The Office for Rail and Road has approved new train services between Swindon, Taunton and Weston-super-Mare.
It is expected that the train services, which will be operated by Go-op, could start from the end of 2025.
Return weekday and weekend services will run between Taunton and Weston-super-Mare, Taunton and Westbury (Wilts), Taunton and Swindon (Wilts), and between Frome and Westbury.
Go-op will compete with Great Western Railway but they must provide evidence of finance to start operations, funding for crossing enhancements as well as suitable rolling stock being secured.
As part of the decision, the ORR says that services must start no later than December 2026.
“Our decision gives Go-op the opportunity to bring the first co-operatively owned train service and the first regional open access service in the UK. We think this novel proposal can benefit passengers across Somerset and Wiltshire.“We will closely monitor Go-op’s progress towards meeting the financial and rolling stock requirements that are needed before it can bring the services into operation.”
Martin Jones, Deputy Director, Access, Licensing & International
Responses
And today the labour government announced all franchises would be returned to the state by 2027.
At the same time they are negotiating with private companies to run new services on the rail network.
Talk about manipulation.
Do they know what they saying or do the rely on people indifference and ignorance.
They say one thing and do another. They give the impression of bringing back a unified rail network run by the state when they have zero intention of delivering that promise