Trans Wilts Conference SWLEP Rail Strategy Trans Wilts Conference

Objectives of the Study “To develop an evidence base and framework for directing SWLEP investment in rail” “To support and guide the Local Plan and Local Transport Plans for Swindon and Wiltshire” “ To develop a locally driven vision for the SWLEP rail network for the next 20 years….”

The Train Service is the Key Product

The Existing Network: Four Routes

Great Western Electrification Programme: A Time of Transition Great Western Electrification Programme: Partial electrification New IET Trains Cascaded Turbo Trains Reduced journey times New services A new timetable

Future Opportunities Crossrail - Improved links across London East West Rail - Catalyst for Bristol – Oxford – Cambridge? HS2 - Improved links to the North… but also a threat? Metro West Choices over destinations? WRATH/HSRL Improving international access

Gap Analysis: Average Speed mph

Gap Analysis Strong access to Bristol and London 35% of the UK economy within 2 hours Poor access to the Midlands, North and East

Gap Analysis Network access is an issue: Limited access to stations Access to some is congested Trans Wilts is better provided for

Great Western Connect 1 Train per Hour: Southampton – Salisbury – Westbury – Swindon – Oxford 1 Train per hour Bristol – Chippenham – Swindon – Oxford Ultimate extension of the Southampton service to Birmingham and the Bristol service to Cambridge via East West Rail. Extension of the proposed London – Swindon peak semi-fast services, to all-day operation, serving the new stations at Swindon East and Wantage.

Great Western Connect Phase 0 – Operation of 1tph Swindon – Westbury service – Deliver as part of GWR direct award between 2020 and 2022. Phase 1 – Linking of Romsey – Salisbury – Southampton service to Westbury – Swindon service during next full GWR franchise after 2022. Phase 2 – Delivery of Bristol/Southampton – Swindon – Oxford, plus London – Swindon semi fast service, including infrastructure enhancements. Delivery by 2027 but indicative work should begin now Phase 3 – Extension of services to Cambridge and Birmingham. Delivery is dependent on completion of East West Rail to Cambridge and addressing of capacity issues around Birmingham. Work to develop the case for stations at Corsham, Swindon West for Royal Wootton Bassett, and Swindon East should be conducted in parallel and as part if the development of proposals for this service.

Berks and Hants Extension of London Paddington – Bedwyn services to Westbury, providing Westbury and Pewsey with a consistent hourly service to London in addition to the planned Exeter – London service. Extension of peak Westbury – London services to and from Bristol. Opening of a station at Devizes Parkway. Lobby for the proposed two-hourly London – Exeter stopping services to be enhanced to hourly in the long term. It is recommended that the service could be delivered as part of the next full GWR franchise from 2022 with a station at Devizes being delivered from around 2024.

Trans Wilts Minimise number of services terminating at Westbury with exception of proposed London – Westbury service maximise utilisation of available capacity avoid need for fourth platform at Westbury Consideration of new station at Ashton Park Operation of a consistent service pattern centred on Westbury half hourly services to Bristol and Southampton hourly services to Yeovil and Swindon Delivery of service changes should be planned to be delivered as part of the next GWR franchise from 2022.

West of England Line Salisbury – Waterloo journey time improvements (requires a combination of line speed increases, rolling stock renewals (to provide faster and better accelerating rolling stock), and re-timetabling.) SWR franchise 2024. Porton new parkway station Wilton new station (subject to results of study on Porton) + wider network changes