Rail services provide a fast, congestion-free link between towns (with a station) in Somerset and other parts of the UK. Most rail services are now fast, comfortable and efficient and offer the opportunity to relax, read or work whilst travelling.
Trains
Rail services provide a fast, congestion-free link between towns (with a station) in Somerset and other parts of the UK. Most rail services are now fast, comfortable and efficient and offer the opportunity to relax, read or work whilst travelling.
Rail fares can be reasonable, particularly when booked in advance.
Unfortunately, Langport does not have a station and the nearest stations are at Taunton, Bridgwater, Castle Cary and Yeovil.
Taunton Station is on the main line from London to Devon and Cornwall and also to Bristol (for the Midlands, North and Scotland). There are frequent trains to destinsations including London (Paddington), Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance.
Castle Cary is on the main line from Taunton to London (Paddington) and also on the picturesque Weymouth to Bath and Bristol branch line. Ample “pay and display” parking is available.
Bridgwater is served by local trains running between Taunton, Weston-Super-Mare and Bristol.
Yeovil has two stations. Pen Mill is just east of the Town Centre and is on the picturesque Weymouth to Bristol and Bath branch line. Trains serve places including Weymouth, Dorchester, Westbury, Trowbridge, Bradford-on-Avon, Bath and Bristol with some trains continuing north to Gloucester and Great Malvern.
Yeovil Junction is about 2 miles south of the town and is on the Exeter to London (Waterloo) line. Trains run regularly serving Exeter, Salisbury, Basingstoke and London.
There are a number of helpful websites for train information and ticket booking.
- For general information, train times, fares, map and “real time” information on how trains are running, visit: www.nationalrail.co.uk
- For tickets (and other information including times and fares), visit individual train company websites below. It is possible to book all rail journeys on any of these company websites. Alternatively, it is possible to use www.thetrainline.com although a booking fee is charged when booking travel tickets.
Individual train companies also have websites with information on train times and fare, maps and booking facilities:
- First Great Western (services from Taunton and Castle Cary to London, Devon and Cornwall and from Yeovil and Castle Cary to Weymouth, Bath and Bristol) www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk
- Cross Country Trains (services from Taunton to Devon, Cornwall, Bristol, Birmingham, the North and Scotland): www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk
- South West Trains (services from Yeovil Junction to Exeter, Salisbury and London): www.southwesttrains.co.uk
PlusBus
If you are travelling from, for example, Taunton to a major town or city (such as Bristol, Plymouth or Exeter), PLUSBUS allows you to buy a bus ticket as part of your rail ticket. This bus ticket covers onward travel within the town or city and works out cheaper than buying separate rail and bus tickets. Please see www.plusbus.info for further information including towns where PLUSBUS is valid and maps of town zones where PLUSBUS tickets can be used.
More information on train travel in Somerset (including carrying bicycles on trains) is available at www.movingsomersetforward.co.uk
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