LOCAL rail campaigners are fighting to overturn severe cuts to the Westbury to London Waterloo service.
Trains will be cut from eight a day to two or three; with just one in the opposite direction early in the morning from this December.
In a further blow to rail users, the direct rail service from Bradford-on-Avon and Trowbridge to London Waterloo is also being axed.
“There are a lot of extremely unhappy local rail users,” said local rail campaigner Graham Ellis of the West Wiltshire Rail User Group. “Trains into Waterloo are popular with local people, offering much more attractive fares than those going into Paddington, and are much better for those who are less mobile or who want to go to South London.
“Westbury loses all but one train from Waterloo which leaves there at 07:50. That’s down from 5 per day pre-Covid. The service to Waterloo will be reduced to just 2 or 3 a day from eight.
“South Western Railway are proposing to end the direct trains between Bradford-on-Avon and Trowbridge to Waterloo completely and leaving just one train a day the other way and that’s before 6 o’clock in the morning.”
Graham has launched a petition against the proposals which has already been signed by nearly 3,500 people. He helped organise a protest meeting in Trowbridge last week that was attended by over 100 people in person and online.
“South West Railways and the Dept of Transport came along to explain and offer excuses and were given a tough ride,” said Graham. “It’s fair to say the community is not going to take it lying down.
“Deciding to cul services is a crazy decision when rail use is really bouncing back very hard for leisure activities and these are largely leisure trains.
“All we are asking is for the cuts to be put on hold for a year for a proper consultation. For goodness sake, look how well the service did in the summer.
“There are other changes planned in 2022, so this would be the time to look at the whole service.
“Even Transport Focus, the Department for Transport’s own passenger watchdog, has suggested that the service should be retained until properly consulted and appropriate alternatives provided.”
Graham is enlisting the support of local MPs including South West Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison and Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan who, Graham says are “both saying this doesn’t feel right.”
South Western Railway say the changes will avoid ‘duplication’ with Great Western Railway services to London Paddington, while the DfT say the plans will make savings and make routes to London more efficient.
To sign the petition, go to https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/598397/signatures/new
Picture – see page 26
