Frustrated with a lack of solutions, but encouraged by the amount of support shown to reopen the mothballed railway line from Radstock to Frome, a group of qualified enthusiasts with experience in bringing back heritage rail have teamed up together to form the Somer-Rail Trust – and are asking for those who have an interest in seeing trains run from the town once more, as part of its redevelopment, to join them in their positive campaign.

The Somer-Rail Trust is now a registered company and in the process of becoming a registered charity. At the first meeting of the three founder Trustees, Doug Hill was elected as Chairman. He has a wide range of railway experience, having worked on main line railways for 21 years, beginning his career building steam engines in Swindon in 1943. He was also the General Manager of the West Somerset Railway before retirement and held the position of Chairman of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway Company in Midsomer Norton.

Honorary Alderman and retired local Councillor, Shirley Steel, has been elected as Secretary. A lifelong supporter of railways in the area, one of her major achievements was helping to secure the Midsomer Norton South Station site for the Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust and is a founding member and trustee. She has also brought in around £250,000 in grant applications for the Midsomer Norton site, which has a dedicated group of volunteers, who have made the station a popular attraction for local people and visitors alike. Shirley was recently awarded a British Empire Medal for her services to the local community and charitable work.

Terry Harris, from Paulton, has been elected as Membership Secretary. He says: "This railway has been an interest of mine for many years and after all this time left derelict, I am eager to see its reinstatement. It is intact, apart from one section, all the way from Radstock to Frome and I believe the line has a great future ahead of it and wish to see this vision realised."

In a statement on its website, the group says: 'We believe the timing is right to kick-start this project and that there is support locally, nationally and from the NRR Company for it to happen. Radstock is a town with a fine industrial heritage, our focus is to celebrate the past and embrace the future. Although there will be many challenges to overcome, nothing is insurmountable and the railway can be reopened.

'The people of Radstock have become disillusioned with the lack of progress to secure the town's regeneration. We are of the firm belief that we can secure a base for the railway within area three of the Radstock railway land.

'It is not the perfect solution, but if it is all we can get, we may as well make the best of it.

'The big challenge to overcome is to convince the people of Radstock that we are a creditable organisation and have their best interests at heart, that what we are able to offer to the community is a positive step forward and thus gain their trust and support.'

The trustees have already had a 'constructive and positive' meeting with Cate Le Grice-Mack, Chair of the Norton Radstock Regeneration Company, discussing the group's plans, which would aim to reinstate a passenger service eventually, keeping the current cyclepath alongside, with a new station and signal box built and the engine shed redeveloped to accommodate a family restaurant, rail museum, section for storing and maintaining rolling stock and a secure bike shed for visitors to leave their bikes whilst stopping in the town. The line would first of all run diesel engines, with the big dream being, one day, steam.

The Somer-Rail Trust are due to meet with the NRR Board in August to present a detailed business plan and are calling on the support of local people to really get behind them and make something happen. For things to begin moving, the group must convince the rest of the Directors that it is a good idea.

"We know that this project will be hard to start with," says Chair of the Somer-Rail Trust, Doug Hill, who, fourteen years ago submitted a business plan on reinstating rail in Radstock, which was accepted by B&NES Council. "But I honestly believe this is not impossible – Radstock had twenty times as good a chance as Midsomer Norton, which didn't even have any track, but got on and did something. Radstock fell away. It was such a shame, the town had a wonderful chance. We want to give it that chance."

The group needs to gain around 150 members to add momentum to their plans. Word is spreading and the Trust has already seen people across the country pledging their support. For details, visit: http://www.somer-rail.co.uk">www.somer-rail.co.uk There is also a Facebook page which can be found by searching Somer-Rail: Radstock-Frome Rail Project, which already has 260 members.