TransWilts campaign group celebrates extra trains trial

Campaigners for extra train services in Wiltshire are celebrating after First Great Western agreed to trial extra services in the county.

The decision was taken after the TransWilts group presented their case to local politicians and businesses.

The group presented results of a survey they conducted into the county's rail services to Wiltshire Council on Friday.

The trial is due to start on 24 July and finish on 11 September.

'Sunday day trips'

Graham Ellis, from the TransWilts group, said: "We are delighted that First Great Western and all other parties involved are getting together to give people good day trip opportunities on a Sunday for the first time in years."

Simon Doggett, from First Great Western, said: "One of the key issues on rolling stock is that it's essentially determined at the national government level.

"So while a deregulated company, let's say a bus company, can go and get a bus, the environment is very different on the railway with the amount of regulation in place."

Both of the new services, being trialled, will operate on Sundays. One will run from Swindon to Weymouth in the morning with a connecting return service calling at Melksham and Chippenham.

The other service will run from Westbury, Trowbridge and Melksham connecting at Swindon for a service to London.