The rail regulator has given approval for a new service linking Swindon, Weston-super-Mare and Taunton via Melksham, in competition with GWR.
For more than ten years, Go-op has been looking to start a service in the mid west with various terminal points. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has consulted with other industry partners and has agreed to offer them a contract subject to assurances on the provision of rolling stock and raising the finance for the necessary improvements to a number of level crossings on the route.
Go-op hopes to start services in 12 months’ time and have permission to run 11 return journeys each weekday over all or part of the route between Taunton and Swindon with eight return trips at weekends. Between Swindon and Westbury they would share space on the single line through Melksham with GWR, who opposed the application over concerns about capacity and revenue abstraction. Go-op were also unable to agree track access with Network Rail but the ORR has over-ruled these concerns subject to the level crossing improvements and some minor timetable changes.
The group plans to use single carriage class 153 units – which were used on the Swindon to Westbury service when it was first enhanced in December 2013. Maintenance would be carried out at a new facility at Thingley Junction near Chippenham.
TransWilts Chair, Paddy Bradley, has welcomed the news saying: “I look forward to working with the company and entering into future discussions. It is good to see new travel opportunities being offered to people in Wiltshire and TransWilts hopes to receive more details in due course.”