A REPORT progressing the progress towards potentially re-opening a railway station in Wellington is going to councillors today (Wednesday, March 16).

Members of Somerset West and Taunton Council are being asked to back the "project governance arrangements" for the next phase of the Wellington and Cullompton Railway Station Project.

The end product of the exercise, aimed at establishing "clear line of decision-making and reporting", will be a final business case for the two stations.

The Department for Transport and interested parties have now agreed that Network Rail will lead on the initiative.

The report to SWT councillors says: "The intention of the project is to restore rail access to Wellington and Cullompton.

"It is considered that this can be part of a more general enhancement to the rail service between Bristol and Exeter.

"A key driver for delivering these projects is that both areas are subject to major housing expansion and regeneration activity, along with being proximate to other significant planned growth."

It is hoped Wellington Station could re-open at some stage prior to 2028, possibly in 2026, "bringing wider sustainability benefits and representing the aspiration of the community".

A number of studies have been undertaken so far to support the development of the project, including a strategic outline business case produced by SWT and Mid Devon Council in January last year.

A Government grant of £5million to be administered by Network Rail will enable the next two stages of project development and design to progress.

The report says: "Network Rail has committed to working collaboratively with the promoters to ensure wider land use, access, master planning and community issues can be looked at holistically.

"The proposed governance structure seeks to continue some aspects of the current arrangements, but importantly it also looks to adapt to Network Rail’s new role in leading the project from this moment forward.

"This proposal is considered to provide an appropriate basis for robust decision-making and project co-ordination to take the project through the next stages of its development."

It adds that re-opening the two train stations would "encourage wealth creation and economic activity through improved connectivity".

Both stations were closed in the 1964 Beeching Cuts, which saw rail networks across the UK dramatically scaled back.

If approved, the new stations would be built on the mainline between Exeter St Davids and Bristol Temple Meads.