EXMOOR farmer and political campaigner James Wright has visited Shadow Railways Minister Jerome Mayhew in Westminster to push the case for reconnecting West Somerset to the national rail network.

Mr Wright said: “Restoring this rail link would be transformative.

“It would provide reliable school and commuter transport, boost tourism, and strengthen our local economy.

“The Conservative party is clear that projects like this can happen with the right political will.

“I will not stop until we get this done.”

The West Somerset Railway (WSR) is the UK’s longest heritage line, running the 20 miles from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard, but does not have a regular passenger service between Bishops Lydeard and Taunton.

Reinstating the connection has long been seen as vital to tackling isolation in West Somerset, improving opportunities for young people, and unlocking growth in the visitor economy.

Earlier this year the WSR and Somerset Council submitted an outline business case to Government and asked for £137,000 to allow a full business case to be put together for the mainline connection.

But the bid was rejected by Labour’s Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.

Mr Wright said: “With the right political will, this project is achievable.

“I will continue working with colleagues in Parliament, local authorities, and the community to make sure West Somerset’s voice is heard loud and clear.”

Mr Wright called for anybody who agreed with him to add their name to a petition he had started on his Conservative party website.

Department for Transport (DfT) officials are due to visit West Somerset at the end of the month to meet MP Rachel Gilmour to discuss the proposed WSR link to the mainline.

They will also talk about other transport issues across the constituency, including the council’s plans to permanently close the B3191 Watchet to Blue Anchor road following its 2023 temporary closure after coastal cliff subsidence.