Taunton Express Lounge

Taunton Railway Station was opened on 1^st July 1842 as part of the Bristol and Exeter Railway and is an original GWR station.

Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the station was originally single sided with two platforms, each with their own buildings and train sheds. A hotel was also built. Having both platforms on the town side of the line was meant to help passengers but was found to be problematic as the railway became busier, with each train having to cross the line used by trains in the opposite direction.

During the next 30 years a series of branches opened in the area to run through Taunton to provide connections. However, Taunton station was unable to cope with all the extra trains and passengers, so a major rebuild got underway and was completed on 17^th August 1868.

The platforms were further extended in 1895 making them the longest platforms on the Great Western Railway.

In the 1930’s the lines through Taunton were widened from two to four tracks, which forced another rebuilding of the station.

Today the original “down station” building survives, along with the hotel and the extensions added in 1868. The ticket office was moved back to the south side of the station in 2021 to improve passenger facilities and make easier links to the town centre.

November 2024 sees Centenary Lounge arrive at Taunton station with our 1930’s GWR themed café serving hot and cold refreshments to passengers and locals.