A NEW direct rail service connecting two major UK cities started running again for the first time in over two decades.
The first direct service left the station this morning at 7am.
A new daily rail service between Oxford and Bristol Temple Meads began today, offering a direct service between the two cities for the first time in 23 years.
The new service started this morning after plans were finally given the go-ahead on Friday, May 13, by Network Rail and Great Western Railway.
Running from Monday to Saturday, the new service will travel via the following stations: Oxford, Swindon, Chippenham, Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads.
Both services began today with the first train leaving Oxford at 7am, arriving into Bristol Temple Meads at 8.20am.
Going the other way, the first service departing from Bristol left at 7.14am and arrived into Oxford at 8.32am.
The fastest journey times from Oxford will be one hour and eight minutes and from Bristol one hour and 11 minutes.
Until today, there was no direct service between Oxford and Bristol, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The new rail line also means there is now a direct service for passengers travelling between Swindon and Oxford.
Previously travellers needed to change at either Didcot Parkway or Reading.
Great Western Railway’s managing director, Mark Hopwood, said the decision comes after years of campaigning from customers and partners.
“The economic and social benefits are clear, and we are confident that these new services demonstrate the value of rail in driving economic growth, environmental benefits, and creating education and employment opportunities which previously were not possible – as well as directly linking two of the key leisure markets in the UK,” he said.
Swindon South MP and Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, said the “weekend trial of direct trains was hugely popular” and the new service will provide travellers with “a fast, convenient alternative to being stuck in a traffic jam on the A420”.
Network Rail Western route director, Marcus Jones, said bringing back the direct service “is a significant step in improving connectivity across the Western route” and the new links “will make it easier for people to travel between key economic centres, opening up new opportunities for work, education and leisure”.