THEATRE fans from the Cotswolds can now enjoy a later evening show in London thanks to a new Friday night train service.

The 11:18pm service now runs from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh after being given the go-ahead following requests from keen Cotswold theatre-goers and the Cotswold Line Promotion Group (CLPG).

The additional service is one of several improvements added to the Cotswold Line December 2015 timetable, which came into operation on Sunday, and also sees an increase in passenger capacities.

CLPG members wanted rail operators to introduce a later evening train from London to allow theatre-goers and evening visitors to the capital more time to enjoy their visit and their wish was granted with the route being extended to Moreton-in-Marsh. It previously terminated at Oxford.

The service will also call at Hanborough, Charlbury and Kingham. John Ellis, CLPG chairman said: “We’ve been pressing for an extension from London for some years. The current service returns too early so it’s no good for people who want to go to the theatre in the capital, or even just out for dinner or to the cinema.

“The problem was with signalling. The Cotswold Line works a traditional two shift basis and a later evening train would mean a third shift needed adding, which would have been expensive.

“We eventually got around this by pointing out that Saturday morning trains start later than the rest of the week and so Friday evening services could be extended without significant costs added.”