Wellington Station construction to begin early next year

Bloor Homes South West is currently constructing the access road to the new station, providing a connection between the station site and Nynehead Road as part of its Lillebonne Place development of 178 homes (which was approved by the council in late-February).

Gideon Amos, the Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington, revealed in October that the construction programme was "on track" and that work to clear the site for the new platforms would begin before Christmas.

Matthew Prince, the council’s service manager for transport policy, has now told councillors that the main construction programme will get under way within the six months, provided the final designs could be signed off shortly.

Councillor Sarah Wakefield, portfolio holder for adults’ services, housing and homelessness, raised the issue when the council's planning and transport policy executive sub-committee met in Taunton on October 28.

She said: "I wondered whether you had anything to update us on the new Wellington station? It's something that's very much mentioned in the areas where I live."

Ms Wakefield is one of two Liberal Democrat councillors for the Blackdown and Neroche division, which borders the railway station site and includes numerous villages around Taunton and Wellington.

Mr Prince responded: "It is progressing - they're doing the last stages of the final design, because the original design was about two or three years old when the approval was given.

"The last I heard, they are looking to start work in the late-spring of next year. I am not 100 per cent sure, because it's still in the final stages of that design sign-off that Network Rail and Great Western Railway have to go through before they can implement things.

"Things are moving - as with anything, big infrastructure projects do have a certain journey of their own when it comes to time."

Matthew Prince, the council’s service manager for transport policy (Image: Somerset Council)

The new station will be delivered "in parallel" with its counterpart at Cullompton (just off junction 28 of the M5), with both stations forming part of the 'Devon Metro' on the Bristol to Exeter mainline.

Both stations will be served by GWR services on its Exeter St. David's to Cardiff Central route (via Bristol Temple Meads) and are expected to enter service by the end of 2028.

The council is currently consulting on proposed walking and cycling improvements between the new station and the town centre, which will be implemented in early-2027 using funding from Active Travel England.