WEST Somerset Railway will be finally back on track in May with its first regular services since March 2020 – and is ‘greatly looking forward to welcoming passengers back’, WSR chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt said this week.

From May 22, trains will initially run from Bishops Lydeard and Williton and eventually extend to Watchet and Blue Anchor. Social distancing will still be in force and passengers will need to travel in pre-allocated seats and remain on board for the entire return journey.

A WSR spokesman said: “As government restrictions are gradually lifted we expect to extend the services. The new rebuilt level crossing at Minehead is expected to be available from July with, it is hoped, sufficient flexibility in Covid arrangements to enable us to re-open the entire Bishops Lydeard to Minehead line.”

The spokesman added: “With all the uncertainty for the year ahead, it may not be possible to carry out the many events that WSR normally offers but it’s likely that the 1940s weekend will go ahead in some form over the weekend of September 11-12 along with Christmas services.

“Prior to reopening for passengers, several pre-opening trains will operate in order to enable staff to have refresher duties and receive updated operational information. These trains are expected to start running in late April.

“There will also be a range of ‘at-seat’ catering options on the revised services on trains running on Wednesdays and Saturdays.”

Welcoming the green light for the resumption of services, Mr Jones-Pratt said: “By far, this has been the longest enforced period of closure for the WSR since the re-opening of the whole heritage railway in 1979 apart from the short exception of the 2020 Christmas period.

“Much hard work has been undertaken in the background by our dedicated teams on all aspects of our working steam railway. Now we are greatly looking forward to welcoming passengers back this coming summer.

“Re-opening on May 22 is our plan for now and we are fully hoping that the Covid-19 situation improves soon for everyone. When and if restrictions start to lift we will amend our plans to suit the situation at that time and issue updates as soon as we have confirmation of a change in circumstances.”