Castle Cary railway station has reopened its restored ticket office and waiting room following an £835,000 project intended to make the station more accessible while preserving its historic character. The work adds passenger facilities and comes alongside a new bus service linking the station with Glastonbury and Street.
The station building was officially reopened on Monday 17 August by Sir Andrew Haines, chairman of Department for Transport Operator Limited. Funding came from £560,000 provided by the Department for Transport and £275,000 from the Railway Heritage Trust.
What has changed at Castle Cary station?
The original entrance has been brought back into use with a new accessible ramp, providing step-free access. The ticket office has been moved to improve the flow of passengers through the building.
The waiting room has been refurbished, with historic features uncovered during the work. Period-appropriate timber furniture was installed to reflect the station’s early 20th-century atmosphere.
Passengers now have more seating on the main platform, a digital departure board and upgraded toilet facilities. The changes include a larger accessible toilet with baby-changing facilities.
Castle Cary handles more than 370,000 passengers a year and is described as the main rail hub for large parts of eastern Somerset. Great Western Railway serves the station with Bristol to Weymouth trains and faster services between Exeter and London Paddington via Taunton.
Six-month bus trial begins
The wider transport offer has expanded with the launch of the 567 bus service. The six-month trial connects Castle Cary with Glastonbury and Street and is due to finish in February 2027.
Somerset Council’s highways and transport portfolio holder, Councillor Richard Wilkins, has encouraged residents to use the service. The full timetable is available through Somerset Bus Partnership, while the council says the trial’s success will depend on passenger numbers and how effectively the buses connect with train times.
Possible future improvements
Further changes are being considered, including a possible third car park to meet rising passenger numbers. Additional step-free access is also being investigated through the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme.
The station project was delivered with support from Great Western Railway, the Department for Transport, the Railway Heritage Trust and Oxford Architects. The Newt in Somerset, which operates an artisan dairy, restaurant and farm shop beside the station in the restored 1912 Creamery building, is also part of the partnership around the station.
The development is outside Yeovil and does not report a direct change to Yeovil services. Yeovil residents travelling through Castle Cary should check the latest train and bus information before setting off.