Just the ticket Get to London faster after change to timetable
TRAIN journeys from Cheltenham to London are set to be shortened to under two hours, as part of ‘the biggest transformation to the timetable’ in nearly 50 years.
From December, Great Western Railway will speed up its timetable and create an additional 5,000 seats per day.
Trains departing the capital for Cheltenham will also commence earlier in the day, and continue to much later than currently timetabled.
The new timetable will be published on September 15.
Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk said: “This is great news for local and regional economic development and will support Cheltenham’s future as the UK’S premier cyber security hub.
“Sub-two hour services will boost investment and jobs for our young people.
“It is great to see that by Christmas we will experience the full benefit of the Government’s investment in both track and train.”
Mr Chalk has regularly spoken about rail travel from the county to the capital, having previously raised the issue about season ticket prices during a debate in Parliament last December.
GWR managing director Mark Hopwood said: “While December may seem a long time away for many, we have been working hard behind the scenes to prepare to implement the biggest timetable change on this network since 1976, enabling us to take advantage of the full benefits that new Intercity Express Trains are bringing.
“In providing more frequent and quicker journeys, our new timetable will for the vast majority of users quite literally mean ‘all change please’ and we are looking forward to publishing
further details soon.”
The first train to Cheltenham Spa from London will also leave earlier, at 05.33 compared to 0.733 today.
The last departure will be at 21.33 rather than 19.48.
Great Western Railway said connectivity would improve too, with the number of through trains from London to Cheltenham Spa doubling at offpeak times.
The improvements are driven by GWR’S Intercity Express Trains and the investment to infrastructure across the region, including Network Rail’s electrification of the mainline between South Wales and London.
The changes will mean typical journeys between Cheltenham Spa to London will be shortened by 10 minutes to 2 hours. The fastest journeys will come in at 1 hour 57 minutes.
Interim route managing director at Network Rail Mike Gallop said: “The timetable change this December will be the biggest since 1976 and will mean faster journeys and more frequent services for passengers.
“It follows unprecedented investment in railway infrastructure including electrification, improved signalling, upgraded stations and much more which together with the introduction of new trains will transform rail travel.”
Great Western Railway said: “The planned improvements are so significant, particularly for those who travel regularly and used to catching a particular service every day, that GWR is launching an awareness campaign to highlight the changes ahead, and make sure customers are prepared.
“The timetable is expected to come into effect on 15 December, and the plans are subject to final industry approval including from Network Rail.
“It is expected to be published on 15 September.”