THE pressure is being turned up to secure a new train station in Wellington.

Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow has met Rail Minister Huw Merriman to update him on the Wellington Rail Project.

At the end of their meeting, Mr Merriman agreed to visit Wellington to see the potential for trains to run in and out of the town once again.

Ms Pow said: “Following the latest meeting of the Devon and Somerset Metro Group, which I chair, I met with the Rail Minister Huw Merriman MP in Westminster to update him on progress relating to the business case and planning application stage.

"Continued close working with the Department for Transport is essential to ensure this much needed infrastructure is delivered and I stressed the importance of keeping the plans on track.

"I extended an invitation to the Rail Minister for a site visit to Wellington to see the proposed plans first hand, which I’m delighted to say he was pleased to accept.”

If the project for the new station wins approval, construction work could feasibly being next year and the first trains could potentially stop at Wellington some time in 2025.

Wellington Station, along with another new one in Cullompton, sited either side of Tiverton Parkway Station, would serve the Great Western mainline from London Paddington to Penzance.

The old Wellington Station was one of 2,000 stations nationwide closed under the 'Beeching Axe' on October 5, 1964.