HOURLY train services to Bristol, Cardiff, and Exeter could be available if demand proved sufficient when Wellington’s new railway station is built, a public meeting was told.

The station is currently due to be opened on a site off the new Longforth Farm housing estate by May, 2025.

The final business case for the station is currently being assembled by Network Rail, which has taken leadership of the project, ahead of a formal decision by the Department for Transport (DfT) toward the end of the year.

A Great Western Railway train.
A Great Western Railway train. (Tindle News)

The meeting, held in Wellington Baptist Church this week, heard two planning applications for up to 220 homes and commercial units which would enable the station to go ahead were expected to be submitted ‘within months’ to Somerset Council with decisions expected before the year-end.

West of England Developments (Taunton) Ltd carried out a public consultation on the plans last August.

Access would be off the Nynehead Road entrance to the town’s new Lidl supermarket.

The developer intends to provide new car parking near the station, while a new park would be provided south of the station, and pedestrian and cycling links created from Lillebonne Way and Taunton Road.

Somerset Council transport portfolio holder Cllr Mike Rigby said he expected the Department for Transport (DfT) would fund all of the £15 million cost of building the station – when previously, town councillors had been told 25 per cent, approximately £3.75 million, would have to be raised from local sources such as housing developers.

Cllr Rigby said: “Within 24 months, I hope very much to see some of you on the platform for the first train to stop at Wellington for 60 years.”

A typical parkway-style railway station.
A typical parkway-style railway station. (Tindle News)

Retired Network Rai strategic planner David Northey said he understood Wellington would at first be served by Great Western Railway (GWR) trains every two hours travelling between Exeter St David’s and Cardiff Central.

However, he expected it would increase to hourly as demand grew, as happened with the recently-reopened Okehampton station, in Devon, with which he had been involved.

Mr Northey said: “Connectivity to the station is really key to success, whether it is by foot, bike, car, or bus. There will definitely be direct pedestrian access to the town centre.”

The meeting was organised by the Wellington branch of the Liberal Democrats.