A TRAIN taking residents of Worcestershire and The Cotswolds directly to Devon has been cancelled.

The Cotswold Line Promotion Group recently announced it would be running its first charter train for four years on Saturday, April 22.

The special service was set to stop off at several locations in the area before heading to Torquay.

However, the railway line between Oxford and Didcot has been closed for the time being by Network Rail, due to a weak bridge over the River Thames.

The empty train for the charter and the return journey from Devon were both scheduled to use this route.

A spokesperson said it was too short notice to replan the timings and other arrangements, such as crews to operate the train.

The trip was set to cost passengers £55 for adults and £30 for children between five and 15.

Passengers are now being contacted regarding ticket bookings for refund arrangements.

First-class seats quickly sold out, but there were a number of standard seats remaining for customers at Worcester Shrub Hill, Worcestershire Parkway, Pershore, Evesham, Honeybourne and Moreton-in-Marsh stations.

There was also the option of a trip on the Paignton-Kingswear steam railway and the connecting ferry over to Dartmouth.

The train was due to arrive in Paignton at 10.40am and was to return at 3.54pm.

It was also set to call at Taunton and Exeter on the way.

For more details, visit https://clpg.online/2023/04/bridge-closure-forces-cancellation-of-clpg-charter-train/.