A LONG-LOST rail link could soon return as part of a major rail investment that promises new jobs and better connections across the country.
The service, which runs between Swindon and Birmingham, is expected to be reinstated through the £1.75 billion Midlands Rail Hub project.
The project aims to transform journeys across the Midlands, the South West, and South Wales.
The forgotten train line last operated in the early 2000s, more than 20 years ago.
The town and city, which are located around 80 miles from each other, have been without a direct connection ever since.
Swindon, with a population of over 180,000, is the biggest town in Wiltshire, and is located on the edge of the Cotswolds.
While Birmingham is an important industrial and cultural centre, and the UK’s second-largest city with a population of around 1.2 million.
The proposed plans are on track to deliver up to 130 extra train services each week, which would provide around two million additional passenger seats a year.
Andy Clark, rail programme lead at Midlands Connect, said: “This would be a real boost for passengers.”
The first phase of the scheme is also expected to create nearly 13,000 jobs nationwide.
Swindon North MP Will Stone welcomed the development, saying it would boost the local economy and reconnect communities that have long relied on slower, indirect services.
Currently, there are no direct services between Swindon and Birmingham, meaning passengers must change at Cheltenham, Gloucester, or Reading stations.
The revived route would re-establish a direct connection between the two cities.
Mr Stone said: “It’s fantastic that Swindon could be benefiting from the Midlands Rail hub expansion.
“We’re a town built on connection via the railways, and so it’s great to see Swindon getting an hourly service between a fellow industrial town like Birmingham.”
Once home to the Great Western Railway works, Swindon has a proud railway heritage that shaped the town’s identity.
The project has secured government backing following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending review and forms part of the government’s 10-year infrastructure strategy.
Mr Stone added: “Innovative projects like the Midlands Rail hub prove that investments in our railways, fully funded by the Chancellor, are transformative for communities, bringing new jobs and skills to areas across the country.”