Good news for train lovers and city-hoppers alike! After a long wait of 21 years, a direct train service between Oxford and Bristol is back. Starting today, Great Western Railway (GWR) is rolling out two return trains on Saturdays. These trains will travel straight between Bristol Temple Meads and Oxford, with stops in Bath Spa, Chippenham, and Swindon along the way.

Why is this a big deal? Let’s break it down. The direct train service had been gone since 2003. People have been hoping for its return ever since. And now, it’s finally here, even if it’s just for a trial run.

Richard Stow, who is the chairman of the Thames Valley branch of Railfuture, a group that campaigns for better rail services, is thrilled about this news. He believes that this new service could be a strong argument for building a new Wantage & Grove station. Louise Upton, who works for Oxford City Council, thinks this train service is a “game changer” for the area. It’s expected to reduce traffic jams and create new opportunities for businesses.

Jim Robbins, the leader of Swindon Borough Council, is also excited. He says that this temporary service will make the rail connections to Bath and Bristol even better. The trains will run at 12:03 PM and 5:12 PM from Oxford, and at 10:18 AM and 3:18 PM from Bristol Temple Meads. The fastest journey time will be about one hour and eleven minutes.

GWR started this trial because more people have been using trains lately. They want to see if there’s enough demand for a permanent service. Mark Hopwood, the managing director of GWR, explains that since COVID-19, people’s travel habits have changed a lot. The company sees a lot of potential in the Bristol-Oxford route, especially for leisure travel.

The new service isn’t just great for Oxford and Bristol. With trains stopping in Swindon, it also offers better connections between these big cities and the town. Louise Upton believes this will make travel easier and boost local businesses. Jim Robbins hopes that if this trial goes well, there will be more trains and possibly even a permanent service.

For years, MPs and campaigners have been asking for the return of this train service. Richard Stow from Railfuture is excited about the news and believes it will benefit passengers, especially those traveling for fun. He hopes it will also support the case for a new station in Wantage & Grove.

The Department for Transport had looked into the idea of a new Wantage & Grove Parkway Station in 2022 but decided not to reopen it at that time. Despite this, Stow is hopeful that GWR’s efforts will lead to more frequent trains in the future. He’s cheering for the success of this trial and wishes for a train every hour between Oxford and Bristol.

However, it’s important to know that this trial is just for three months, and there are only two trains each Saturday. It’s not a permanent solution yet. This trial is a way to test how much people want this service. If successful, it could lead to more trains in the future.

Since COVID-19, how people use trains has changed a lot. Now, Saturdays are one of the busiest days for trains, so this new service is a good opportunity to see how popular it will be. The direct trains between Oxford and Bristol are aimed more at leisure travel, not for daily commutes or business trips.

The return of this direct train service also competes with the busy A420 road between Swindon and Oxford. With more people looking for easy and fun ways to travel, this new train route is a clear sign that travel habits are evolving.

In summary, the direct train service between Oxford and Bristol is back for a trial run after 21 years. It’s an exciting development for train passengers and local businesses. With hopes for more frequent services in the future, this trial could pave the way for better travel options. So, if you’re planning a trip between these two cities, hop on a train and enjoy the ride!