Castle Cary railway station, one of Somerset’s busiest, has undergone a thorough restoration of its ticket office and waiting room thanks to an £835,000 investment.
The station attracts more than 370,000 passengers each year and serves as the primary rail hub for large areas of eastern Somerset. Recent improvements at Castle Cary include a new car park, opened in March 2024, and the launch of the 567 bus service on a six-month trial connecting the station to Glastonbury and Street.
The restoration project aimed to enhance accessibility and celebrate the station’s heritage. Funding was provided by the Department for Transport (DfT) (£560,000) and the Railway Heritage Trust (£275,000). The upgraded station building was officially reopened on Monday, 17 August, by Sir Andrew Haines, chairman of Department for Transport Operator Limited (DFTO).
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Key improvements include reopening the original entrance with a new accessible ramp offering step-free access, relocating the ticket office to improve passenger flow, and refurbishing the waiting room with uncovered historic features and period-appropriate timber furniture evoking an early 20th-century atmosphere. Additional seating has been added on the main platform, alongside a new digital departure board and upgraded toilet facilities, including a larger accessible toilet with baby-changing amenities.
Sir Andrew Haines commented, “This project is a great example of providing meaningful benefits to the public while respecting the station’s iconic heritage. I hope passengers enjoy the improved facilities at this unique station.”
Castle Cary is primarily served by Great Western Railway (GWR), linking the Bristol to Weymouth service and faster trains between Exeter and London Paddington via Taunton. GWR managing director Mark Hopwood CBE said, “Castle Cary is a wonderful example of celebrating railway heritage while enhancing functionality for today’s customers. We are delighted to have worked with the DfT, Railway Heritage Trust, and Oxford Architects to restore the station’s historic character while improving accessibility and customer experience.”
Hopwood also highlighted the partnership with The Newt in Somerset, which operates an artisan dairy, restaurant, and farm shop located next to the station within the restored 1912 Creamery building. This collaboration contributes to creating an exciting destination and showcasing the region’s heritage.
Further station upgrades are planned, including exploring a third car park to accommodate growing passenger numbers and investigating step-free access enhancements as part of the DfT’s ‘Access for All’ programme.
Tim Hedley-Jones, director of the Railway Heritage Trust, added, “We are pleased to support GWR’s grant for restoring this historic station building. The project shows that preserving railway heritage can also deliver better accessibility and improved waiting facilities for passengers. Everyone involved deserves commendation for their attention to period detail.”
For those interested, the full timetable for the 567 bus route to and from Castle Cary railway station is available at www.somersetbuspartnership.co.uk/567.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s portfolio holder for highways and transport, urged local residents to use the 567 service during its six-month trial ending in February 2027. Representing the Curry Rivel and Langport division, he said, “While we’d love to run buses everywhere, our network has limitations. This service offers the best chance for improvement but its success depends on passengers using it and it aligning with train times.”