• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Thursday September 19 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

GWR’s new Oxford service a boon for Bristol, Bath, Chippenham and Swindon and commuters

Great Western Railway has restored a direct service between Bristol Temple Meads and Oxford after an absence of 20 years.

The direct service – which also calls at Swindon – last ran in 2003. Since then, Oxford commuters have had to change at Didcot.

GWR managing director Mark Hopwood said: “We’re always looking at innovative ways of creating new business and improving connectivity.

“Changing customer patterns since Covid have provided a clear opportunity for us to expand our leisure offering and the Bristol-Oxford route is one which offers real potential.”

Matt Griffith, director of policy at Business West said: “A direct service between Oxford, Swindon, Bath and Bristol will be a real boost to the region and the benefits of living and doing business here.

“Having direct connectivity between some of the world’s best Universities, businesses and tourist attractions is a fantastic positive and we think will prove very popular.

“We hope this new ‘brain train’ service will grow from strength to strength and make residents, business and investors really excited about all that the great western region has to offer.”

Councillor Jim Robbins, leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “We are delighted that Great Western Railway is launching the new service as it will make it much easier for local residents to travel to Oxford and beyond.

“We have already seen improvements to our excellent rail links to Bath and Bristol through the electrification of the main line and this new temporary service will improve that still further.

“I hope the trial is a great success and it leads to permanent and more frequent services.”

The new services are part of a trial to assess demand and will run until December, running throughout the period of the Bath and Oxford Christmas markets.