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.
Wellington railway station | |
|---|---|
 An express train passing through the station in 1954. | |
| General information | |
| Location | Wellington, Somerset England |
| Coordinates | 50°59′02″N 3°14′27″W / 50.983784°N 3.240970°W |
| Other information | |
| Status | Disused |
| History | |
| Original company | Bristol and Exeter Railway |
| Pre-grouping | Great Western Railway |
| Post-grouping | Great Western Railway |
| Key dates | |
| 1 May 1843 | Opened |
| 5 October 1964 | Closed |
History
editA station was opened at Wellington when the line reached the town on 1 May 1843.[1] 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.[2]
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
editAfter 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.[3] 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.[4]
References
edit- ^ MacDermot p.74
- ^ Quick, M. E. (2002). Railway passenger stations in England, Scotland and Wales – a chronology. Richmond: Railway and Canal Historical Society. p. 446. OCLC 931112387.
- ^ "Business, economy and licences: Wellington Station". Somerset Council. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ Bradley, Ruth; Mumby, Daniel. "Wellington: CrossCountry trains will not stop at new station". BBC News. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
Bibliography
edit- Jenkins, Stanley C. & Loader, Martin. The Great Western Railway Volume Two Bristol to Plymouth. Amberley Publishing, 2014.
- MacDermot, Edward Terence. History of the Great Western Railway, Volume 2. I. Allan, 1964.
| Preceding station | Historical railways | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlescombe | Great Western Railway Bristol–Exeter line |
Norton Fitzwarren | ||