A LONGSTANDING train passenger is the latest commuter to air his frustration with First Great Western over the recently redoubled Swindon to Kemble rail line.

Princess Anne officially opened the line last month but more services will not be considered until 2017, even though the infrastructure exists after a £17million investment. Trains currently run on average hourly between Kemble and London.

Jim Woodcock, who has commuted between Kemble to London for 18 years, told the Standard he has previously had to put up with "all manner of excuses and delays" from FGW and their predecessors, with connections at Swindon being cancelled or delayed due to the single line.

Mr Woodcock said: "Now this is no longer a barrier FGW must put on a more frequent service at peak (all day would be nice but one step at a time!) than seen at present."

In an email sent to FGW's managing director Mark Hopwood on Monday, Mr Woodcock wrote: "I have commuted from Kemble for 18 years, I cannot tell you how many times I have sat at Swindon station where a Paddington train has been delayed which has resulted in me missing the connection to Kemble - given the bottleneck of the single track has been removed you now have the infrastructure to offer a half-hourly service at peak."

He went on to say: "I am sure that rolling stock availability, or the lack of, will be raised as an issue."

Mr Woodcock had not received a response from Mr Hopwood when the Standard went to press but was told by FGW's customer relations team, in response to a previous email: "The December timetables have not yet been realised so I am unable to advise you further".

Last month Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown joined commuters in criticising the delay in upgrading services from the Swindon to Kemble rail line.

MP Mr Clifton-Brown said: “It was expected by myself, my constituents and everyone that uses this line that in return for the huge investment into the infrastructure we would receive improved and increased services.

"If I travel from Swindon I wait 20 minutes maximum for a train.”

James Davis, a spokesman for First Great Western, said the reason services on the line are not being improved is because the government is currently unable to provide more trains.

Mr Davis said: "There is a national shortage of rolling stock. Just because the infrastructure has improved at this moment in time it does not mean there is more rolling stock to provide additional services - but it does allow immediate improvements in reliability to help passengers keep moving on trains as Network Rail continue to electrify the Great Western mainline."

Mr Davis added: "Clearly there have been some services that don't run according to the timetable and that is frustrating for passengers."