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New Somerset train services start on July 27

23 July 2019

This coming weekend, the new Saturdays-only GWR Summer shuttle service trains starts on Saturday July 27 and will then continue through August and into the autumn on selected dates forming a timetabled link between the national rail network at Taunton station and the West Somerset Railway (WSR), one of Somerset’s top tourist attractions.

Details of the new service being run as a joint trial venture between the West Somerset Railway and Great Western Railway are outlined below, and the basic itinerary for the day is as follows:

The party of official and civic guests meet at Taunton station. Time will be very tight but, in addition to a few words to welcome the service by Rebecca Pow MP, we are expecting there to be some pizzazz to help add atmosphere to the event.

The empty coaching stock arrives from Exeter, followed by short photo-call and the train departs after Taunton MP Rebecca Pow flags away the first GWR shuttle train to Bishops Lydeard.

Train arrives Bishops Lydeard and a brief photo-call on platform 2 with more flag waving and other civic guests present to welcome the first train.  If time allows, we are hoping Rebecca Pow will walk down the platform quickly to see the 10.15 steam departure to Minehead for a shot of her stood alongside the steam loco before it leaves.  

Many of the official party will then depart Bishops Lydeard for Taunton, including Rebecca Pow, but some may want to alight at Bishops Lydeard and stay for an hour and return on the next shuttle to Taunton, or go on to Minehead on the 10.15 steam train and return later in the day. 

The WSR will have staff on hand at Bishops Lydeard to help show guests around, including the Gauge Museum featuring the late Peter Barnfield’s art exhibition, and the station is being properly decorated with bunting for the day.  

The connecting train arrives at Minehead at 11.35 where the station will similarly be decorated and the Mayor, Town Crier and some other civic guests will meet the train.

Trains will run on Saturdays on the following dates: July 27, August 3, 17 and 31, September 7, 21 and October 5.

These dates will allow for a big influx of visitors to the WSR’s special events on Saturday 3 August for the Steam Rally at Norton Fitzwarren, and the WSR’s Autumn Steam Gala on Saturday 5 October.

Details of the train service are set out below. Further dates for the shuttle later in the year are still under consideration by GWR and the WSR.

The primary purpose of the new trial is to test the water and attract people from the national network to visit the WSR to enjoy the scenic line and attractions which will bring big benefits to local businesses in West Somerset.

The West Somerset Railway itself is one of the largest tourist attractions in Somerset with around 180,000 visitors a year. For local residents, the new service offers a stress free and sustainable way of Saturday shopping in Taunton as well as a good connection with the national network.

Great Western Railway already offers through tickets from its staffed stations to the West Somerset Railway, and these will be valid on the shuttle train or on the No. 28 bus between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard as an alternative to the shuttle rail service. Tickets can also be bought on the shuttle train from Taunton to any station on the West Somerset Railway.

The use of the trains will be carefully monitored and analysed to see if there is a basis for running a service in future years.

For information on the GWR shuttle and West Somerset Railway services, see the railway’s website: www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or call 01643 704996.

For information on connecting services from Taunton, see the National Rail website: www.nationalrail.co.uk or call 03457 484950.

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: “This new regular, timetabled GWR shuttle service from Taunton to the WSR at Bishops Lydeard is an exciting opportunity for both railways in a joint venture.

“It is funded through our Customer and Community Improvement Fund as a trial, and we hope that visitors, enthusiasts and local residents will use the new Saturday service this year so that we can jointly evaluate its success.”

Taunton MP Rebecca Pow comments: “I am a firm believer in innovation and in partnership, and it is great to see GWR using their Customer and Community Improvement Fund to link mainline trains to the West Somerset Railway on Saturdays this summer. It is great for Taunton, for Bishops Lydeard and for Minehead, and I hope the trial is a great success.

“In December this year, we will see the biggest timetable change for 40 years on the GWR mainline with faster, more frequent services, but it is great to see that there is also a push to improve our local services too and I commend the staff and volunteers at the WSR for putting together the bid that secured the funding.”

Jonathan Jones-Pratt, chairman of the West Somerset Railway plc added: “The new GWR shuttle link is another good reason to visit the West Somerset Railway this year.

“Coupled with great scenery, the friendly welcome and our steam trains, and you have an unbeatable day out. We are proud to be running our heritage steam trains alongside their Great Western successors.”

Timetable(please check on the website prior to travelling as times will vary for WSR special event weekends, or ring 01643 704996).

Saturdays:

GWR Taunton dep 09.39 10.28 12.10 15.37 16.36

GWR Bishops Lydeard arr 09.56 10.45 12.26 15.54 16.53

WSR Bishops Lydeard dep 10.15 11.00 12.40 16.20 –

WSR Minehead arr 11.35 12.20 14.00 18.00 –

WSR Minehead dep – 10.05 14.30 15.25

WSR Bishops Lydeard arr – 11.30 15.52 16.50

GWR Bishops Lydeard dep 10.03 11.45 12.53 16.09 17.11

GWR Taunton arr 10.22 12.05 13.10 16.26 17.28

Notes to News Editors:

  1. The GWR shuttle service is supported by a £60,000 grant from Great Western Railway’s Customer & Communities Improvement Fund. GWR’s Regional Development Manager Matthew Barnes and Lord Richard Faulkner (representing GWR Exec as Chair of the Advisory Board) will be available for media interviews, plus WSR representatives and some civic guests.
  2. The West Somerset Railway is the longest heritage railway in England with trains running the 19.5 miles between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead. The shuttle will run the 5 miles between Taunton and Minehead offering a total of 24.5 miles of scenic line to enjoy.
  3. BR’s Minehead branch line closed in January 1971, and the West Somerset Railway re-opened party of the line between Minehead and Blue Anchor in March 1976. This year is the 40th anniversary of the line reopening to Bishops Lydeard and the boundary of the railway next to the main line at Norton Fitzwarren.
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Join us as a Museum Volunteer.

