WEST Somerset Railway trains will be back on track today (Saturday) with the first services since March, 2020 which will be running on half the 22-mile heritage line from Bishops Lydeard to Williton, a WSR spokesman said this week.

After being shut for 14 months – the longest break in WSR history – the line has now got the green light to run a limited service as visitors return to the area.

But social distancing regulations will still be in force and passengers will travel in pre-allocated seats and remain on board for the entire return journey.

The spokesman added: “As a result, it will not yet be possible to offer train services to any intermediate stations on the line, or through to Minehead, which the WSR regrets but it is working hard to complete the link again.”

Extensive key infrastructure works between Williton and Minehead have yet to be completed, including the rebuilt Seaward Way level crossing.

WSR carriages will be fully cleaned between services, and seats will need to be pre-booked either on the WSR website on the internet, or by phone to the WSR’s Minehead offices. Advance on-line bookings are now open.

As government restrictions are gradually lifted, the WSR expects to extend its services to Watchet and Blue Anchor after June 02, and then to Dunster, with a bus-link to Minehead.

But If CV-19 restrictions remain in place, it will be necessary for passengers to have fixed return journeys to specific destinations.

Before this weekend’s opening, trial and test trains have been operating in order for staff to have refreshers and receive updated operational information.

WSR chairman, Jonathan Jones-Pratt said: “By far, this has been the longest enforced period of closure for the WSR since the full reopening of the whole heritage line from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard in 1979.

“So much hard work has been undertaken in the background on all aspects of getting our working steam railway ready for business again and we are all greatly looking forward to welcoming passengers back.

“When, and if, Covid restrictions lift fully in June, we will amend our plans to suit the situation and issue updates as soon as we have confirmation of a change in circumstances.”

For the re-opening, the line is putting in a range of measures to ensure that customers can travel on trains in confidence and safely.

These include reduced capacity on trains, all tickets booked in advance, socially distanced passenger flow systems, hand sanitisation stations and enhanced cleaning regimes.

Unless visitors are exempt on health grounds, the WSR will ask everyone to wear face coverings on its stations and trains.