A TWO-year trial which could result in the long-awaited regular services linking the West Somerset Railway with the national network is planned to start in 2018, it was revealed yesterday (Thursday).

Minehead Chamber of Commerce is backing the heritage railway’s move to finally make the controversial link-up a reality.

A WSR spokesman said that both organisations were anxious to see the return of viable and sustainable regular services to the national network: “The next stage is hoped to be a two-year trial of services on a regular basis linking the national network to the WSR’s Bishops Lydeard terminus.

“It is hoped that trials can commence in 2018 so that the results from them can be taken into account in the next round of railway operator franchising on the national network.”

Full report in tomorrow’s Free Press (December 2)