Great Western Railway announced today that a package of investment has been agreed with the Department for Transport that will see brand new hybrid trains, capable of running on diesel and electric power replacing the diesel turbo fleet serving Bedwyn travellers from 2018. This investment means that when track electrification is extended to Newbury, Bedwyn passengers will not be forced to change trains, and direct services to and from London can be maintained.
Speaking after the announcement, Claire Perry said
“This is such brilliant news for our local train services. I’ve been working for the last five years to make sure electrification does not disrupt our journeys. I made the case first for electrification to be extended to Bedwyn, and then for the DfT to change the terms of the GWR franchise so that the company could buy new hybrid trains to serve this line. It is such good news that the work has paid off and we can look forward to brand new hybrid trains offering direct journeys to London when electrification to Newbury happens.
We just need to ensure that the necessary local works to extend the siding at Bedwyn take place and I am working with the Great Bedwyn Parish Council and the Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group to ensure that this happens. After last year’s announcement of new trains for Pewsey and the investment in the new Pewsey footbridge, it is clear that our vital local train services are secure and we can look forward to further improvements.”