THE latest Wellington Rail Station stakeholder meeting was unanimously positive, says Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow, who has been pushing for a station in the town for many years. 

Council representatives, Network Rail and GWR heard reports which clarified that the engineering was possible, and the timetable could accommodate trains stopping at stations at Wellington and Cullompton. Extending the Cardiff service from Taunton to Exeter was proposed as the preferred option.

Speaking after the meeting Ms Pow said: “The stakeholder group was positive about the ambition for Wellington station. Some further detail on decisions and formal next steps is now required to move us to the next stage of the Rail Enhancement Programme.

“I shall be reporting back to new Rail Minister, Chris Heaton Harris, and the new sustainable transport Minister, George Freeman, with whom I have already discussed opportunities. It is important that when funding becomes available for further new stations this project is ready.

“Estimated costings for a station are about £15 million with an initial £3 million being required to get the project to development stage.

“A Wellington rail station makes sense with the growing population of the town, many of whom could use this service to get to work in Taunton, Exeter and further afield.

“Similarly, it would attract employees to work in Wellington from other places and it will be very handy for other domestic trips, too. It also chimes well with the drive toward a more sustainable environment and will benefit the local economy.’’