Train station 'needs more investment as demand soars'

2 hours ago

Dan Ayersin Bridgwater

News image — Campaigners argue the current services that stop at Bridgwater are "not enough"

BBC Picture looking front on at Bridgwater Station. It's the front of the station and an old-white building which is a Victorian building. There's some people in the distance waiting around outside the building waiting for trains or to be picked up. — Campaigners argue the current services that stop at Bridgwater are "not enough"

Campaigners are calling for more investment into a town's train station as demand increases.

Two major infrastructure projects taking place close to Bridgwater has meant demand for train services at the Somerset town's station has risen.

Councillor Tim Mander said Bridgwater has one of the fastest-growing passenger numbers at stations across Somerset and more investment was needed to ensure the town was served fairly.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said they recognised the importance of Bridgwater Station to the community and have given more than £21bn in multi‑year funding settlements to local transport authorities.

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Bridgwater Railway Station usually has one train service per hour in each direction on weekdays, operated by Great Western Railway, with most services heading towards Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff or Taunton and Exeter St Davids.

Mander, who chairs the Bridgwater Town Council Transport Forum, continued: "There's potential for more services stopping at Bridgwater and the services at the moment just aren't good enough.

"We have two major infrastructure projects on our doorsteps, the new Agratas car battery factory in Puriton and Hinkley Point C - one of the biggest construction sites in the UK," he said.

He added that passengers can board a train in Taunton - 12 miles (19km) south of Bridgwater - and reach Bristol in just 33 minutes, the same journey from Bridgwater takes about an hour.

"It's an underinvestment, and they still have this accessibility issue with no lift - it's not fair," he said.

Man with dark grey hair looking at the camera. He's stood in front of the Bridgwater Railway Station sign which is an old Victorian white building. — Bridgwater resident Andrew Winn said the station is always busy

Andrew Winn lives near Bridgwater and said it is a "well-used station".

"It would be used a lot more if we had trains that go straight through to London or Exeter.

"I think we have one train around 07:30 in the morning that goes straight through to London but that's it. The car park is always full so I think more services would be necessary," he added.

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