Plans to restore a regular direct service between Bristol Temple Meads and Oxford via Chippenham and Swindon have been given a boost by Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy.
He has thrown in his support to restore the service which last ran in the early 2000s. There is currently a trial train running on Saturdays in the winter which allows people to get to Oxford without changing at Didcot Parkway. GWR are advancing plans to run a two hourly service on weekdays initially with aspirations to turn it into hourly.
This comes as welcome news for campaigners looking to establish a new station at Corsham. Timetabling constraints preclude the existing services between London and Bristol calling there but this new service would be an ideal candidate.
TransWilts Chair Paddy Bradley commented “Making journeys to Oxford from Wiltshire easier will be a benefit for many. It will also open up better connections to the Midlands and the North without the need to travel via Reading or London. In the future it will also act as a gateway to East-West Rail.”
Corsham is one project TW is currently supporting. In addition it has been working with stakeholders to improve the frequency on the Swindon to Westbury service via Melksham, a new station at Devizes Parkway and a better service to London from Pewsey and Bedwyn.