MAINLINE train services could regularly be connecting to the West Somerset Railway (WSR) before the end of next year.

The WSR put a strategic outline business case (SOBC) to the Government in November asking for £137,000 to provide detailed plans to connect the heritage line to services on the main Paddington to Penzance track.

SOBC project board chairman Steve Williams, who is also vice-chairman and secretary of the West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust, said it had taken two-and-a-half years to reach this point.

Mr Williams said because it was ‘relatively straightforward’ to deliver the project, the WSR and Somerset Council were asking the Government if they could by-pass the next stage and go straight to a full business case (FBC).

He said: “The proposition is a fairly low cost and low risk scheme.

“All the infrastructure enhancements required are focused on the section between Norton Fitzwarren Junction and Bishops Lydeard.

“These can be undertaken pretty quickly once approval has been given and will be under the control of the plc to deliver.

“We put an ambitious target of FBC completion by the end of 2025 with, following Government approval and revenue support in place, services ready to run toward the end of 2026.”

Mr Williams said the real challenges would be growing the market, which was seen as a mixture of commuters, visitors to the WSR, and the wider tourism and leisure sector, and ‘the revenue consequences of such a service’.

He said: “Detailed technical analysis suggests that there will be a revenue gap, which will be examined in further detail at FBC stage.”

Mr Williams said the intention from the start was to preserve ‘the integrity of the WSR and its operations’ while putting together an economic and commercial case to attract more visitors to West Somerset.

He said: “There will be no change to the operating model on the WSR.

“Scheduled services from the mainline network will run at 25mph and the existing Light Railway Order.

“Great Western Railway have confirmed this will still be competitive with current bus and car travel times into Taunton.

“We also want to make an impact on the modal shift from existing and future car usage as part of the council’s wider environmental agenda.

“There is also a significant social mobility and community cohesion aspect to the proposals.

“West Somerset scores low in a number of social and economic indices and the ability to widen access to employment, education, and other opportunities for local people is a key part of the case for change.”

WSR chairman Jonathan Jones Pratt said: “Look back 10 years or more, and you can see how far we have come, so we look forward to 2025 with some confidence.

“There will be some innovations, but the core basis of the railway is not going to change.

“We have a good understanding of what our passengers want when they visit us, and we will continue to provide this, only better and better, year by year.”