MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset Ian Liddell-Grainger has slammed staff at Taunton Station for being 'rude and unhelpful'.

He has called for a meeting with Great Western Railway officials over what he says are ‘appalling’ levels of customer service at the station.

He said: "Taunton station seems to employ the most officious, rude and unhelpful staff on the network.

"It all adds up to a most unpleasant passenger experience - not so much a warm welcome as a cold shoulder, as I am now hearing from so many of my constituents.”

He has also warned that elderly and vulnerable passengers are now being put at risk as a result of changes carried out to the configuration of the 1840s station last year.

Mr Liddell-Grainger said the decision to return the buildings to their original lay-out with the main entrance on the south side had removed virtually all passenger facilities from the former north side entrance.

This mean that passengers using the cheaper local authority car park on that side faced a lengthy walk round to the other side to obtain travel information.

Somerset County Gazette: The taxi rank and walkway from the carpark. The taxi rank and walkway from the carpark.

“Everything appears to have been done with the aim of generating revenue for that car park with the needs of passengers the last consideration on the list,” he said.

“Many of my constituents prefer to use the north side car park because they find it more accessible as well as cheaper. But what particularly concerns me is that those arriving back late at night cannot even use the station subway, which is routinely closed.

“And because a footpath has also been blocked off they face a lengthy walk along an ill-lit road to get back to their cars.

“I know local taxi drivers are equally unhappy about the arrangements that have been made for them in the new lay-out.

Great Western Railway have been approached for a comment.