AN improved rail service, increasing the number of trains from Westbury to Swindon (via Trowbridge, Melksham, and Chippenham) will start this month.
First Great Western’s draft timetable has an additional six trains a day in each direction Monday to Saturday – meaning there will be one train approximately every two hours, including early morning and evening services in both directions.
There will also be an additional four trains on Sundays throughout the year, with at least one seasonal service connecting with the existing Westbury to Weymouth service in each direction.
The first train of the improved service on the TransWilts line will set off on Sunday 8th December.
Graham Ellis, of the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership, says the new direct trains will save passengers time and also offer more links to London.
He explained, “There will be four times the number of trains running direct from Westbury to Swindon, serving Trowbridge, Melksham and Chippenham along the way.
“At present, the only direct day return opportunity to Swindon leaves Westbury at 07:04, and doesn’t get back until 19:32.
“But with morning departures at 07:04, 07:28, 09:48 and 11:47, and return afternoon / evening services from Swindon at 12:47, 15:14, 17:36, 18:50 and 20:12, this single day return opportunity rises to 20 different sets of timings.
“Timings differ on Saturdays, with trains from Westbury at 07:32, 08:22, 09:32 and 11:32, and six afternoon and evening trains back – allowing for a day’s shopping, football, or perhaps a trip to Steam – the Museum of the Great Western Railway, the Museum of Computing and other Swindon attractions.
“And there are trains from 10:30 on Sundays too.
“The direct trains will reduce journey times by 20 to 25 minutes each way, saving daily commuters around 150 hours per year. With a change of trains at Swindon, the new services also plug some of the longer gaps in the train services between Westbury and London – for example the new 11:47 takes only 3 minutes longer to London than the following direct train at 13:06.”
Timetables leaflets for the new service are available at Westbury station. Online, visit First Great Western’s website at http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk, the Connecting Wiltshire website for wider information about integrated walking, cycling, bus and train connected journeys at http://www.connectingwiltshire.co.uk, or the TransWilts Community Rail Partership’s website at http://www.twcrp.org.uk which brings together information and links about the service and how you can use and support it.
The subsidised Trans Wilts Rail Service forms part of Wiltshire Council’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund project. Funding for the project comes after the council successfully bid for a Department for Transport (DfT) grant of £4.25million which will support the improved service for three years. Further information about the project can be found at www.connectingwiltshire.co.uk.
John Thomson, cabinet member for highways said, “The improved Trans Wilts Rail Service is an important part of the council’s commitment to ensuring local people have better access to public transport.
“The service will bring real social and economic benefits to the people of Wiltshire but the funding is only for three years so it’s important that people use the service now so it can be sustainable into the future.”
First Great Western managing director Mark Hopwood said, “First Great Western has worked hard with Wiltshire Council with the support of the local user group to secure these additional services.
“We are delighted to confirm that the agreement to operate has been signed by FGW and Wiltshire, which will enable us to provide an extra six trains a day in each direction. This is great news for passengers, allowing both commuters and leisure travellers a good value alternative to taking the car.”
