Fresh push to reconnect Somerset’s most famous heritage railway!

National World - LocalTV

The West Somerset Railway, or WSR, runs between Bishop’s Lydeard — just outside Taunton — and the seaside town of Minehead. The route winds through west Somerset’s villages and coast, including stops at Watchet, Blue Anchor, Dunster and Williton.

Transcript

00:00as britain gears up for another busy summer of staycations a fresh push is underway to reconnect

00:08somerset's most famous heritage railway with the national rail network the west somerset railway

00:15or rsr runs between bishop's leenard just outside of taunton and the seaside town of minehead the

00:22route winds through west somerset's villages and coast including stops at watchett blue anchor

00:30dumpster and wilton what many people don't realize is that the heritage line could also help solve a

00:36very modern problem local transport back in the summer of 2019 a trial service linked taunton

00:44with bishop's lineard since then somerset council and the west somerset railway have been campaigning

00:52to make that connection permanent in november of last year they submitted a business case to the

01:00department for transport asking for 137 000 pounds to develop detailed plans for reinstating the link

01:10now both the conservative and liberal democrats are urging labor government to approve that funding

01:18exmoor farmer james wright who chairs the southwest conservative rural forum says reconnection would

01:26be fast reliable and sustainable offering an alternative to traffic clogged roads and peak season gridlock

01:34campaigners say it's the perfect time to remember the steam doesn't just belong in the past it could

01:41actually be part of somerset's future too

01:52you

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