Wellington railway station (Somerset)

Wellington railway station was a former railway station located in Wellington in Somerset on the Bristol–Exeter line. It served the town between 1843 and 1964, when it was closed as part of the Beeching cuts. In recent years proposals to reopen the station have been advanced. It was known as Wellington (Somerset) to distinguish it from Wellington Station in Shropshire.

History
A station was opened at Wellington when the line reached the town on 1 May 1843. Initially the next station west Beam Bridge functioned as the terminus of the line, until the route to Exeter was completed in 1844. Beam Bridge then closed and Burlescombe, just across the border in Devon, became the next station west. Heading eastwards the next station was Norton Fitzwarren followed by Taunton.

It was a typical Brunel design but was rebuilt in 1932 when two loop lines were put in. This entailed the platforms being moved back to accommodate the widened lines. These platforms are clearly visible and a goods shed still stands on the east side of the line at the Taunton end of the station, although the station closed on 5 October 1964.

Wellington was an important station as it stood at the foot of a steep incline. Banking locomotives were kept here, ready to assist heavy westbound trains up to Whiteball Tunnel.

Reopening
After government funding was announced in October 2021, Somerset Council is working with Network Rail and the Department for Transport on plans for a new station at Wellington. It will be at a new location near Nynehead Road, east of the previous site, and is hoped to open in September 2025. It will only be served by Great Western Railway services.