May 6, 2026

WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY HERITAGE TRUST

DO YOU:

Love a bit of history?

Enjoy chatting to people?

Happy to work with children and families?

Keen on the WSR and its heritage?

If you’ve nodded “yes” to any of the above, we’d love you to join us as a museum volunteer.

Gauge Museum at Blue Anchor

We’re looking for volunteer stewards for the Gauge Museum at Blue Anchor Station on running days during the school holidays and for special events.

You’ll have an induction period alongside a mentor, and we’re very happy to arrange part-day shifts.

The role is simple: welcome visitors, share a little about the museum, and work alongside the station staff.

Interested (or just curious)? Please email Ian Camp (Curator) via info@wsrht.co.uk and put “Blue Anchor stewarding” in the subject line.

Fancy getting involved over at Bishops Lydeard?

We’re on the lookout for more friendly faces to join our team, especially as the museum is getting bigger and busier these days!

If Bishops Lydeard sounds like your kind of place, just drop us a line using the same email, but pop “Bishops Lydeard stewarding” in the subject so we know what you’re after!

And don’t forget – you can always support the WSRHT by becoming a member. Just ping us at info@wsrht.co.uk and pop “membership” in the subject line.

Keep up with what we’re doing, follow the Trust on Facebook!

 https://www.facebook.com/TheHeritageTrust

 

WSR Heritage Trust Appointment of Trust Fundraiser

May 6, 2026

The Trust has appointed Jessica Rundle as its new volunteer Fundraiser. Jess is an existing Trust volunteer working in both the Gauge Museum and within the Education and Learning team. She is an Occupational Therapist by profession and is currently a Service Manager with Somerset Council. Her experience in report writing and business case development together with the networking and engagement required provides the right skill set for this role. The Trust has an ambitious capital programme within its recently updated Business Plan and raising external funds will be crucial to enabling the charity to achieve its medium-term business objectives.

Steve Williams Trust Vice Chairman and Company Secretary said “I’m delighted that Jess has agreed to take up this role. She has an impressive CV and is already familiar with the Trust and its work. I have no doubt that she will be a valuable asset in enabling us to source a wide range of external funding to complement the investment that the Trust intends to make in future projects”.

Jess Rundle said “ Bishops Lydeard station was one of the first places I stumbled across after moving to Somerset a couple years ago and I was quickly welcomed into the committed team of volunteers in to the Gauge museum. For me there is nothing better than watching a steam train in action – it brings relaxation and stimulation in equal measure! I know so many aspects of West Somerset heritage railway brings equal joy to so many others and so I’m delighted to be supporting with the fundraising programme.” 

The appointment commences from 1st May. This is a part-time role reporting to the Vice Chairman.

For further details please contact Steve Williams at steve@williamsemail.uk or on 07748-637209

End

 

WSR Heritage Trust Gains Museum Accreditation

January 25, 2026

The Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway has been awarded Full Accreditation by the Arts Council. The Museum, which is run by the West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust, holds a wide range of artefacts which display and tell the story of the history and heritage of the West Somerset Railway and the Great Western Railway.

Administered by Arts Council England on behalf of the UK Accreditation Partnership, Accreditation is the benchmark for well-run Museums and Galleries. 

It means that the Gauge Museum is properly managed and governed to the nationally agreed industry standard and shows the museum takes proper care of its collections, sharing them with visitors and keeping them safe for future generations. 

Accreditation opens up exciting funding opportunities, allows museums to host touring exhibitions and gives access to professional advice and support. It also gives confidence to donors and sponsors who may wish to support the museum in preserving heritage and inspiring future generations

Steve Williams, Trust Vice Chairman and Trust Accreditation Lead said: “This is a fantastic outcome for the Trust and marks the combination of three years of hard work by a small and dedicated team of volunteers many of whom now make up our Museum Management Team. This means that the Trust is recognised as working to a high standard of Museum and collections management and care. We now have to ensure that we deliver to those standards and continue to make the Gauge Museum as welcoming and as interesting an experience for visitors and volunteers alike”.

Ian Camp, Trustee and Museum Curator said: “This achievement represents a significant milestone for our museum. The progress we have made is the result of the unwavering dedication and hard work of our team over the past several years. Their commitment has been instrumental in reaching this important point in our journey.

We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to Rachel Bellamy, our Museum Development Officer, whose support and guidance have been invaluable throughout this process. Her expertise has helped steer us in the right direction and ensured that we met the necessary standards for accreditation.

Securing this recognition marks another important step towards fulfilling our vision of being a professional museum, managed and operated by a group of passionate and committed volunteers.”

Helen Anson, Trustee and Museum Professional Adviser said: “This is a defining moment for the Heritage Trust.  By gaining accreditation we have demonstrated our deep commitment to our museums service, setting high standards in organisational health, collections care and management and visitor experience.  The contribution from the whole team has been outstanding and their passion for embedding excellence across the organisation will ensure that we continue to build on this success over the coming years.”  

Having gained Accreditation for the Gauge Museum, the Trust will in 2026 be pursuing a similar outcome for its other site at Blue Anchor station on the WSR which is now opened to visitors again following an extensive programme of refurbishment and reinterpretation.

 

Appointment of Trust Fundraiser