Wiltshire and Somerset could have a new dedicated train service next year
It will run between Swindon and Somerset.
A new train company is hoping to open up the south west and even the south coasts to rail passengers from Swindon and Wiltshire.
Go-Op trains, a co-operative based in Taunton in Somerset wants to run trains from Swindon down through Wiltshire taking in Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, and Westbury all the way to Weston Super Mare and Taunton and Bishops Lydeard.
It could even hook up with the heritage - West Somerset Railway at the end of its route – allowing leisure passengers access to Minehead.
But the company says the plan will be for all travellers, commuters as well as those travelling for leisure.
Operations director Alex Lawrie said: “For Swindon travellers it’s very easy to get east and west, and from that mainline to get services north. But the connections to the south west are not very good.
“This route will be designed to help people get to and from Swindon from the south west much more easily.
“The route from Taunton to Swindon could be one of the main rail corridors for the west; at present the poor services and connections mean that there is only one viable trip southbound on this route but our services increase that to six.
“It will also be much better for rail travellers in the rest of Wiltshire, especially Melksham and Trowbridge, and if they’re traveling to Swindon now, then services are irregular.
“Journeys that were previously very difficult or impossible by rail, such as Frome to Chippenham, should now become practical. In years to come we hope to ensure at least one train very two hours for each of these.
“We hope we’ll be able to help open up rail links to the south costa and to Southampton as well and make that much more attractive to go by rail.”
The company hopes to be operating by the middle of 2022.
It has come up with a timetable with three services a day to Swindon, initially – the company said: “At first we can only introduce three direct services to Swindon, due to high levels of congestion beyond Westbury. However, we will also operate a further three services to Frome or Westbury, with the aim of connecting with services to Swindon already on the timetable. This greatly enhances the connectivity of the network in the west country, giving hundreds of thousands of people a real alternative to car travel.”
The company is in talks with Network Rail and then will have to have its plans approved by the Office of Rail and Road – but Mr Lawrie said: “Network Rail has to make sure this works for everybody, and we have to demonstrate at least a third of our passengers will be new rail travellers, not just coming from other providers. If Network Rail is happy the regulator needs to approve, though in practice they do nearly every time that Network Rail does.”
Network Rail said: “Go-Op has been engaged with Network Rail for some years now, most recently asking their train planners to assess whether capacity existed in the timetable for GO-OP’s additional services. Further work, including performance analysis and evidence of rolling stock suitability, will be needed before Network Rail can decide whether the planned track access application can secure their support.”