1. Trans Wilts Conference
SWLEP Rail Strategy
Trans Wilts Conference

2. 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….”

3. The Train Service is the Key Product

4. The Existing Network: Four Routes

5. 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

6. 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

7. Gap Analysis: Average Speed mph

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

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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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