Castle Cary railway station, one of Somerset's busiest stations, has had its ticket office and waiting room restored following an £835,000 investment. The station building was officially reopened on Monday, August 17, by Sir Andrew Haines, chairman of Department for Transport Operator Limited (DFTO).
The station currently attracts more than 370,000 passengers every year and serves as the main railway station for large sections of eastern Somerset. The improvements were funded by £560,000 from the Department for Transport (DfT) and £275,000 from the Railway Heritage Trust.
Accessibility and Heritage Improvements
The restoration has seen the original entrance reopened to passengers, alongside a new accessible ramp providing step-free access. The ticket office has been relocated to improve customer flow and make the waiting room more welcoming. Historic features have been uncovered and new timber furniture installed to give the building an early 20th-century feel.
Additional seating has been provided on the main platform along with a new digital departure board and upgraded toilet facilities, including an enlarged accessible toilet with baby changing facilities. Sir Andrew Haines said: "This is a great example of how we can provide meaningful benefits to the public while remaining true to the station's iconic heritage. I hope Castle Cary's passengers are pleased with the improvements and enjoy their journeys to and from this unique station."
Recent Station Investments
The station has received significant investment in recent years, with a new car park opening in March 2024. The 567 bus route recently launched on a six-month trial to connect the station to Glastonbury and Street, with the trial ending in February 2027. A full timetable for the 567 route can be downloaded by visiting www.somersetbuspartnership.co.uk/567.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for highways and transport at Somerset Council, stated in early August that he hoped as many people as possible would use this service during the trial. Mr Wilkins, who represents the Curry Rivel and Langport division, said: "We'd love to run buses everywhere, but the reality is that in Somerset, we don't have as good a service as we would like and any improvements we do make have to make sense. This really is the best option. It's got every opportunity to succeed – but to be a success, we've got to ensure that we meet the trains and people do get on board."
Railway Heritage and Future Plans
The station is primarily served by Great Western Railway (GWR) services, connecting the Bristol to Weymouth stopper service with the faster trains between Exeter and London Paddington via Taunton. GWR managing director Mark Hopwood CBE said: "Castle Cary is a wonderful example of how we can celebrate our railway heritage while making our stations work better for today's customers. We're delighted to have worked with the DfT, the Railway Heritage Trust and Oxford Architects to restore the station's historic character, while improving accessibility and the customer experience. We're also proud of our close partnership with The Newt in Somerset, which is helping to create an exciting destination at Castle Cary and showcase the very best of the area's heritage."
The Newt in Somerset runs the artisan dairy, restaurant and farm shop on the northern side of the station, all sited within the restored 1912 Creamery building. Additional upgrades to the station are in the pipeline, with GWR exploring a third car park to cope with rising passenger numbers and step-free access being explored as part of the DfT's 'access for all' programme. Railway Heritage Trust director Tim Hedley-Jones added: "We are pleased to have supported GWR with a grant for the restoration of this historic station building. The project shows that looking after our railway heritage also delivers benefits to passengers such as better accessibility and improved waiting facilities. All those who worked on this project are to be commended for their attention to period detail."
