Liberal Democrat candidate Stephen Williams[8] and independent candidate Dr John Savage.
The West of England LEP's Option Development Report, published in 2016, outlined various possible routes for the new railway line:[12] In October 2017, the West of England Joint Transport Study - Executive Summary described the scheme as a "fully segregated mass transit route connecting Bristol Airport and South Bristol to city centre, with options to be considered for underground running.