Transport in Somerset

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Transport in Somerset has always been shaped by its landscape and history. In ancient times people built wooden trackways across the Somerset Levels, a low, marshy area in the county. The oldest known timber trackway is the Sweet Track, dating to about 3806 BCE. It crossed the Levels from an island at Westhay to the Polden Hills at Shapwick. Over time more tracks appeared, and later people used pack horse routes on higher ground to move people and goods. Some of these old routes still exist today as bridleways and public footpaths.

When the Romans came they built straight, well-drained roads to connect forts and speed up troop movement. One of the most important was the Fosse Way, running from Lincoln to Exeter and crossing Somerset. The rivers and harbours also played a big part in transport. The Bristol Channel and rivers like the Avon were used to move goods and people, and towns grew at river crossings. In Bath, hot springs helped the town become a notable transport hub in its own right.

After the Romans, roads continued to evolve. By the 18th century, turnpike trusts built better roads and charged tolls to fund maintenance. This helped speed up travel; for example, mail coaches cut journey times from Taunton to London. Coaching inns, such as the George Inn at Norton St Philip, provided food, drink and overnight stays for travelers. In the 19th century, the spread of roads with tarmacadam and new bridges improved cross-country travel even more.

Waterways also played a major role. Early harbours existed at river mouths such as Uphill and Combwich, and the Parrett was used to move Hamstone from Ham Hill to other parts of the county. The Port of Bridgwater was created in the mid-14th century and became a busy point for ships and barges, with quays built in the 15th and 16th centuries. Canals were built to link towns and speed up trade, including the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal and other short connections. Steam ships began visiting the Bristol Channel in the 1820s, and piers at Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon gave ships more places to land for over a century.

Railways changed Somerset again in the 19th century. The Great Western Railway and the Bristol and Exeter Railway, both led by Brunel, opened lines into the county and used broad gauge for a time. The conversion to standard gauge was completed by 1892. The railway network grew with lines to Weston-super-Mare, Taunton, Yeovil, Wells and many other towns, and it connected with other systems across the country. The late 19th and early 20th centuries also saw light railways and stagecoaches giving way to cars and buses.

In the 20th century, many branch lines were closed as road transport and car use rose. Railways were nationalised in 1948, and a wave of closures followed in the 1960s. Some old lines were kept as heritage railways, like the West Somerset Railway, which runs steam and diesel trains on a section between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard. There are also moves to reopen lines in the future, such as plans to reconnect Portishead with the national rail network.

Trams and buses were once common in Somerset towns. Bath had a horse-drawn tramway that later became electric, Taunton had a short-lived tramway, and Weston-super-Mare ran trams in the early 1900s before converting to buses. Since then, buses have become the main form of public transport in many parts of the county. Today a mix of operators serves Somerset, including First West of England and The Buses of Somerset in different areas, along with other companies. There are park-and-ride schemes that help people reach town centres, and councils continue to subsidise many bus services.

Somerset has 6,531 kilometres of roads, including the M5 motorway which runs north–south through the county. Other major routes include the M4 nearby and the A37, A38 and A370. Rail travel is largely provided by Great Western Railway, with some services from CrossCountry and South Western Railway. The busiest train stations are Bath Spa, Taunton and Weston-super-Mare; Yeovil Junction is busy in the south of the county. There are also rail heritage options, such as the West Somerset Railway, which runs special trains on a limited schedule.

The coast hosts two main ports: the Royal Portbury Dock nearPortishead and the Port of Bridgwater. The River Parrett and its estuary support a range of activities, including freight and occasional passenger services. Inland, the Kennet and Avon Canal ends at Bath, while the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal links Bridgwater with the River Tone to Taunton. The maximum size of vessels on these canals varies by section, but the waterways still provide opportunities for leisure boating today.

Somerset also has an international airport at Bristol, plus several private airstrips. The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance operates from Henstridge Airfield, used for emergency medical flights.

Looking ahead, there are ideas to improve transport by reintroducing some rail links and creating new connections. Taunton could get a light rail network using existing tracks, and there is ongoing work to reopen the Portishead line to connect with Bristol. A charity, the New Somerset and Dorset Railway, was set up to help make these kinds of projects happen.

In short, Somerset’s transport has moved from ancient timber tracks and river routes to modern roads, railways, and airports, with ongoing plans to bring back and improve rail links. The county continues to balance car use with buses, cycling and walking routes, and aims to keep its transport network connected and efficient for residents and visitors alike.