The West Somerset Express

This series of trains from London Paddington to Minehead features haulage by two class 33 diesel locomotives, providing a truly lovely day out travelling through beautiful scenery to the Bristol Channel coast.

We leave London Paddington stopping at Slough and Reading to pick up more passengers. At Reading we join the Berks and Hants line which runs through picturesque rural countryside. We pass the celebrated Newbury Racecourse before making our final stop for passengers at Newbury station. We continue westwards, travelling beside the tranquil Kennet & Avon Canal, and climbing steadily to Savernake Summit. We pass through the Vale of Pewsey, with views of one of the famous Wiltshire White Horses as we approach Westbury and continue through undulating agricultural countryside to Taunton.

Soon after leaving Taunton, we arrive at Norton Fitzwarren, where we transfer to the West Somerset Railway (WSR), the longest Heritage Railway in the country. We continue through to Bishops Lydeard, and on  to Minehead. The WSR runs along the edge of the Quantock Hills between Bishops Lydeard and Watchet where it meets the coast. The line then turns inland to Washford and returns to the coast at Blue Anchor, passing near to Dunster with its magnificent castle, and terminating at Minehead.

On arrival at Minehead, there will be about two hours to explore this delightful Bristol Channel seaside resort, where the railway station is close to the beach. We leave  Minehead around early afternoon to Bishops Lydeard, before continuing our journey to London Paddington. The train will stop at Newbury, Reading and Slough to set down passengers.

Updated 13/07/26

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