Great Western Railway (GWR) is planning to run direct services between Bristol Temple Meads and Oxford for the first time in more than 20 years.
In response to growth in demand for leisure travel by train, GWR wants to run two return Saturday services between the cities from September. A direct service last ran in 2003.
Customers will be able to take in iconic sights for these two popular destinations, with quickest direct journey times between the two cities starting from one hour 11 minutes.
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.”
GWR has requested to run the following services from September 14, including stops at Bath Spa, Chippenham and Swindon:
- 10:18 Bristol Temple Meads-Oxford
- 11:55 Oxford-Bristol Temple Meads (via Didcot)
- 15:18 Bristol Temple Meads-Oxford
- 17:12 Oxford-Bristol Temple Meads
The proposal is still being discussed and needs approval from the Department for Transport and Network Rail. The trial would run until December.
Image credit: GWR
