access to the private siding of the British Cellophane Company siding. Initially shunted by little 0-4-0ST steam locomotives, from 1969 it was home to ex-British Rail Class 03 diesel locomotive D2133. The siding was in use for nearly 70 years but has now been disconnected. Following the nationalisation of the railways in 1948 stations in many towns were renamed to avoid confusion, and this station became Bridgwater Central on 26 September 1949 for a few years to distinguish it from "Bridgwater North", the former Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway terminus. The engine shed closed in July 1960, following which shunting locomotives were brought up from Taunton as required. Goods traffic at the station was withdrawn from November 1965 and, following the closure of the docks branch and Dunball Wharf in 1967, the goods yard was rationalised. Most of the sidings that served the former carriage works at the south end of the station were taken out of use by 1969. The station forecourt was refurbished in 2019 at a cost of £1.2m. This work included a new bus stop but bus operators and rail replacement services cannot use it as it is only suitable for vehicles up to . Description The station buildings have survived and are kept in reasonable repair. The booking office, although modernised, retains a rare early ticket counter. The main entrance is on the town side of the station and the platform served by trains towards Bristol. Access to the platform for trains towards Taunton is by a footbridge. To the north of the platforms is the goods yard on the west side of the line. The only regular goods trains to call are the Direct Rail Services trains that collect nuclear waste from Hinkley Point nuclear power station. The loading facilities for these nuclear flasks are in a secure compound on the stub of the old docks branch line. Another siding serves a warehouse but this has seen no traffic in recent years. Services The station and all passenger services are operated by Great Western Railway. The basic weekday service pattern comprises one train in each direction each hour, most of which operate to and from and , but with fewer services on Sundays. Some additional services call during weekday peak times and more sporadically at the weekend, including to/from . Most through trains terminate at nearby Taunton, with some services extending to destinations further