Great Western Coffee Shop

An idea (though no doubt impractical) - Could the southern limit of the proposed Bristol Metro Red Line to Weston be extended to Taunton? This would givie a 1/2 hourly service to Highbridge & Bridgewater as well as extra connections on to London and all destinations via Westbury. It would then potentially meet up with the northern limit of the Devon Metro based around Exeter increasing local and medium length journey options for lots of people. I presume Taunton Sation could cope with the extra services.

Can't be done, too sensible! It does stretch the Metro concept which is supposed to be frequent trains on suburban lines.

What you are proposing is more akin to DBs RE services which serve intermediate stations on mainlines  not served by ICE or IC linking to main stations on ICE and IC routes. This gives an  an extra, although slower,  service in between the ICE IC trains. However, their frequency is usually 2 hourly rather than half hourly. It may be difficult to fit a half hourly stopping service  between Weston and Taunton in between the HSTs and Vomiters.

I doubt if Taunton could cope with trains terminating from both Bristol and Exeter, so it may be better to consider an RE service from Bristol to Paignton. This would give HST connections at Newton Abbot, Exeter and Taunton and BRI.

It could in theory. For trains from Exeter, they could terminate on the practically never used Platform 1 or the Bay Platform off of Platform 5. I'm pretty sure though that the Bay Platform isn't certified for passenger use. I have seen Track Maintanance Units sit on Platform 1 in the past.

Also services from Bristol can terminate on Platform 6.

Also Bear in mind that Platforms 2 & 3 are reversable and signalled at both ends ;D

I have a feeling that Platform 5 is also reversable for trains from Bristol or Castle Cary. But don't quote me on that ;)

Only platforms 2 and 3 can recieve terminating train from Taunton. 2,3,4,5 from Exeter

A train from Taunton terminating at Taunton?

Yes an error, although would a shunt from platform 3 - 4 not count as a Taunton - Taunton  ;D

A Taunton - Taunton service could also be possible in theory Taunton - Bridgwater - Weston - Bristol - Bath - Trowbridge - Westbury - Castle Cary - Taunton, would allow for Somerton and Langport to be reopened.

Well if you can only terminate on Platforms 2 & 3, What is the point in Platform 1 & 6...?

Although having said that, Platform 1 would make a good reverse point for a Minehead - Exeter Service ;D

Platform 6 can be reached by shunting a unit out on the up relief.