Castle Cary railway station has reopened after a six-month, £835,000 restoration, alongside the launch of a trial bus service connecting the station with Glastonbury and Street. The changes do not directly alter rail services in Yeovil, but residents who travel via Castle Cary may now have another option for reaching destinations across Somerset.
Yeovil passengers planning to use the station should check both train and bus information before setting out. The new connections will need to line up with train arrivals and departures, and the council says the future of the bus trial will depend partly on passenger numbers.
What has changed at Castle Cary station?
The station’s original entrance has returned to use following the work. It now includes an accessible ramp, allowing passengers to enter without using steps. The ticket office has also been moved to improve the movement of people through the building.
The waiting room has been refurbished, with historic features discovered during the restoration retained. Period-appropriate timber furniture was installed to reflect the station’s early 20th-century character.
Passengers now have more seating on the main platform, a digital departure board and upgraded toilet facilities. The improvements include a larger accessible toilet with baby-changing facilities.
The 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.
New 567 bus service to Glastonbury and Street
The 567 service is being introduced as a six-month trial due to run until February 2027. It links Castle Cary railway station with Glastonbury and Street, expanding the public transport choices available to people travelling through the station.
Somerset Council’s highways and transport portfolio holder, Councillor Richard Wilkins, has encouraged residents to use the service. The complete timetable is available through Somerset Bus Partnership.
Travellers may need to check both sections of their journey before leaving home, as the trial’s usefulness will depend on how effectively bus departures connect with train times.
Possible future improvements
Further changes are being considered at the station, including a possible third car park to meet rising passenger numbers. Additional step-free access could also be delivered 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, as well as faster services between Exeter and London Paddington via Taunton.
The restoration 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.