South West England BRTA Study
BRTA’s overview of rail reopenings, capacity enhancements and new stations in the region.
Here we’re focussing on Somerset, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Gloucestershire.
We like to think big.
Regenerating local economic growth
Reconnecting communities, enhancing accessibility and inclusion
Reducing road congestion and pollution, improving our environment
promoting quality of life and health
Bridport
Including the popular West Bay, this is a seaside destination of historic claims with links to the Jurassic Coastline which could rival Weymouth. Bridport (population 21,780) would benefit significantly from a restored rail link, bringing regeneration, footfall and spend whilst easing land use given to parking for other considerations.
The 15km branch line survived the initial wave of Beeching cuts but closed in 1975 leaving Bridport isolated, connected only by narrow and choked roads.
This initiative ties in with the need to restore Yeovil Junction curves, now stripped of route options. If a north-west curve was reinstated, a Bridport – Exeter via Yeovil Junction half hourly service along with a Bristol – Weymouth services (serving Yeovil Penn Mill) would boost regularity of services and bring a huge growth tp sustainable transport in the area.
The rebuild would lead from Maiden Newton, which could be upgraded as a junction station once again, with renewed and better facilities.
Lyme Regis
Relinking this historical seaside town (population 3,578) with a 10.5km spur from Axminster, closed in 1965, would offer an alternative terminal branch off the South West Main Line from Waterloo for regular rail passenger services.
Operationally akin to Bognor Regis, this would enable a bolt-hole to free up more trains along the South West Main Line and attract more people to choose rail for their commuting, visiting and holiday plans.
Seaton
Popular yet choked – road congestion is a problem for many seaside resorts, as is land available to service ever-more parking demand. Seaton (pop. 7,100 in 2023) is no exception. Could there be a sustainable link here?
Between Colyton and Seaton, a privately run tramway has operated as a visitor attraction since the 1970s, along much of the course of the original railway line. However, the tramway stops short of the junction with the main line between Honiton and Axminster.
The idea to re-link the tramway to the South West Main Line? It’s 2 miles away. Currently, the tramway does not operate year round, which would necessitate a Winter bus link to the town. What’s the sustainable solution for Seaton?
Severn Estuary Bridge
A new twin-track link for more by rail between England and Wales
Think big! BRTA believes greater capacity for more by rail (passenger and freight) could be enabled with a new twin-track rail-based only new bridge over the Severn Estuary linking England and Wales.
Pulling more journeys to rail, it would lower traffic congestion, emissions and pollution to the benefit of all. We call on councils, agencies and government to work together to pool resources, study the feasibility, engineering and benefits.
Take the Lower Thames Road Crossing – a grand waste of money and bad for the environment. An equivalent rail-based solution is always kinder to people, places, land use and the environment.
Wales-England has several road upgrades and bridges, yet not one rail bridge. We say think big and enable rail to make a fuller contribution.
Taunton – Barnstaple
Offering a much quicker service than going into Exeter and changing, we are calling for a restored Taunton – Barnstaple rail link.
Re-railing the 45 mile line would give a rail challenge to upgrades to the accident prone A361 and A38 and enable faster end-to-end journey times.
It would open up commuting by rail between Barnstaple, interim parkway Stations and the wider North Devon area to Taunton (pop. 60,479), connecting with quick rail-based links for Bristol, London and beyond.
Barnstaple – Ilfracombe
BRTA envisages a reinstated heavy rail solution between Barnstaple (pop. 31, 276) and Ilfracombe (pop. 11,042) linking the two North Devon towns.
Radial rail links of Barnstaple should be studied and progressed as much as possible. They offer reduced road traffic volumes, flows and congestion blight, cuts to land use for parking demand and would free up land for other uses. Conservation of the best of rural hinterlands in a context of growth and regeneration is key here.
