A NEW book calls for the return of modern through trains to Minehead, after the line fell victim to the Beeching Axe in 1971.

The Great Railway Conspiracy by David Henshaw explores the influence of British Railways Board chairman Dr Richard Beeching’s pivotal 1963 report, The Reshaping of British Railways.

The infamous ‘Beeching Report’ suggested a third of all 7,000 stations in the country should close and that passenger services should be cut from thousands of miles of track, including the line linking Taunton and Minehead.

The new book examines the Beeching legacy and how many axed lines are now successfully reopening, as well as analysing the top 30 potential rail reopenings inthe country – including the Minehead line.

Mr Henshaw, editor of A to B and Miniature Railway magazines, said: “Reconnecting Minehead to the national network would transform the railway into a genuine commuter route to Taunton and Bristol, as well as bringing visitors direct to Minehead, while cutting traffic congestion on the A39 in the process.

“The West Somerset Railway has done a great job of running this as a heritage line but unlike many other heritage lines the Minehead-Taunton route is already connected with the national rail network.

“Even if a summer-only service was offered, this is the perfect opportunity to get Minehead back onto the modern rail map.”

Paul Conibeare, general manager of West Somerset Railway, is hopeful ongoing talks with train operators could enable a viable link to open in the future.

He said: “We have had meetings with First Great Western about the possibility of mainline trains continuing from Taunton to Bishops Lydeard.

“There is a mainline link which is used for freight already, so the infrastructure is in place, but it would need to be viable and sustainable.

“We would not look at running our steam trains to Taunton but to have mainline trains come to us and connect to what is already a very successful tourist attraction.”