Work begins on £45m Swindon to Kemble rail improvements

Date: 11/1/2013

Work has started on improving a rail route which links Wiltshire and Gloucestershire at a cost of £45 million.

As part of the changes, a second line that has been out of operation since the 1960s is to be reinstated between Swindon and Kemble, reports the BBC.

A spokesperson for Network Rail told the news provider: "[It] will increase network capability allowing the operation of four trains per hour along the line of route in each direction."

Such capability is going to be needed for the plans for electrification of the (GWML) Great Western Main Line to be carried out.

These will involve closing Bristol Parkway and the Severn Tunnel, with South Wales trains being diverted along the route.

Originally, plans for the electrification were to stop at Newbury in Berkshire, but MPs from both Wiltshire and Berkshire met with Rail Minister Simon Burns last year to put forward the idea of extending commuter lines to Westbury, Bath and Swindon.

At the time, Newbury MP Richard Benyon said: "The government is keen for regeneration projects that boost the economy and this could certainly be one of them."

It is hoped that such improvements will mean that trains run faster and passengers are subject to less overcrowding.

Mr Burns said: "Rail electrification hugely benefits passengers by enabling faster, more reliable train services."

In total, £5 billion is to be spent on improving the GWML and associated branches, such as those to South Wales and the North Cotswolds.

This will include station upgrades, resignalling and new rolling stock, as well as the electrification process.

Having been announced in 2009, it is thought that all of the work will be completed by the end of 2017 and will represent the biggest revamp to the Great Western railway since it was built more than 175 years ago by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Posted by Mary Treen

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