The railway service in Westbury could see significant enhancements next year, as an independent train operator has been granted approval to introduce new services.
Go-op – a co-operatively owned operator – plans to operate return weekday and weekend services between Taunton and Weston-super-Mare, Taunton and Westbury, Taunton and Swindon, and Frome and Westbury. It will compete with Great Western Railway (GWR), a public service operator.
The new services are expected to start no earlier than December 2025 and no later than December 2026 to utilise the capacity granted by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
As part of the ORR’s decision, Go-op must provide evidence of the necessary finances to begin operations, fund level crossing enhancements, and secure the required rolling stock.
Graham Ellis, Chair of the local transport user group, said it would be a ‘delight’ if the new services were implemented. “The onward service to Taunton will be magic for people headed west,” he said.
“I congratulate Alex Lawrie of Go-op on the approval, and I will certainly be in touch to help ensure all the parties involved work together so that it does come about,” Graham added.
This is not the first time Go-op has made a proposal to enhance railway services in the town. In 2021, the operator proposed a significant addition to the rail timetable from summer 2022, with six additional departures per day from Melksham to Chippenham, Swindon, Westbury, Frome, Castle Cary and Taunton. However, those plans never progressed.
