Rail passengers travelling between Castle Cary and Taunton are being advised to check their journeys in advance as Network Rail begins a week-long programme to upgrade drainage in and around Somerton Tunnel. The work, aimed at reducing the long-standing flood risk on this key South West route, will run from Monday 8 to Sunday 14 December and will require a series of temporary service changes.

During the seven-day programme, long-distance services between London Paddington and Plymouth or Penzance will be diverted, adding at least 15 minutes to journey times. Some trains between London Paddington and Westbury or Castle Cary will continue to operate on weekdays only, while services via Castle Cary for Bristol Temple Meads and Weymouth will run as normal throughout.

Rail replacement buses will cover the section between Castle Cary and Taunton on all days of the works. Additional replacement services will also operate between Pewsey and Swindon at weekends, ensuring connections remain available while the tunnel’s drainage is upgraded.

Network Rail said the new drainage system will channel rainwater safely away from the track, significantly reducing the likelihood of future flooding along this important rail corridor. The project forms part of wider resilience improvements planned for the region’s infrastructure.

Jordan Welsby, GWR Station Manager for Castle Cary, said:

“This is a really important investment in the long-term reliability of our railway. While some services will be affected, trains will still run to London, Bristol, Yeovil and Weymouth from Castle Cary. If your usual train is affected, replacement buses will be running - but please allow extra time as bus journeys will take a little longer than the train.”

Jason Pankhurst, Network Rail Senior Programme Manager, said:

“Over seven days we'll be installing a completely new drainage system to take rainwater away from the tracks. This vital work will significantly improve the railway's resilience in this area and reduce future flood disruption. We're sorry for the temporary inconvenience and really appreciate passengers' patience while we future-proof this important route.”

Image: Great Western Railway