Bridgwater Town Councils transport Forum has welcomed a positive response from Government following a formal request for improvements to rail services serving Bridgwater Railway Station.
Earlier this year, following discussions at the Transport Forum, Cllr Mander wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, highlighting longstanding deficiencies in rail connectivity to and from Bridgwater. The letter also emphasised the growing strategic importance of the town, particularly in light of major infrastructure developments including Hinkley Point C and the Gravity Smart Campus (Giga Factory) at Puriton.
In a response received from Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, Minister of State for Rail, the Government has acknowledged the significance of these developments and the need to strengthen transport links in the area. Lord Hendy confirmed that officials have been instructed to engage with CrossCountry to explore potential service enhancements, including the possibility of adding Bridgwater as a stop on more routes.
Welcoming the response, Cllr Tim Mander said,
“Following the Transport Forum held in the New Year, I wrote to the Secretary of State pointing out the deficiencies in the rail services available in and out of Bridgwater Station and highlighted the two major infrastructure projects happening on our doorstep at Hinkley Point C and the Gravity Smart Campus.
I was delighted to receive a positive response from Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, Minister of State for Rail, in which he acknowledges the importance of Hinkley Point C and the Gravity Smart Campus at Puriton. He confirmed that he has requested his officials to ask CrossCountry to explore service enhancements, including adding Bridgwater as a stop.”
While improvements may take time to implement, with the earliest potential timetable changes expected from December 2028, the Forum considers this a significant step forward.
Cllr Mander added,
“Whilst there are some further obstacles that need overcoming and the earliest service improvement could start is December 2028, this is excellent news. The Government acknowledging the need for improvement is a positive step forward and really illustrates how collaborative working by the Transport Forum, together with the opportunities that have arisen from the Government taking back rail into public ownership, have opened an opportunity to improve services in and out of Bridgwater Station.
“The Transport Forum will continue to engage with the Minister and the stakeholder manager from CrossCountry to ensure that these service improvements are delivered.”
The Bridgwater Transport Forum brings together local stakeholders to address key transport challenges and opportunities across the town. This latest development builds on its ongoing campaign to secure better connectivity, accessibility, and infrastructure to support economic growth and the needs of residents and businesses.