Shepton Mallet set for new Castle Cary bus link

By Laura Linham 8th Apr 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 8th Apr 2026

Shepton Mallet could soon find itself on a brand new bus route to Castle Cary railway station, with Somerset Council saying a long-discussed trial could begin within weeks.

The proposed service would run from Glastonbury through Pilton and Shepton Mallet to Castle Cary, creating a direct public transport link to one of Somerset's key rail hubs. The council says it is now checking new rail timetables before finalising the plan.

For Shepton Mallet, the route could be a significant boost. Castle Cary serves more than 354,000 passengers a year, yet many people across rural Somerset still have little choice but to drive because of weak bus connections.

The scheme has been pushed by Glastonbury TrainLink, which submitted a £150,000 bid through the Somerset Bus Partnership to cover at least six months of operation.

Speaking at Somerset Council's executive committee meeting in Taunton on Wednesday, 1 April, trustee Nick Hall said years of work had gone into shaping the plan. He said the group had gathered evidence on the preferred route, journey times and likely demand, with more than 1,050 people responding to its latest survey.

Mr Hall said the service needed to be direct, regular and lined up with popular train times, operating from early morning until late evening, seven days a week.

That matters for Shepton Mallet because the town would become part of a potentially important rail feeder route, opening up easier access to the wider network for commuters, day-trippers and visitors.

Somerset Council confirmed in mid-March that the bus could be introduced on a trial basis through its local transport delivery plan. Councillor Richard Wilkins said officers are now working through the options and studying the new Great Western Railway timetable, which changes in May, to make sure connections are practical.

He said the council would be in touch with Glastonbury TrainLink once that work was finished, stressing there was no point introducing a bus that did not properly meet trains.

The trial is part of a wider package worth more than £3.4 million from the Department for Transport. As well as the new route, the funding will support Sunday services on four existing routes and extra evening journeys on eight commercial services from Monday to Saturday.

Council leader Bill Revans also floated the idea of extending the route towards Street, suggesting Clarks Village could potentially help make the service viable in the longer term.