The
Government


is
being
asked
to
pay
for
a
business
case
setting
out
plans
to
use
part
of
a
heritage
branch
line
in
Somerset
for
a
park
and
ride
service.

A
Strategic
Outline
Business
Case
has
been
submitted
by
Somerset
Council
and
West
Somerset
Railway
PLC.
If
it
went
ahead,
an
hourly
park
and
ride
service
would
use
the
Minehead
branch
as
far
as
Bishops
Lydeard,
which
is
the
normal
terminus
of
heritage
trains
from
Minehead.

The
plan
proposes
the
development
of
Bishop
Lydeard
as
a
park-and-ride
hub
for
commuters
and
tourists,
with
hourly
trains
running
from
Taunton
throughout
the
year
which
would
be
co-ordinated
with
buses,
particularly
on
routes
around
Taunton. 

There
would
also
be
‘scope’
to
run
some
trains
through
to
Minehead
in
the
future.

The
Business
Case
has
been
developed
in
co-operation
with
Great
Western
Railway
and
Network
Rail,
and
Somerset
Council
said
it
has
received
‘strong
backing’
from
local
MPs
and
other
councils,
as
well
as
tourism
and
heritage
organisations
in
the
region.

The
Council
said
it
has
asked
for
a
‘modest
funding
package’
of
£137,000
to
prepare
the
Full
Business
Case.

Somerset
Council’s
lead
member
for
transport
and
waste
services,
Councillor
Richard
Wilkins,
said:
‘We
are
excited
about
the
potential
of
this
project
to
provide
a
significant
transport
link
to
our
local
communities
and
while
doing
so
preserve
a
vital
piece
of
our
heritage.
This
initiative
will
enhance
connectivity,
support
our
environmental
goals,
and
contribute
to
the
economic
vitality
of
the
region.’

West
Somerset
Railway
chair
Jonathan
Jones-Pratt
added:
‘We
are
extremely
grateful
to
the
team
who
have
developed
and
supported
this
project.
We
await
the
opportunity
to
develop
the
final
business
case
and
if
successful
this
will
play
a
key
part
in
the
West
Somerset
Railway’s
future.’