GREAT Western Railway, which operates services across Somerset and the southwest - including Taunton station - has been named best UK domestic train service at the Business Traveller Awards 2024.

GWR ranked above LNER, Avanti West Coast, and the Elizabeth London Underground line at the awards, which are widely regarded as the business travel market’s benchmark for excellence.

More than 200 industry leaders attended an awards ceremony at The Steel Yard, London, presented by BBC Breakfast star Ben Thompson.

“It’s fantastic to be named the UK’s Best Domestic Train Service and particularly humbling that these awards are voted for by readers of the magazine, who are regular travellers on the UK rail network," GWR managing director, Mark Hopwood, said. “This award is recognition of the hard work and commitment shown by colleagues to deliver the best service possible for customers, and also the world-class destinations we are proud to serve on the GWR network.”

The awards are voted for by readers of the Business Traveller magazine – with the results authenticated by an independent market research company – and have been a fixture of the business travel and hospitality calendar for almost 40 years.

“So much has happened in the last year as travel providers continuously up their game, and our readers are a tough crowd to impress, so these results really do reflect the best of the best," said Business Traveller editor, Tamsin Cocks.