Renewed bid for better rail service

9:53am Thursday 3rd July 2008

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PLANS to double the railway line between Kemble and Swindon have been given the backing of Gloucestershire County Council.

The Office of Rail Regulation is currently consulting on its draft intentions for rail services for the coming five years but last month failed to approve plans which would have doubled the track.

"This project is vital to the county’s economy"

Lib Dem spokesman John Cordwell

The Liberal Democrats called on the council to issue a response calling for the ORR to include the redoubling of the Kemble-Swindon line in Network Rail's Strategic Business Plan.

This was approved at a meeting last week.

John Cordwell, Gloucestershire's Liberal Democrat spokesman on rail issues, added: "It is shocking that the ORR proposals have left redoubling of the Swindon-Kemble line without funding.

"This project is vital to the county's economy and also to the smooth running of both freight and passenger transport because of the diversionary route it provides when other routes to South Wales and Southampton are not available."

Councillor Jeremy Hilton, leader of Gloucestershire County Council Liberal Democrats, said: "Improvements to the rail network in Gloucestershire are critical to encouraging more people to travel by train."