TRAIN campaigners are celebrating after winning major improvements to the timetable for Bedwyn Station, near Marlborough.

The Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group feared the station could be reduced to a diesel shuttle service between the village and Newbury after the Government announced plans ten years ago to only electrify as far as the Berkshire town.

But now Steve Smith and Bill Wells have announced a major victory which will see a more trains than ever from December.

Mr Smith said: “It’s been a long campaign but ten years on we’ve finally got there, and from December 15th, 2019 we are scheduled to have a better service than ever.

“This new timetable will be significant as it incorporates many changes following the full introduction of the Intercity Express Train fleet by GWR.”

When consultation started on the timetable last year the passenger group was worried that there would be only two through trains before 9am to Paddington and a lengthy wait in Newbury for off-peak Bedwyn to Paddington services.

But GWR has tweaked the timetable and put on more trains. Mr Smith said: “Following our concerns over the morning peak service we are pleased that there will now be an evenly spaced, twice hourly service between the hours of 0530 and 0830.

“Furthermore, most of these trains will be IETs that will operate through to Paddington, and will have quicker journey times.”

The service outside peak times will continue to run hourly but there will be extra through trains to London later in the evening.

The group is now hoping to persuade rail bosses to improve travel to the west. Mr Smith said: “Our main suggestion concerns the potential provision of an early semi-fast service to Westbury, at least, or preferably to Bristol Temple Meads.” It also wants to improve parking and for a bigger shelter to be put in place.