Government Funding Offers Hope for Rebuilding Cullompton Station
(Above left) Site of the former Cullompton Station and ( Above Right) A Class 5 Diesel Elctric passing the former station Site
Plans for the reopening of Cullompton and Wellington train stations have continued to gather steam and have moved one step closer. At the end of February, the Strategic Outline Business Cases were submitted by the Devon and Somerset Metro Board to the Department for Transport to reopen stations at Cullompton and Wellington. Both stations closed in 1964 with the loss of a stopping train service, however both towns have grown in population since then and are the largest settlements between Exeter and Taunton. The Government called for transport projects back in January 2020 through the ‘Restoring Your Railways - Idea’s Fund’. The two local Members for Parliament in conjunction with Mid Devon District and Somerset West and Taunton Councils were successful in securing this government funding for development of a business case to reopen stations at Cullompton and Wellington. The business cases, now submitted, considers various options to improve the broader service in the area. These include the potential for an hourly service through an extension of the current Cardiff to Taunton service and for a new Exeter to Taunton service. Neil Parish, MP for Tiverton and Honiton, said: “We are currently waiting for the SOBC to be reviewed by the Department for Transport. We hope to hear a positive outcome over the 30
GREAT WESTERN STAR MAGAZINE
Spring 2021
coming months. If funding is secured this year, construction could take place as early as 2024. This would be very exciting as Cullompton has been without its railway station for too long.” Councillors are being recommended to continue to explore funding opportunities for the next stages of the £16m Cullompton railway station project. The station, which was initially opened in 1844 and was rebuilt in 1931, was one of many that were closed as part of the Beeching Axe. Tiverton Junction, Cullompton, Hele and Bradninch and Silverton were closed to passengers on October 5, 1964, and the Cullompton station site has been turned into the motorway service station. But there is a hope that a new Cullompton station can be built, as part of the “Devon Metro” plans by Devon County Council, a new station near the location of the old station is a ‘possible’ long term proposal. Up to £4m could be needed to be found to fund the £16m station.
For all your latest news and videos, go to www. greatwesternstar.com. News regularly updated and you can subscribe to ensure that you do not miss an issue 30
GREAT W
