Bruton  | |||||
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| General information | |||||
| Location | Bruton,Somerset England | ||||
| Coordinates | 51°06′42″N2°26′50″W / 51.11170°N 2.44732°W /51.11170; -2.44732 | ||||
| Grid reference | ST687347 | ||||
| Managed by | Great Western Railway | ||||
| Platforms | 2 | ||||
| Other information | |||||
| Station code | BRU | ||||
| Classification | DfT category F1 | ||||
| History | |||||
| Original company | Great Western Railway | ||||
| Key dates | |||||
| 1856 | Opened | ||||
| Passengers | |||||
| 2020/21 |  12,308 | ||||
| 2021/22 |  40,688 | ||||
| 2022/23 | 46,238 | ||||
| 2023/24 | 51,030 | ||||
| 2024/25 | 53,002 | ||||
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Bruton railway station serves a largely rural area in the county ofSomerset in England. The station is situated in the market town ofBruton. The station is on theBristol to Weymouth line some 32.75 miles (53 km) south ofBath Spa. Trains on theReading to Taunton line pass through the station but do not normally stop. Services are operated byGreat Western Railway (who also manage the station) andSouth Western Railway.[1]
The station was opened by theGreat Western Railway on 1 September 1856 on itsWilts, Somerset and Weymouth main line. At that time this was just a single track but a loop was provided at Bruton to allow trains to pass. Stone buildings were erected on both platforms, and a footbridge linked the platforms from 1895. Asignal box was provided from 1877 at the west end of the station.[2]
The goods yard, which was on the north side of the line opposite the signal box, was closed on 5 April 1965 and the station was downgraded to an unstaffed halt from 6 October 1969 under theWestern Region of British Railways.
W. Wilcox for six years in charge of the goods department at Warminster is reported as being appointed stationmaster in 1888;[11] however, Arthur Dagg is still recorded as stationmaster in the GWR Register of Clerks in 1890 and in the 1891 census.
The station has two platforms with a modern glass-and-metal waiting shelter on each. A footbridge enables passengers to cross the line. There is no wheelchair access to the far platform (for trains arriving from Bristol and going to Weymouth). The station has a bike rack and help points.
The cutting in which the railway is built is aSite of Special Scientific Interest as one of the best places in England to demonstrate the stratigraphic distinction ofammonites in the subcontractus zone and the morrisi zone.[12]
Great Western Railway operates eight trains each way on the Bristol to Weymouth line during the week and five on Sundays. It is not a regular service; there are some gaps of up to three hours between trains. To the north services run to and fromBath Spa andBristol Temple Meads viaWestbury. Most are extended beyond Bristol to and fromGloucester. To the south trains run toYeovil Pen Mill andWeymouth.[13]
Additionally, there are services provided bySouth Western Railway that operate betweenYeovil Junction andLondon Waterloo, although these are relatively slow due to taking an indirect route towards London, reversing atWestbury and travelling viaSalisbury and theWest of England Main Line.[14] A faster and more frequent service to London is available at bothCastle Cary and Westbury on the same route, from where Great Western Railway operates trains betweenLondon Paddington andExeter St Davids. These trains pass Bruton, but do not stop.
| Preceding station |  National Rail | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Cary | Great Western Railway Heart of Wessex Line | Frome | ||
| Castle Cary | South Western Railway Heart of Wessex Line | Frome | ||
Media related toBruton railway station at Wikimedia Commons
