There won’t be any trains on Friday this summer on the West Somerset Railway.

The Railway blames a national shortage of coal and the rising cost of other prices.

Trains will run as normal from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead on the peak season timetable from this week until the end of August. That means five trains each way on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with four on Mondays and Sundays. But there will be no service on Fridays.

The Railway issued a statement saying: “Over the last few years, the railway has been faced with various challenges, including Covid, and the WSR team are committed to ensuring the railway has a successful long-term commercial future.”

WSR says although it has a good supply of coal at present it was important that this was used for busy trains. With other prices rising fast, the railway also wants to avoid raising ticket prices if it can.

General Manager of WSR Kerry Noble said: “The planned changes for this August will help secure the long-term future of the railway. In the last couple of years everyone - including our over 800 volunteers - has worked hard to ensure the railway operates on a good commercial basis. 2022 continues to be a difficult trading environment and it is essential that we continue to monitor finances closely.”

On the 6th and 7th of August the railway will be running a special service, which will include trains to and from the Norton Fitzwarren showground of the Steam and Vintage Rally, run by the West Somerset Railway Association.

Further specials events will take place in the autumn. These include the “Forties Weekend” on 10th and 11th September and the Autumn Steam Gala from 29th September to 2nd October.

Regular services will continue in September and October, and then after the usual gap in early November, with a full season of “Winterlights Specials” and “Santa Express Trains” running in late November and right through the Christmas period.

Kerry said it was felt the ‘no Friday’ option would have the least impact on customers and the changes would ensure the Railway continued to operate ‘on a sound basis’.