^14.5 million cash boost for Worcester improvements

[whole diary]

[John R]

My suggestion was only considering the current inefficient use of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) units (though noted another poster had suggested it). I'm sure whoever holds the franchise for the GW^▸ (Great Western) would not want to share revenue with another operator.

It's worth noting that ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) got track access rights through to Cheltenham a couple of years back, so there is a precedent, although that was on a much more minor scale.

[bobm]

Perhaps another use for the unit would be to extend the service from Cheltenham to Oxford rather than terminating in the bay at Swindon. Via the West curve at Didcot you could reach Oxford in 30 mins from Swindon.

[Southern Stag]

That's an interesting thought. When Reading is closed over Easter the Cheltenham-Swindon services are extended to Didcot Parkway and the hourly service is maintained with 2 Class 150s and 2 HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train). That's effectively the same number of trains in use as normal, the HSTs just aren't running through to London.