The recent opening of a new railway station in rural Devon has been hailed as a promising development for efforts to reconnect the West Somerset Railway (WSR) with mainline services, according to a Somerset Member of Parliament.
The WSR operates a scenic route between Bishop’s Lydeard, just outside Taunton, and Minehead, passing through quaint West Somerset locations such as Watchet, Blue Anchor, Dunster, and Williton. This heritage railway offers visitors an opportunity to enjoy steam and diesel train journeys along a 20-mile stretch, encompassing ten stations that showcase Somerset’s beautiful countryside and coastline.
Although there have been multiple attempts to link the heritage line with Great Western Railway (GWR) mainline services at Taunton, including a trial connecting service during the summer of 2019, a permanent reconnection has yet to be established.
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Currently, the WSR attracts over 200,000 visitors annually and promotes itself as “one of the largest attractions in South West England,” ideal for those seeking a nostalgic journey through the region’s rural landscape or an insight into the railway and industrial heritage the line preserves.
The railway is presently engaged in a 50-year fundraising campaign that recalls the efforts of volunteers and local supporters who, in 1976, united to save the WSR from closure. The campaign emphasises the need for investment to renew infrastructure, restore historic carriages and locomotives, and support the volunteers who maintain the railway.
In November 2024, Somerset Council and West Somerset Railway PLC submitted a strategic outline business case (SOBC) to the Department for Transport (DfT), estimating that around £6 million would be required to undertake necessary improvements to reconnect the WSR with GWR services. Although the DfT confirmed in June that the council may proceed to develop a full business case, it declined to provide the initial £137,000 funding required to begin this work.
Despite this setback, Rachel Gilmour, MP for Tiverton and Minehead, remains optimistic. She draws encouragement from the recent opening of the Okehampton Interchange railway station on the northern edge of Dartmoor National Park in late July, viewing it as a positive precedent.
Speaking in Minehead, Mrs Gilmour expressed confidence that government support for reconnecting the line remains achievable. She noted her discussions with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy, highlighting that no outright rejection had been received. Lord Hendy reportedly advised focusing the business case on social mobility and economic development, rather than presenting it merely as a request for a railway service.
Mrs Alexander, representing Swindon South, is one of the few senior Labour figures to retain a cabinet post under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, an indication of continuity in government support.
Mrs Gilmour emphasised that the journey ahead involves action, not just debate, especially given the current Prime Minister’s commitment to investing in all areas of the UK, particularly coastal and rural communities.
She plans to continue advocating for West Somerset upon Parliament’s return from summer recess on 1 September, in time for party conference season. Mrs Gilmour reaffirmed her approach of under-promising and over-delivering and encouraged public optimism. She also noted that while the council has yet to budget for the £137,000 needed to develop the full business case, the commitment remains part of the local transport plan.
Concluding on a hopeful note, Mrs Gilmour remarked, “Given Mr Burnham’s determination to improve the lives of us all, hopefully we will soon be rocking on.”