Call to retain direct hourly trains to London
Network Rail's 'Western Route Study' (October 2014) has just been published. It states:
Following electrification to Newbury, the 2019 Industry Train Service Specification (ITSS) assumes that the current London Paddington – Bedwyn service will operate with electric rolling stock and therefore be truncated at Newbury. A diesel shuttle service is proposed between Newbury and Bedwyn. These services will operate all day.
It looks as if the DfT and Network Rail still, at least publically, have their head in the sand about the problem this will cause commuters from Bedwyn, Hungerford and Kintbury.
Please sign our e-Petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/70941 where we call upon the DfT to specify, in the forthcoming franchise extension document, that Bedwyn, Hungerford and Kintbury must retain their current level of direct Paddington services.
Even if you are not a regular train user please consider the impact on our local economy and how that will affect you. Local estate agents have calculated a 15% drop in house prices should these cuts go ahead.
Steve Smith, Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group
