After serving passengers for 20 years, the direct bus link connecting Taunton and the West Somerset Railway (WSR) is set to be discontinued due to persistently low ridership. The 28 bus route, which travels from Taunton to Minehead, has included stops within the Broadgauge business park in Bishop’s Lydeard, enabling direct transfers to the heritage railway from mainline trains.
First Group PLC, the operator of the service, announced that these stops will be “temporarily withdrawn” starting August 31. This decision has sparked disappointment among local transport campaigners who value the convenience of the link. Despite this change, buses on routes 28 and 28A will continue to serve Bishop’s Lydeard by stopping near the Lethbridge Arms pub. Both Somerset Council and First Group assure that this adjustment will deliver enhanced service reliability.
David Redgewell of the South West Transport Network brought attention to the issue during the Somerset full council meeting in Bridgwater on July 16. He highlighted concerns for passengers with reduced mobility, including the partially sighted and wheelchair users, who face a 10- to 15-minute additional walk between the new bus stop and the railway station across the A358.
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Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, stressed that the change is not intended as a cost-cutting measure. Supported by Somerset Council and the Somerset Bus Partnership, the modification reflects a strategic redistribution of route timing to boost reliability. Since April 1, First Group recorded just 333 passengers boarding or alighting at the Broadgauge business park stops, compared to the West Somerset Railway’s weekly figure of around 7,000 passengers.
The nearby stop at the Lethbridge Arms remains accessible and is connected to the railway station by a short and safe route through an underpass beneath the A358. First Group made this decision independently as the route segment between the business park and railway receives no direct council funding. The operator plans to review this change ahead of the summer 2026 timetable.
On July 21, First Group confirmed the temporary withdrawal would occur with the winter timetable to streamline services and improve punctuality. Evening services on route 28A have also been re-timed to better connect with Great Western Railway mainline services from London at Taunton station.
James Eustace, commercial director for First Bus in Somerset, emphasized the commitment to reliable services tailored to passenger needs: “These changes are about making sure our services run more reliably and reflect the needs of our passengers.”
Updated timetables are available through First Bus’s website and mobile app.