Plans to run West Somerset Railway trains to Minehead next month for the first time in two years were in the balance this week when three of the four barriers recently installed at Minehead’s £1.2 million Seaward Way crossing were seriously damaged by Storm Eunice.

Passenger services were due to start on March 19 and this week WSR chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt said “We are all determined to ensure that the railway will open through to Minehead on March 19.”

Mr Jones-Pratt added: “I would like to thank everyone who has been out working to keep the railway safe and minimise damage through this extremely difficult weather.”

WSR communications director Frank Courtney said the barriers installed across Seaward Way were standard pattern across the national network. They were designed to fail if hit by a vehicle but would not normally be expected to fail in the way they did.

He said the problem was thought to have been caused by winds estimated at 70mph funnelling down Seaward Way from the Bristol Channel. Spare barriers were available but more would be needed as reserves.

Mr Courtney added that despite the violence of the storms, damage to the railway had been limited. A large tree crashed across the line at Crowcombe Heathfield bringing down a platform name-board but the debris was quickly cleared.