A redundant railway bridge in the vicinity of Taunton Station is to be removed, week commencing Monday 23 May, to enable the Northern Inner Distributor Road to cross the gap, where the bridge stood.  Some parts of the old Kingston Loop Bridge will be reinstated after refurbishment. 

https://www.facebook.com/somersetcountycouncil/posts/1209460742405285?comment_id=1209469802404379&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R0%22%7D
 

Stayed in the John Francis Basset in Camborne and have just posted a brief review, as suggested.

(CBN) The John Francis Basset, a Wetherspoon's hotel in centre of Camborne. We stayed three nights, eating in the adjacent pub, and had no complaints.

• 5 minute walk from Camborne Station
• opened in 2015 so facilities excellent, including free wifi (not tested)
  
• rooms large, d^cor sombre - grey, cream, wine, white - coupled with all meals being taken in pub of same name, may not appeal to solo traveller or someone preferring a more intimate B & B
• a few rooms do not have natural light (the hotel being a conversion) but a direct telephone call prior to booking will elucidate
  

Just to say that our mini-break to Camborne has come and gone.  It was difficult pushing a wheelchair, even with husband walking whenever the way got steep, but, taking heed of suggestions, we went to St Ives by train and to Truro and Falmouth by bus, and took a boat trip from there.  The most unexpected but exciting part of our trip was setting off on Sunday 10 April and finding our railway carriage engulfed by spray at Dawlish.  The train crawled into the station about two hours after the morning high tide but the waves were still impressive.

Camborne's Richard Trevithick Day will be held on Saturday 30 April.  I believe he was a pioneer of steam power but I'm sure others on this forum know more about him.

Hello, John R, I'm amazed at how unobservant I have been.  Next time I'm at Taunton Station, I'll have a good look at the doors of the DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit), as the train for Cardiff is often waiting.

Thank you, Grahame, bignosemac and IndustryInsider.  Looking at the photos of the interiors of a 150 and 158, it's like bird watching, with a bit of observation the differences between the two are clear.  However, I shall still look out for the down draught from the air con.

Thank you, John R.  Within the carriage, what's the visible difference between the 150 and the 158?

Excuse me for asking a question, which has probably been asked before, but what class of train/Sprinter DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) runs direct from Taunton to Cardiff Central, or Penzance to Cardiff in some cases?  I haven't found any seating plan, which would indicate toilets, luggage racks or priority seating, and that lack of information, when travelling for up to two hours, puts me off.  Even the Cardiff to Portsmouth Harbour service, where individual seat reservations are possible, doesn't appear to have an accompanying plan.

I certainly didn't see any warning signs on Monday 1st that work was about to begin, and I did use the lifts to get from platform 2 to 5 late morning.  Perhaps the start up has been delayed.

From Great Western's website under Assisted Travel, the lifts at Taunton Station are to be replaced.

• work is planned to start on 1 February and will take about 3 months
• lifts to platforms 2, 5 and 6 will all be out of use

• the lift to platforms 3 and 4 won^t be affected, and where possible trains will be redirected to use these platforms
• during this time the track crossing between platforms 2 and 3 and 4 will be used with the help of staff

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My thanks to Chrisoates and richwarwicker for their suggestions for going places by bus and also the detailed instructions for St Ives.  You've given me plenty of material to fill our three days and hopefully by April there will be an end to this rain.

Thank you, Chris.  I'd noticed in the journey planner that the day return fare from Camborne to St Ives could be routed via Penzance, and you have confirmed it.  I am guessing that is what you mean by easement.  In fact, I've booked our tickets from Taunton to Camborne.  The advance purchase fare, with Railcard, is only ^8.90 in standard class on a direct, Great Western service.  It seems a bargain.

Thanks, Fourbee, for the fares information and for Direct Enquiries, which I had a good look at.  It's all grist to the mill.

Thank you Tim and gentlemen - richwarwicker, old original and Four Track, Now! - for your tips and local knowledge.  I have made National Rail's Stations Made Easy my bible and coupled with Google's Street View, the route in and outside the station can be planned in advance.  If only the weather could be forecast with such accuracy!

I certainly wasn't familiar with that reference.  Thanks everyone for your informed replies.  It makes me realise how many facilities Taunton Station has, relative to its size and importance: three lifts, a waiting room and toilets, including disabled, on either of its main platforms, one station buffet and two car parks.