Bridgwater railway station has lacked a usable bus stop for several years due to a layout issue, and there is currently no confirmed start date for the small but significant fix needed to allow buses to access the site properly.
In 2020, Great Western Railway invested £1.2 million to upgrade the station, including its car park and forecourt. However, these changes inadvertently made it difficult for buses of certain sizes to reach the station. This has frustrated local commuters and transport advocates alike.
Both Sir Ashley Fox, the Conservative MP for the area, and the Somerset Bus Partnership have been actively campaigning for a redesign to resolve the problem. They argue that improving bus access to Bridgwater station would encourage greater use of public transport by seamlessly linking bus and rail services.
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Somerset Council recently approved a new transport plan that includes enhancing station accessibility and strengthening bus-rail connections. Despite this, the council has not provided a timeline or specific funding details for implementing improvements at Bridgwater station, merely stating the project is “in progress.”
Sir Ashley Fox highlighted the issue during a House of Commons debate on the government’s Buses Bill in September 2025. He criticized the local Liberal Democrat administration for their inability to resolve a relatively straightforward problem after three years in charge and called for the Bill to require local authorities to take action in similar cases.
At a Somerset Council executive committee meeting on March 11, representatives from the Somerset Bus Partnership renewed their call for concrete funded actions. They pointed out ongoing issues not only at Bridgwater but also at Yeovil Pen Mill and Minehead, where bus services fail to properly link with trains or are not promoted as rail connections.
The council’s transport plan promises improved cycle parking, better way-finding at railway stations, and enhanced interchange facilities between various transport modes. While it states that bus stops at stations will see improvements supported by existing revenue streams, no firm commitments have been made regarding Bridgwater station specifically.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, responsible for transport and waste services, acknowledged the concerns, confirming that work is underway to facilitate bus access to Bridgwater station. Additionally, way-finding improvements are being developed at Highbridge and Burnham railway stations. However, until a clear timeline and funding allocation are announced, the future of improved bus access at Bridgwater remains uncertain.