First class Rail route changes revealed

THE timetable changes for trains to and from London have been announced by rail operator Great Western Railway.

Commuters wanting to get into the capital in time for work will be able to catch the 5.33am direct service to London from Cheltenham Spa.

And if they are caught late in the office then there will be a later direct train home at 9.33pm as well as the 7.48pm train as there currently is.

The number of through trains from London to Cheltenham Spa will double at off-peak times too, matching the peak-time frequency improvements delivered by GWR earlier thisy ear, creating an hourly service throughout the day.

GWR said the new services will be shortened by 10 minutes, to less than two hours in some cases.

GWR managing director Mark Hopwood said: “It’s just 12 weeks until Sunday, December 15, and 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 pleased the new timetable has now been published.”

The timetable will come into effect from December 15 and regular users are urged to check their new journey times ahead of the changes.

Mike Gallop, route managing director for Network Rail, said: “The timetable change will mean faster journeys and more frequent services.

“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.”

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.