Somerset's New Railway Station Plans Stalled in Whitehall Amid Funding Delays
Plans to establish a new railway station in rural Somerset continue to face significant delays, with proposals currently "sat on a shelf" in Whitehall, according to Somerset Council. The initiative, aimed at serving the growing towns of Somerton and Langport, encountered a major setback in July 2024 when Chancellor Rachel Reeves terminated the restoring your railway fund.
Council Support Without Funding Commitment
Somerset Council has expressed ongoing support for the new station in principle but clarified that it cannot allocate any funding at this stage. The decision ultimately rests with the Department for Transport, which must approve the outline business case before further progress can be made.
The station was notably excluded from Somerset Council's local transport delivery plan, approved in mid-March, despite the plan's numerous commitments to enhance rail services and improve connections to buses and active travel options across the county.
Local Advocacy and Economic Benefits
Phil Edge, chairman of the Langport Transport Group, which developed the business case, has urged the council to pressure the Government for a decision after years of unnecessary delays. He emphasized the project's potential to reconnect approximately 53,000 residents to rail services.
The proposed station would be located on the existing Great Western mainline between London Paddington and Penzance, serving Somerton, Langport, and surrounding areas, including communities in Curry Rivel, Glastonbury, and Street.
Key projections from the business case include:
- Forecast of 230,000 annual journeys from a Somerton station, with two-thirds being new rail users.
- Travel time to Taunton reduced to 11 minutes by rail, compared to 50 minutes or more by road.
- Significant environmental, economic, educational, and social benefits, positioning the rail network as a gateway to opportunity for future generations.
According to the Langport Transport Group, Somerset's total station passengers reached 3,348,000 in 2023-24, an increase of 170,000 from the previous year and nearly 600,000 more than in 2013-14.
Council's Position and Future Steps
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, stated that the council cannot commit additional funding or resources until the DfT evaluates the business case. He acknowledged strong support from local MP Sarah Dyke and the Peninsula Transport sub-national transport body.
Wilkins remarked, "We continue to lobby hard to get them to look at this business case, because it's been sat on the DfT's shelf far too long." The local transport delivery plan does include pledges for improved interchanges at existing stations and the creation of a rural transport hub in Langport, complementing a £3.2 million hub under construction in Taunton town centre.
Meanwhile, Somerset Council's planning department is reviewing proposals for 150 dwellings on Foxglove Road in Somerton, north of the proposed station site. The suggested Langport station location is east of the A372 Wincanton Road in Huish Episcopi Academy, near local cricket and secondary school facilities.
