Conservative and Liberal Democrat figures have made calls on the government to reconnect Somerset’s main heritage railway to mainline services as the summer tourist season ramps up.

The West Somerset Railway (WSR) runs between Bishop’s Lydeard and Minehead via numerous small stations in west Somerset, including the coastal town of Watchet and the villages of Blue Anchor, Dunster and Williton.

There have been numerous attempts to reconnect the heritage services with mainline Great Western Railway (GWR) services at Taunton, including the trial of a connecting service between Taunton and Bishop’s Lydeard in the summer of 2019.

Somerset Council and West Somerset Railway PLC jointly submitted a strategic outline business case (SOBC) to the Department for Transport (DfT) in November 2024, asking for £137,000 to developer proposals for reopening the link between Taunton and Bishop’s Lydeard.

Representatives of both main opposition parties have now called on the government to provide this funding, allowing a full business case to be put together and implemented as soon as humanly possible.

The SOBC also proposes developing Bishop Lydeard as a “park and ride” hub for commuters and tourists, to offer easier access to train services with plans for a year-round service with an approximate hourly timetable, which will be coordinated with local bus services.

Bishops Lydeard Railway Station On The West Somerset Railway Heritage Line
Bishops Lydeard Railway Station on the West Somerset Railway Heritage Line. (Somerset Council + West Somerset Railway)

If the full business case is approved, trains will be introduced between Taunton and Bishop’s Lydeard – with scope to run a limited number of services as far as Minehead.

Exmoor farmer James Wright, chairman of the South West Conservative Rural Forum, said: “For many people living in Minehead and across west Somerset, daily travel options are far too limited.

“Buses battle through heavily congested roads, particularly during peak seasons and major arrivals at Butlins.

“Reconnecting to the national rail network would provide a fast, reliable, and sustainable alternative, easing congestion, improving air quality, and supporting the year-round needs of commuters, students, and tourists alike.

“The WSR already brings huge pride and energy to our community. Imagine what it could achieve if, alongside its brilliant steam heritage, it also served as a vital commuter link.”

Tiverton And Minehead Mp Rachel Gilmour
Tiverton and Minehead MP Rachel Gilmour (Tiverton And Minehead Liberal Democrats)

Rachel Gilmour, the Lib Dem MP for Tiverton and Minehead, said she was pushing the government hard for a response to the SOBC as the outcome of its spending review approaches.

She said: “Linking Taunton and Bishop’s Lydeard stations is a fantastic idea, and that is why I, and my transport advisor David Northey, have been working with WSR on supporting their campaign to do so.

“I am glad for anyone to come round to that way of thinking, and as such, I wrote to the rail minister last year about this issue, and have continued to press the DfT on this business case.

“The WSR is a jewel in the crown of heritage railways in the south west, and I am delighted to see it getting the attention that it deserves, including the fantastic visit of the Flying Scotsman to the constituency later this year.”