TWO politicians have voiced concerns about how long it will take to increase services on the upgraded Kemble to Swindon rail line.

Last week, Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown criticised the fact that new services will not start until 2017.

Now Stroud MP Neil Carmichael has echoed the concerns and has spoken to First Great Western.

“The sooner train services start running, the better in terms of maximising the re-doubled line that Geoffrey and I helped secure,” he added.

“This was part of a bigger plan to develop rail services across our area and I am hoping to see fewer interruptions and faster trains.”

A second line was added to the existing single track in a £45 million project which was opened by Princess Anne last Friday, October 17.

MP Mr Clifton-Brown said: “I am disappointed that First Great Western has indicated that it is not prepared to increase services on this line until the end of the current franchise period.

“When the redoubling was announced, it was expected by myself, my constituents and everyone that uses this line that in return for the huge investment into the infrastructure we would receive improved and increased services. I have raised this issue directly with FGW.”

FGW spokesman James Davis said the reason that services could not be increased sooner was because the Government was unable to provide more trains.

“We have a limited number of trains and railstock and there is not an option to run more services,” he said.

Mr Clifton-Brown is also concerned that passengers could be diverted along the line while upgrades are carried out to other parts of the rail network which would cause disruption.

“We have already had to endure disruption while this work took place and to be disrupted again would be an intolerable situation,” he said.

Mr Davis said there would be no delays when the route is used to accommodate diverted services.