Minehead Rail Link Group

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

Years ago I remember Wessex trains used their class 31 and mk2 rakes to run a Bristol tm to Minehead service I think on behalf of butlins, I'm sure i saw a butlins express headboard on one the fragonset class 31s ?

Anyone remember how often it ran ?

As it was run for guests at Butlins, the timings were useless for anyone wishing to use it for day trips.

I also seem to recall when GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) ran a class 150 from Taunton to Bishop’s Lydeard that the timings weren’t great connecting with services at Taunton, well they certainly weren’t for me travelling from Westbury, so again I never used it.

I live in hope that one day someone will provide a useable rail service linking the mainline with the WSR^▸ (West Somerset Railway - heritage line between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard).

[Witham Bobby]

Years ago I remember Wessex trains used their class 31 and mk2 rakes to run a Bristol tm to Minehead service I think on behalf of butlins, I'm sure i saw a butlins express headboard on one the fragonset class 31s ?

Anyone remember how often it ran ?

It was a  summer only service that ran for just the one summer season in 2007.  Six, or seven school summer holiday Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, doing one round trip

From the archives of Steve Edge's excellent wsr.org.uk website, dated 2017:

Visitors to Butlins Minehead, or anyone heading for Exmoor this summer, can climb aboard the new Butlins Express service from Bristol Temple Meads to Minehead, for a relaxing start to their summer holiday or a great day out every Friday, Saturday and Monday. The service, which resumed on 20 July after a 30 year break, runs until the end of August and has been made possible thanks to a partnership between ECT Mainline Rail, Butlins Minehead, West Somerset Railway and Victa West Link Rail. ECT Mainline Rail is providing the locomotives, rolling stock and maintenance services and underwriting the costs of providing the service. Butlins are supporting the service and promoting it to their guests as an ideal way to start their holiday. West Somerset Railway (WSR^▸ (West Somerset Railway - heritage line between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard)) is providing train stabling, use of the West Somerset line and stations and on train ticketing staff. Victa Westlink Rail is the train operating company (TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)) which operates the service over the WSR and Network Rail lines. Up till now Butlins guests and visitors to the area, wanting to use public transport had to rely on buses from Taunton. Now they will have an opportunity to travel through the beautiful Somerset countryside, on an air conditioned diesel hauled train service utilising topped and tailed Class 31 locomotives and Mk2^▸ (Mark 2 coach) coaches stopping at stations beautifully restored by West Somerset Railway. 'We are delighted to be able to work with Victa West Link Rail, Butlins and West Somerset Railway to re-open this service as a gateway by rail to Exmoor. Not only will passengers be able to have a relaxing start to their holiday, but they will be able to do their bit for the environment, by letting the train take the strain.' says Martin Sargent ECT's Mainline Rail Director.

For a variety of reasons this particular service has not run since 2007.

[grahame]

I live in hope that one day someone will provide a useable rail service linking the mainline with the WSR^▸ (West Somerset Railway - heritage line between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard).

For a variety of reasons this particular service has not run since 2007.

I would love to have further data on that "variety of reasons" and see someone bring together all the various lessons to actually achieve a useable rail service that addresses each of the potential major flows.  Heritage, local communities, holiday camp, other vacation and leisure tourism, day trips.  And addresses the concerns of parties involved - infrastructure owner, heritage operators, national rail operators, rail and road unions and staff, people living along the line, local authorities, funders, safety and security teams.

[grahame]

West Somerset Free Press

Campaigner James Wright pushes case for reconnecting West Somerset to mainline trains

EXMOOR farmer and political campaigner James Wright has visited Shadow Railways Minister Jerome Mayhew in Westminster to push the case for reconnecting West Somerset to the national rail network.

Mr Wright said: “Restoring this rail link would be transformative.

“It would provide reliable school and commuter transport, boost tourism, and strengthen our local economy.

“The Conservative party is clear that projects like this can happen with the right political will.

[autotank]

Not sure it's been mentioned here, but GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are running a shuttle service from Taunton to Bishops Lydeard on Tuesday 25th and Friday 28th November in connection with the Rail 200 'Inspiration' exhibition train. Travel is free, but you need a pre-booked ticket for the exhibition train at Bishops Lydeard (which is also free!). Get yours here -->> https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/events/view/inspiration-railway-2002-travelling-exhibition-train-visit-to-west-somerset-railway

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thank you for your very informative and useful post, autotank.

I certainly hadn't heard about that before.

[ChrisB]

15 mins to get through the Innovation train - pushing it if it's busy!

Possibly may be with track bashing?

[Timmer]

Sigh. If only a Taunton-Bishop’s Lydeard shuttle would run consistently during the spring and summer months.

I know…oooooozzzz gonna pay for it?