Rail passengers back on track for improved service (From Stroud News and Journal)

Government gives the go-ahead for a feasibility study into Network Rail's plans to re-double the Great Western Line between Kemble and Swindon

1:30pm Monday 26th January 2009 in News By David Wiles

RAIL passengers are back on track for vastly improved services to and from Stroud after the Government came out in support of planned work on the Great Western Line.

Proposals to re-double the track between Keble and Swindon, which would increase the hourly capacity of services in each direction from two to four, was denied funding by the industry regulator in November.

Officials claimed the project by Network Rail did not provide value for money or meet Government criteria.

But on Thursday the Government gave the go-ahead for a multi-million pound engineering feasibility study after a meeting with a cross-party group of Gloucestershire MPs.

Stroud MP David Drew said he was ‘delighted’ with the news.

"There’s still a long way to go but we’re on the right track at last for significantly improved services between Stroud and London," he said.

"This is vital project for the county and demonstrates how effective cross-party working can be when we are all committed to the same goal.

"The next stage is getting the feasibility study done."

Mr Drew organised the meeting with Transport Minister Lord Adonis after the Office of Rail Regulation decided not to fund the work.

He said the minister gave his clearest indication of strong Government backing, declaring he was ‘strongly supportive of the project’.

Mr Drew and his fellow MPs are working with local authorities, the South West Regional Development Agency, Network Rail and First Great Western to get the study done.

A recent petition by Gloucestershire County Council in support of the project received 2,000 signatures from the public.

British Rail reduced the 12-mile track from Swindon to Standish Junction to a single line in the late 1960s to save costs.

The work would see another line reinstated on the stretch between Kemble and Swindon.