Junction for the West Somerset Railway

[whole diary]

[Taffchap]

Anyone know what the latest is on providing a proper running junction for the WSR? Or is the intention now to run parallel to the mains as far as Taunton? Haven't seen anything in the railway press about it recently.

[devon_metro]

They've had a fully signalled mainline connection for ages!

[John R]

Though no plans to use it on a regular basis, or indeed to build a line parallel into Taunton (which I suspect might be the thrust of the question).  wsra.org.uk is a useful source of knowledge for those wishing to know more about the railway and its development plans.

[caliwag]

Mmm...without wishing to stir the pot...though notionally curious about the truth, a retired signal engineer of my aquaintance suggested that WSR were offered the opportunity of a parallel line into the bay at Taunton many moons ago (hence the signalling issue), but WSR infighting bu**ered up the chance.

Would seem to be lost now!

This could be an interesting thread.

[super tm]

I think it would still be possible to build a parallel line if they wanted to.  The bridge to replace the level crossing on the approach to Taunton has enough room for another track.  That was only built a couple of years ago.

[Btline]

Will it be worth their while to spend millions on a parallel track into a new platform? It is cheaper (and often quicker) to bring in stock by road, and most passengers will arrive by car, whether or not there is a rail link. Passengers who insist on taking the train will continue to take the dedicated bus service.

Before you dismiss me as anti rail, I would support such as link being exploited, I'm merely being realistic about it.

[John R]

The connecting bus service is very expensive, and the road access from the M5 through Taunton and onto Bishops Lydeard is slow and not easy if you're not familiar with Taunton. A rail link would encourage a lot more people to visit the line - I'd certainly go with my family more often. 

[Taffchap]

Thanks for your responses guys. I was under the impression that the connection was a very low speed 'through siding' arrangement with shunt signals rather than main (running) signals, with access by permission of a third party. Obviously things have moved on from there!

[Phil]

The connecting bus service is very expensive, and the road access from the M5 through Taunton and onto Bishops Lydeard is slow and not easy if you're not familiar with Taunton. A rail link would encourage a lot more people to visit the line - I'd certainly go with my family more often. 

Thousands and thousands of people from all over the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), Europe and the USA also attend the now four-times-a-year All Tomorrows Parties rock festivals which take place out of season in Minehead - myself included. The organisers lay on special coaches from Taunton railway station, but these are so quickly sold out in advance that the only other option is to catch the bus - which as mentioned above, is a slow and comparatively expensive option.

I tried it once but I must admit that the journey was such a faff that I now drive every time. It takes quite a lot to get me off of public transport and into my car,  so I would definitely always use a through rail connection if there was one, and I rather suspect I'm not alone in that (especially people unfamiliar with driving in Britain)

[bemmy]

What a ridiculous state of affairs. There's a working railway all the way to Minehead but we can't get there by train without using a bus link to a summer only heritage line. With all this talk of possible re-openings it seems even more crazy now than it did a few years ago.

I've never been to Minehead, but funnily enough I have visited St Ives, Falmouth, Newquay, Looe, Calstock, Exmouth, Barnstaple etc, most of those a number of times. Can't any of these clever report writers make a case based on the benefit to the local economy and environment? I appreciate that some work might need doing on the line and of course the Great Train Drought would have to end before a unit could be found, but come on....... there could hardly be an easier re-opening in the country, and it would bring good cheap publicity for the politicians, and extra customers travelling to Taunton for FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

[grahame]

What a ridiculous state of affairs. There's a working railway all the way to Minehead but we can't get there by train without using a bus link to a summer only heritage line. With all this talk of possible re-openings it seems even more crazy now than it did a few years ago.

Does anyone know if the GWRUS^▸ (Great Western Route Utilisation Strategy) - which has examined the Benefit Cost Ratio of reopening to Portishead with a regular services - has also looked at the BCR^▸ (Benefit Cost Ratio) of services running from Minehead to Taunton and perhaps further?    It would seem only logical at this time when we're looking forward ...

[Timmer]

Totally crazy after Network Rail upgraded the signalling to allow through trains to Minehead that no one has taken up running the service.

Surely there is the demand for it during the summer months.

[bemmy]

What a ridiculous state of affairs. There's a working railway all the way to Minehead but we can't get there by train without using a bus link to a summer only heritage line. With all this talk of possible re-openings it seems even more crazy now than it did a few years ago.

Does anyone know if the GWRUS^▸ (Great Western Route Utilisation Strategy) - which has examined the Benefit Cost Ratio of reopening to Portishead with a regular services - has also looked at the BCR^▸ (Benefit Cost Ratio) of services running from Minehead to Taunton and perhaps further?    It would seem only logical at this time when we're looking forward ...

There's no mention of Minehead in the RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy) consultation document.

[The Grecian]

I think the WSR is a light railway so trains are restricted to 25mph. You'd therefore have a bit of a conflict between a direct service from Taunton to Minehead and the usual steam services. Still, I'm sure it could justify itself in high summer anyway.

The bus from Taunton to Minehead cost me ^4.95 for a return the other week which seems reasonable (not sure about Taunton-Bishop's Lydeard). Certainly if you compare it to Stagecoach Devon or First in Bristol you can't complain too much.

[Chris from Nailsea]

To be fair, the West Somerset Railway is not a 'summer only heritage line': they actually operate throughout the year - see their timetable, at http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/Times_fares.html

And, in the relatively recent past, we have seen a Virgin Voyager and a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HST^▸ (High Speed Train) make their (rather ponderous ) way from Taunton to Minehead, on the WSR!

However, I'd agree that there is no mention of the WSR Minehead Branch in the GWRUS^▸ (Great Western Route Utilisation Strategy) - and those cost / complications of road connections between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard have always meant that I've resorted to driving down, to the WSR, in the past.