For too long, people in West Somerset have been left behind by poor transport links. If you live in Minehead, or Watchet and need to get to work, college, or a hospital appointment in Taunton, your options are limited, and far too often slow, unreliable, or overcrowded.
Meanwhile, our roads are grinding to a halt. From summer gridlock on the A39 to holiday changeover chaos when thousands head to Butlins, congestion is holding us all back.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
The West Somerset Railway is a brilliant heritage asset, but with investment and political will, it could also serve as a lifeline. Reconnecting the line to the national network at Taunton would give local people a fast, clean, reliable travel option, cut car journeys, and boost our economy. It’s not about replacing steam, it’s about giving West Somerset the future it deserves.
This isn’t a pipe dream. There’s a physical rail connection already in place at Norton Fitzwarren. What we need now is community support to show how much local people want this link brought back into regular use.
