12th August 2026
A Report from David Northey of the Langport Transport Group
This morning, we were delighted to visit The Snug Bookshop & Café in Langport (link below) and take part in the Sedgemoor Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast.
The event provided an excellent opportunity to launch our updated campaign leaflets and speak with local businesses about the case for restoring a railway station to serve Somerton, Langport and the surrounding communities.
Transport is critical to the success of local businesses. Reliable connections help employees travel to work, make it easier for customers and visitors to reach our towns, and open up access to a wider range of jobs, education and essential services.
The experience of Okehampton demonstrates what restoring a rail connection can achieve. Since the town’s station reopened, rail services have brought more visitors into Okehampton, supported its local economy and given the town a renewed sense of confidence and opportunity.
A new station for the Somerton and Langport area could deliver similar benefits. The existing business case forecasts around 253,000 passenger journeys annually. With approximately 50,000 people living within ten kilometres of the proposed station, there is a substantial population that could benefit from improved access to the rail network.
A station would provide more than a new transport link. It could help businesses recruit and retain staff, increase visitor numbers, support tourism, reduce dependence on the car and connect our communities more effectively with Taunton, Yeovil, Bristol, Exeter, London and destinations across the wider rail network.
This morning’s conversations reinforced how important better transport is to the future of our local economy. We would like to thank The Snug Bookshop and Café for hosting the breakfast, the Sedgemoor Chamber of Commerce for the opportunity to participate, and everyone who took the time to discuss the campaign with us.
Our updated leaflets will help us take that message out into the community: a new station for Somerton and Langport is not simply about trains — it is about supporting businesses, connecting people and creating new opportunities for the whole area.
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