First Great Western is working in partnership with Wiltshire County Council and Wessex Chamber of Commerce this Summer to run a trial of extra Sunday services between Westbury and Swindon via Melksham.
Commencing Sunday July 3, the extra services will run through July (except July 10 due to engineering works) and August.
There will be a morning service from Westbury to Swindon. Leaving Westbury at 07.30, it will call at Trowbridge (07.36), Melksham (07.45), then Chippenham (07.56), arriving at Swindon at 08.13, for connections to London.
The train then returns from Swindon at 08.20, calling at Chippenham, (08.37), Melksham (08.46), Trowbridge (08.56) and Westbury, where it forms the 09.12 departure to Weymouth, offering a day out at the sea.
Mark Hopwood, Managing Director for First Great Western said:
“This is something we’ve been keen to achieve for some time, and I’m very pleased the County Council and Chamber of Commerce have given us the support to make it happen.
“We very much hope the service will generate sufficient custom to ensure we can continue to run these services.”
Graham Ellis, of the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership said:
“This is an excellent example of everyone working together to provide a service, and we’re hoping that the trial will be a great success leading towards further arrangements.”