Gloucester – Hereford via Ross-on-Wye
This sizeable area, with major tourist draw, has been left disconnected from the rail network. The result? Lots of A40 congestion, pollution and multiple land-use dilemmas alongside high demand for accommodation, parking and services.
This railway route needs a complete new-build and a power to push it through, akin to HS2. The original rail route would need many relocation packages as it’s blocked in several places. A convenient new out-of-town Parkway Station would serve Ross-on-Wye.
The argument for reinstating a rail choice is a strong one. It would serve as a though-route, increasing capacity with knock-ons to several regions, each journey by rail slashing emissions and pollution, for the benefit of all.
It would give the possibility of Merseyside – Shrewsbury – Southampton (not via Oxford and Birmingham) routes, enabling faster end-to-end transit times, freeing up rail paths for other rail-based passenger and freight operations.
Traffic reductions on M50, A449, and the A40 are highly likely if rail access is restored. To not do it leaves a strategic gap in the resilience and adequacy of the rail network. We all now know that road-based solutions just deliver more congestion, pollution, blight and other issues to areas of outstanding natural beauty… is that a price worth paying?!
Tavistock
OVER THE MOOR FOR MORE BY RAIL
Tavistock (pop. 12,280) and Bideford are Devon’s two largest towns without rail links.
BRTA supports this local rail reopening solution and ultimately the linking with Okehampton for an Exeter – Tavistock – Plymouth duplicate rail route alternative to the Dawlish sea wall. It would serve new distinct places in its own right and would give many choices for modal shift. Wheels to Plymouth and Cornwall must keep moving, whatever the weather and climate change brings.
Barnstaple – Bideford
This is a hugely popular local rail campaign to serve Bideford (pop. 17,107), a mere 9 mile link. Bideford joins Tavistock as Devon’s two largest towns without rail links.
Passenger services were lost in 1965 but freight working was retained until 1982.
Tony Speller, North Devon MP brought about the Speller Amendment Act which, although failed as far as North Devon was concerned, informed and paved the way for many local rail reopenings being given a passage.
There’s much support and Railfuture campaigns for its reinstatement and integration to the wider rail network out of Barnstaple.
Protecting routes, working up the case and government tiers seeing the potential, ensuring a level playing field tilted towards local rail resuscitation for land use, regeneration and environmental prioritisation rail does address; should make this an obvious case as a start to re-railing North Devon.
Wellington and Cullompton: going ahead
Campaigning works!
The new station at Cullompton is key to unlocking the building of 5,000 homes nearby in the Culm Garden Village development. Richard Foord, Liberal Democrat MP for Honiton and Sidmouth, said there was an “irrefutable business case” for reopening the station. The new station will be built next to the motorway services at junction 28 of the M5. This will make it possible for people to commute from Cullompton into Exeter, Taunton and Bristol and will encourage modal shift from road to rail.
BRTA, alongside other committed groups, have tabled these local station re-openings, which bring rail access nearer to many homes, cuts to car miles – all taking the heat off urban areas.
Sidmouth
Sidmouth, a popular seaside location and resort (pop. 12,569) demands a study to find a routing option from the South Western Main Line running into both Exeter and the Salisbury direction, too.
The rail choice would regenerate, provide all-year-round footfall and investment to the area and give greener transport choices.
Portishead: going ahead
Another success story. Welcome news in 2025. BRTA applaud all involved in helping negotiate a protracted set of inter-governmental dynamics.
www.portisheadrailwaygroup.org
We demand reform of the system to make modal shift back to rail and rail re-openings and select rail new-builds easier, less costly and protracted.
Contrast this with new roads which on the surface seem cheaper and less problematic, yet have an environmental and public health price tag. The toxic cycle of shifting true costs to appear elsewhere must be broken.
Frome – Radstock
Radstock and Midsomer Norton house significant populations and further new housing is planned, making this a high-priority re-opening campaign. www.northsomersetrailway.com
There must be a proper national rail reopening for a Frome – Radstock passenger service enabling wider rail connections and links. The route must not be abandoned, turned into a cycleway or lost.
