The West Somerset Railway - UK’s longest heritage line - could soon be directly connected to mainline services under a new business case.

The WSR runs between Bishop’s Lydeard and Minehead via numerous small stations including Watchet and the villages of Blue Anchor, Dunster and Williton.

There have been numerous attempts to reconnect the heritage services with mainline Great Western Railway (GWR) services at Taunton, including the trial of a connecting service between Taunton and Bishop’s Lydeard in the summer of 2019.

Now this dream is one step closer as a business case to reconnect the two stations permanently is finalised, with around £6m being sought for various improvements.

Transport campaigner David Redgewell raised the issue in a statement read out on his behalf at a council meeting on Wednesday, July 17.

He said: “There is overcrowding on the 28 and 28X bus services between Taunton and Minehead town centres, via Bishop’s Lydeard, Watchet and Butlin’s.

“What progress is being made with the Peninsula Transport board, Network Rail and GWR (which is soon to be nationalised) on reopening the Taunton to Bishop’s Lydeard and Minehead railway service?”

The 28X service was introduced by First Bus South in early-March to transport passengers directly between Taunton railway station and Butlin’s in Minehead during weekdays, relieving pressure on the standard 28 stopper route.

West Somerset Railway PLC operates the current heritage railway service, leasing the line and station buildings from the council on a long-term lease which expires in 2088.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and digital, replied: “Regarding the railway line which links Taunton to Minehead, we are working with local interest groups who are developing a business case for a rail link between Taunton railway station and Bishop’s Lydeard.

“This has been endorsed by Peninsula Transport. There are currently no proposals for a link beyond this, as the line is managed and operated by the West Somerset Railway.”

Retired Network Rail planner David Northey said that the main obstacle to returning mainline services beyond Bishop’s Lydeard was the light railway order which was currently in place on the line.

He said: “The business case will look at reconnecting, one stage at a time, Bishop’s Lydeard to Taunton.

“If you can get a regular service between Bishop’s Lydeard and Taunton, there are options to look at extending to Minehead on peak days when the WSR doesn’t operate, such as Butlin’s changeover days on Mondays and Fridays.”

While WSR services currently terminate at Bishop’s Lydeard, there is an additional station on the outskirts of Norton Fitzwarren.

This station is only accessible from the railway line and is primarily used for railway galas and other special events within the WSR’s annual programme.

Crest Nicholson South West is currently seeking permission for up to 400 new homes on the Ford Farm site alongside the railway.

Mr Northey said: “With all the development at Ford Farm, the size of Norton Fitzwarren has grown. There is already a platform there which was used for the galas, and therefore we see no reason why that couldn’t be used.”