There is still no confirmed start date for the planned “small fix” that would enable buses to access Bridgwater railway station.
In 2020, Great Western Railway (GWR) invested £1.2 million upgrading the station. However, alterations to the car park and forecourt inadvertently made it impossible for larger buses to reach the site.
Local Conservative MP Sir Ashley Fox and the Somerset Bus Partnership have both called for changes to the layout, stressing that better bus access would encourage greater use of combined bus and rail travel.
Somerset Council’s executive committee recently approved a new transport plan, which includes promises to improve station accessibility and enhance the integration between bus and rail services. Despite this, the council has not provided a timeline for when improvements at Bridgwater will commence, stating only that the project is “in progress.”
Sir Ashley Fox highlighted the issue during a debate on the Government’s Buses Bill in the House of Commons in September 2025. He explained, “There has been no usable bus stop at Bridgwater railway station for several years because of road layout problems. It is a relatively small fix, but despite running Somerset Council for the last three years, the Liberal Democrat administration seems unable to fix the problem. We must ensure the Bill obliges local authorities to act in circumstances such as these.”
David Northey from the Somerset Bus Partnership revived the concern during the council’s executive committee meeting in Taunton on March 11. His question, read by fellow member Barrie Childs, noted, “The plan claims bus-rail integration improvements will be delivered through existing revenue support, yet no specific funding or schemes are identified. Given that bus-rail interchange at Bridgwater remains unresolved after six years, buses at Yeovil Pen Mill still fail to connect with trains, and the Minehead service is not promoted as a rail-link route in Somerset timetables, what concrete funded actions will the council take between 2026 and 2030 to actually deliver the integration promised in this plan?”
The council’s local transport plan outlines commitments such as secure cycle parking and better wayfinding at railway stations, alongside improved accessibility and multi-modal interchange opportunities. The plan mentions improving bus stops at stations using “revenue bus service support” but does not make specific commitments or cost estimates for Bridgwater.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, stated: “Work is in progress to provide access for buses to Bridgwater railway station. Way-finding work is also under way at Highbridge and Burnham railway station.”