... all of which are probably the reasons Shiona Rolfe, Managing Director of Cross Country Trains, was rather 'hedging her bets' on the possibility of Cross Country trains stopping at Bridgwater.

I was unfortunately not able to attend the TravelWatch SouthWest meeting in Taunton on Friday 9 October 2026, but I understand that is where the discussion originated.

CfN.

 
The up platform is 153m and the down 198m long.
You are limiting train length for multiple formations between Taunton and Bristol by stopping at Bridgwater with carriages being locked out of use after Bristol and from Plymouth.

4 car Class 221 = 95.04m
4 car Class 220 = 93.34m

And XC are severely overcrowded as it is without adding more potential traffic.

 
Stopping in Bridgwater, generally, requires serious consideration.

 
If they can book split tickets then yes, it's the same method to pick your seats

 
Love your use of the word "just".   Joe Public test - would your neighbour's mum be able easily do this?

 

I agree with your report =- however, this has sort of been dealt with. You can now choose your seat for reservation on the XC app (at least, maybe on their website too?), so you just locate am available seat for each ticket & then book & reserve.

 
The "Crosscountry at Bridgwater" issue arose as a result of a question from the floor I think.

 
To expand on grahame’s comments, Daniel Mumby (local democracy reporter) was sat at the back of the meeting for part of the day, presumably on the lookout for any interesting stories that might emerge. I don’t remember having a reporter present before. It’s good to see this getting coverage, and also good publicity for the work that Travelwatch Southwest do!

 
This is a report on Ms Rolfe's comments at TravelWatch SouthWest.  And I and a couple of others here heard the words directly, within a great deal else that was said.  Bridgwater is certainly on the radar of Cross Country's MD, with its growth and growth in the area - and that's no bad thing.  However, I feel there's a big push needed to press the case if it's to happen, with issues likes line (and train) capacity, timetable slowing and robustness to be addressed, and whether those are actual or phantom problems. Then the issue of who's choice is it anyway, with Cross County's nationalisation coming closer to the extent that the parent company - who's shareholders are supposedly a primary concern - will see nothing of the cost or benefit because of industry timescales. An action void in some ways that's only broken if all parties are on board.

Shiona was also asked about sky high long distance fares, people splitting tickets and then having to change seats along the way, and whether this was / is something she might address.   She was much less positive about this than about Bridgwater, suggesting that it's not within her scope to do anything about it (hope I got that right). Part of a national system.  Which is all very well until you ask things like "why are Groupsaves NOT allowed on Cross Country" which looks to me very much like a fare differentiation between the TOCs.    Fares were brushed off, Bridgwater was at least given lip service.  And I should add that there were positives on other topics - such as adding in extra units that have been sitting idle to reduce overcrowding, and we have seen an announcement on that since the TWSW meeting.

 

Thanks for posting, johnneyw: I have moved your topic to our 'Cross Country services' board, as it is more a possible offer from Cross Country than a 'campaign for a new service'.

 
Somerset Live report on a meeting in Taunton where XC say that they will "seriously consider* adding stops at Bridgwater to their west country service.  They also state that this is not guaranteed.  PR job or genuine intention?
Here's a link to the article.

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/crosscountry-seriously-consider-bridgwater-stop-11206856.amp


Mods, feel free to move this post if there is a better location.