Castle Cary railway station has reopened following a six-month, £835,000 restoration, with improved passenger facilities and a new bus connection that could give Yeovil residents another way to travel across Somerset.
The station officially reopened on Monday 17 August. Its original entrance is now back in use with an accessible ramp, while the ticket office has been relocated to improve the movement of passengers through the building.
What has changed at Castle Cary station?
The waiting room has been refurbished, and historic features discovered during the work have been retained. Period-appropriate timber furniture has also been installed to reflect the station’s early 20th-century character.
Passengers now have additional seating on the main platform, a digital departure board and upgraded toilet facilities. The work includes a larger accessible toilet with baby-changing facilities.
The restoration was funded by £560,000 from the Department for Transport and £275,000 from the Railway Heritage Trust. Great Western Railway, the Department for Transport, the Railway Heritage Trust and Oxford Architects supported delivery of the project.
Six-month trial for 567 bus service
A new 567 bus service is being introduced on a six-month trial running until February 2027. The route connects Castle Cary railway station with Glastonbury and Street, expanding the public transport choices available to people using the station.
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.
For people travelling from Yeovil, the new link could be useful for journeys involving Castle Cary, but it does not change rail services in Yeovil. Passengers should check train and bus information before setting out.
How helpful the trial proves to be will depend partly on whether bus departures connect effectively with train arrivals and departures, as well as on passenger numbers.
Possible future improvements
Further changes are being considered at the station. These include a possible third car park to meet rising passenger numbers and additional step-free access through the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme.
Castle Cary handles more than 370,000 passengers each year and is described as the main rail hub for large parts of eastern Somerset. Great Western Railway operates Bristol-to-Weymouth trains from the station, alongside faster services between Exeter and London Paddington via Taunton.
The reopening and bus trial do not directly alter Yeovil’s rail services. They may, however, provide another option for Yeovil residents travelling to destinations across Somerset, provided the train and bus connections work for their individual journeys.