Several Somerset MPs have urged the government to increase rail investment in the south west as nationalisation slowly creeps closer.

The Railways Bill, which is currently working its way through the House of Commons, will bring Britain's railways back into public ownership, with the various privately-run franchises reverting to the government as they expire.

As well as creating 'Great British Railways', the Bill aims to simplify and modernise ticketing, encouraging more people to use the railways in light of the fare freeze which chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves MP included in her recent budget.

Several Liberal Democrat MPs in Somerset have welcomed the Bill but have urged the government to invest further in rural rail services, to ensure the south west sees the full benefit of these sweeping changes.

Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke told the House of Commons on Tuesday afternoon (December 9) that more investment was needed to prevent "transport deserts", citing the ongoing campaign to restore rail services to the Langport and Somerton area in her own constituency.

A recent report by the Campaign for Better Transport found that 14 out of 23 Somerset towns surveyed no longer had adequate access to public transport – leaving more individuals reliant on the private car, increasing isolation and potentially harming rural productivity.

Ms Dyke said: "My constituency is home to only two railway stations: Templecombe in the south and Castle Cary in the east. That means that many towns and villages are left unconnected to the two railway lines that run through the constituency.

"Langport had two railway stations, while Somerton had its own station until the Beeching cuts, but like many rural towns they have simply lost connectivity.

"Glastonbury and Street, the two largest settlements in the constituency, are both completely unconnected to the railway. There is not even a direct or integrated bus service available from Glastonbury to connect to the railway station.

"The Railways Bill must not just manage decline; it must also restore connectivity and patronage."

The Langport Transport Group submitted an outline business case for a new railway station to the Department for Transport (DfT) in February 2022, as part of the then-Conservative government's restoring your railway fund.

Following the fund's cancellation in late-July 2024, the group has held "productive conversations" with Somerset Council about how the project may be taken forward as part of a wider set of improvements, tying into the authority's Local Transport Plan.

Ms Dyke continued: "More and more planning applications are being approved in south Somerset, so it is essential that Great British Railways can expand the rail network to accommodate future growth and ensure that rural communities are not left behind.

"I am pleased that Lib Dem-run Somerset council has committed to developing further plans to make the case for a new station in the Somerton and Langport area, as well as improving access and integration with the existing network.

"However, the long-term rail strategy could include a network expansion plan that covers an increased extent of the network, and new and upgraded stations should align with local transport and growth plans."

Yeovil MP Adam Dance urged the government to provide further funding to make all rural railway stations accessible, having fought for a new lift to be installed at Yeovil Junction station within his own constituency.

He said: "Too many rural railway stations are not accessible for disabled people.

"Without support staff, constituents in Yeovil have had serious accidents at railway stations.

"Although the government's accessibility priorities, which we are debating today, are welcome, we need a strengthened 'access for all' programme."

Taunton and Wellington MP Gideon Amos welcomed the government's decision to freeze rail fares but said he "remained to be convinced" that the Bill would truly deliver for rural areas.

He said: "After increasing rail fares by almost five per cent last year, it is very welcome that the government has frozen fares – something that my party has been asking for over the last seven years.

"That is really positive, as is the government's investment in the new station at Wellington in my constituency – they deserve credit for that investment.

"However, I am concerned about the provisions in the Bill that potentially make open access a lot more difficult. Go-op rail wants to open a route from Taunton through to Wiltshire, which would be very important.

"We also want to see opportunities for future investment in railways, including reopening lines.

"There is a heritage line from Taunton to Minehead that should ultimately be provided with a proper rail service. If it were, the West Somerset Railway would become an open access railway on the same line.

"What is important to most of my constituents is not just seeing a new station like Wellington, but seeing a reduction in fares and an improvement in reliability."