- Must visit
Museum of Somerset
The county museum inside Taunton Castle, covering Somerset archaeology, local history, folklore and art in a compact central setting.
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Reading to Taunton among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of £46 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 1h 55m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of £46, while a coach costs an average of £61.
Distance: 156 km
Most popular Train | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£46 Average Price Cheapest | £61 Average Price | £30 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 55m Average total duration Fastest 1h 25m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 25m Average total duration 6h 55m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 18m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.2 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Reading to Taunton:
A train is £16 less than a coach for this route with tickets for a coach from Reading to Taunton costing on average £61.
Other travel options to Taunton take longer:
Coach takes on average 6h 55m.
You'll arrive about 53m sooner (1h 25m by train vs 2h 18m by car). Tickets start at around £46 compared to roughly £30 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Direct services run with Great Western Railway (GWR).
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Reading to Taunton trains for today, Thursday 17 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 10:01 Reading | 1h35 | 11:36 Taunton | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and coach prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Reading to Taunton run on average 7 times per day, taking around 1h 25m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £44 if you book in advance.
There are 6 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:49, the last at 22:28. The fastest train covers the 156 km distance in 1h 35m.
Distance 156 km |
Average train duration 1h 25m |
Cheapest ticket price £44 |
Trains per day 7 |
Direct trains 6 |
Fastest train 1h 35m |
First train 0:49 |
Last train 22:28 |
Cheapest Month Apr |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Thu |
Best time to book 35 days |
Discover the best of Taunton — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Taunton trip today.
The county museum inside Taunton Castle, covering Somerset archaeology, local history, folklore and art in a compact central setting.
A military museum exploring the Somerset Light Infantry, with uniforms, medals and stories linking the county to wider conflicts.
An arts venue presenting contemporary exhibitions, craft and performances, useful for seeing current creative work in Taunton.
A large riverside park with formal gardens, play areas, seasonal flower displays and broad paths for an easy town-centre walk.
A waterside walking and cycling route along the canal, popular for gentle strolls, boats, wildlife and views near the town.
A pleasant riverside and parkland area beside the Tone, offering open green space, paths and a relaxed local atmosphere.
A rich, deeply spiced fruit loaf from Somerset, packed with dried fruit and often served sliced with butter. It is a county classic long linked with local baking traditions.
A traditional Somerset afternoon tea bread made with strong black tea, dried fruit and spice. It is a homely regional favourite, especially served buttered.
Cheddar made in Somerset is one of England’s most famous cheeses. Traditional versions are prized for their firm texture and rich, tangy flavour.
Historic town-centre pub known for classic British dishes, Sunday roasts and local ales in a traditional, relaxed setting.
Well-known riverside restaurant and bar with varied British and European dishes, cocktails and an upbeat social atmosphere.
Popular gastropub serving modern British cooking, steaks and seasonal plates in a smart but comfortable atmosphere.
Moderate for England: hotels and dining are cheaper than London, but rail fares and central stays can still raise visitor costs.
Service charge is uncommon in Taunton. Tip restaurants 10% for good service, round up taxi fares, and tipping in cafés is optional.
Official public transport app
Taunton Rail Station -> Taunton Town Centre
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Reading to Taunton by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Taunton, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Reading to Taunton trains use the Reading to Taunton station pair. Use this guide to compare Reading and Taunton train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Reading has practical services for this route, including Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental and Car Rental.
Food and drink options are available at Reading.
ATMs are available at Reading.
Ticket office support is available at Reading.
Available at Reading: Parking, WC.
Available at Reading: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Reading: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: platforms can be reached via lift and bridge, ticket office is step free, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users may require assistance using car park equipment at this station, Accessible public telephones: Accessible low-level Pay Phone is available at the station main concourse. Please request staff assistance if you need to, Accessible taxis: Accessible taxi are available at the station entrance. please request staff assistance if you need to, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible ticket machines note: Accessible ticket machines are located at the station entrance by the ticket office and at the car park, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Reading West is 1 km from Reading city centre. Public transport options include:
Reading West has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, Accessibility, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office and Bike Parking.
Food and drink options are available at Reading West.
Ticket office support is available at Reading West.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Reading West: Parking.
Available at Reading West: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Reading West: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access note: Step Free Category B3 - This station has a degree of step free access but only to Platform 1 and only if accessed via Tilehurst Road. Otherwise this station can be classified as Category C. Safety warning - Please be aware that this station has no tactile paving on the platform edge. Please take extra care when using this station, Accessible taxis: Accessible taxis are available. Please request staff assistance, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Ramp for train access: No, Wheelchairs available: No, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Taunton has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Car Rental.
Food and drink options are available at Taunton.
Wi-Fi is available at Taunton. ATMs are available at Taunton.
Ticket office support is available at Taunton.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Taunton: Parking, WC.
Available at Taunton: Bike Parking, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Taunton: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Step Free Category A Station - This station has step free access to all platforms via subway and the lifts, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users can use car park equipment at this station unaided, Accessible public telephones: Please request staff assistance. No public phones are accessible, Accessible taxis: Accessible taxis are available. Please request staff assistance, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible ticket machines note: Accessible ticket machines are located at the station entrance by the ticket office, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
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