The link would enhance wider access to areas of outstanding natural beauty and other attractions and facilities for visitorship. That, in turn, boosts local economies and reverses decades of side-lining. It’s been proven that cycleways can be situated alongside reinstated rail. Further enhance access by designing more cycle space into rolling stock and fully exploit rail’s versatility to cater for diverse user needs.
Bristol Metro
BRTA adds weight to various reopening demands in the Bristol area. These must be studied, sites protected and pursued in the round of wider rail network and station coherence.
We avidly support updating Pilning (on the South Wales main line close to the Severn Tunnel) which originally had 2 trains per week.
The former freight-only Tytherington branch is the proposed site of a new town at Thornbury, which needs a new station.
A new station at North Filton (on the freight-only branch Bristol Parkway to Severn Beach) is desperately needed since a Malaysian conglomerate is developing 1000 new homes at the former Filton Airfield.
Through successful campaigning, Ashley Down Station is up and running. The station is close to the Gloucester County Cricket ground and some business parks.
South West Station Campaigns
A new station, Devizes Gateway is a top priority: 31,000 local people currently not served by rail.
A reinstated station for Grove and Wantage needs support.
Chard with its 14,000 strong population should be provided with a Parkway station between Crewkerne and Axminster.
An upgrade of Castle Cary Station is very important, since it is used for the Glastonbury Festival and also the Bath & West Show at Shepton Mallet.
Yeovil
Yeovil Junction – Yeovil Town is inadequate and should be double-tracked and south-east, north to west curves where the two lines at Yeovil meet should be restored with compulsory purchase and relocation of any blockages.
This would enable a second Salisbury-Bristol route via Yeovil, Weymouth-Exter direct and opportunities for more freight by rail. It should be studied, invested in and made real at the earliest opportunity.
South West Main Line: Waterloo (London) to Exeter (Devon)
This report should be of interest to all associated with the South West Main Line out of Waterloo.
It identifies short-comings and suggests redoubling, electrification throughout and new, more relevant rolling stock and related upgrades needed.
HOW TO ADD YOUR VOICE
Write in support of these reopenings to your local councillors and MP:
members.parliament.uk/members/commons
or www.writetothem.com
It’s powerful to write to your MP or councillor in your own words, telling your representative about your own beliefs and experiences and how they relate to rerailing. See below.
Join BRTA as a member to support this and other reopening campaigns
Volunteer with BRTA if you share our vision and want to help bring it about.
Donate to BRTA to help us advocate for rail links fit for the 21st century!
Think about the following questions when composing your letter to MPs / councillors:
- What journeys do you make? Work? Leisure? Appointments / visits?
What could improve the journeys you make? - Do you actively choose road over rail or bus? Why?
- Do you consider where you live to be well served by public transport?
- Do you have experience of new areas of housing and public transport?
- What are your experiences of the road journeys you make in the region?
- Have you made employment, school or relocation decisions based on journey times or access to public transport? Or on the lack of access to public transport?
- What are your thoughts on the environmental impact of your journeys?
- Do you have accessibility needs that affect journey decisions you make?
- What do you think about air pollution in your area?
- What are the most important connectivity-related issues to you? Why? Journey times? Road congestion reduction? Pollution reduction? Accessibility? Taking freight off the roads in your area? A better connected region?
- What should be done next to make relinking happen?
Our tips: - Even if your MP is not in the region, your letter provides them with an opportunity to learn about the issue and take action themselves.
- Aim for your letter to be no longer than one and a half sides of A4.
- Engage. Get your representative’s attention with a dramatic fact or short statement.
- State the problem. Present the causes of the problem you just introduced. How widespread or serious is the problem?
- Inform them about the solutions that rerailing would bring.
- Call to Action. Let them know what you want them to do about it.
- Ask for a response.