South Western Railways Waterloo - Bristol services axed

[whole diary]

[anthony215]

April 2026, and the through service Bradford** and Trowbridge to Waterloo gets a mention as it's a renewed aspiration. [Edit: the strapline beneath the photo isn't particularly useful]

Mark

https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/26048069.boost-plans-build-three-wiltshire-railway-stations/

** That's Bradford-on-Avon, not Bradford, Yorkshire of course. Next, someone will propose the introduction of a train service between Waterloo and Manchester, which would be silly.***

*** Not silly, as that service, the butt of jokes from newspaper hacks, provided a whole shopping-basket-full of interregional travel opportunities that grew railway business and in the case of Bristol to Hereford, loaded embarrassingly well.

It was well used especially as it offered a cheaper alternative to crosscountry via new street.
The south wales to Waterloo service were also very well used. I used to catch the 2015 Pembroke Dock to london Waterloo service a few times and it was busy even though it arrived into Waterloo at 0415. Certainly a good idea for a open acess service.

[Mark A]

I used to catch the 2015 Pembroke Dock to london Waterloo service a few times and it was busy even though it arrived into Waterloo at 0415. Certainly a good idea for a open acess service.

Anecdote not data: it was yonks ago, but if it was an outbound one of these that passed through Bath Spa one late evening, I recall the sight of seats being around 70% occupied. Also, it's another era, but that Leeds overnight service using a long train of ancient compartment stock was very full indeed from Kings Cross and that was at the time when there may have been a sleeper too.

Mark

[Mark A]

A few weeks ago, seen from a passing train, a SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) 2 carriage 159 set tucked away in the depot east of Bristol Temple Meads. The first time I've seen one anywhere in Bristol since *inserts obvious era*.

Mark

[Clan Line]

Don't get too excited Mark !  I seem to recollect some years back that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) were using a SWT^▸ (South West Trains) set of rolling stock for some time when they were short of trains.  A repeat, perhaps ?

[brooklea]

A few weeks ago, seen from a passing train, a SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) 2 carriage 159 set tucked away in the depot east of Bristol Temple Meads. The first time I've seen one anywhere in Bristol since *inserts obvious era*.

Mark

Some of East Midlands Railway’s Class 158s are being refurbished at Bristol Barton Hill depot. I strongly suspect that it was one of these that you saw (East Midlands Trains having a very similar livery to South West Trains, thanks to their common former franchise parent company, Stagecoach).

[CyclingSid]

On Saturday I was at Bosham station when a train went down the other track (towards Chichester). I "belatedly" noticed it was in GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) livery with a Southern logo in the side. Gone before I could fully take it in.

[Surrey 455]

On Saturday I was at Bosham station when a train went down the other track (towards Chichester). I "belatedly" noticed it was in GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) livery with a Southern logo in the side. Gone before I could fully take it in.

I've seen a few of these 387s on the Brighton mainline and on one occasion three 387s coupled up, all with different liveries but all with Southern logos

[rogerw]

Sub-leasing stock from other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company)

[Mark A]

South Western are surveying customers regarding their future timetable. I used it as an opportunity to list myself as a 'Former customer' (largely true) and pointed out that for the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to order that the Waterloo-Bristol service cease at a time when commuter provision was going to struggle - and the Waterloo - Bristol trains served a string of visitor destinations, flows for higher education institutions and offered accessibility and resilience benefits... well, that was a poor decision.

Their (brief) form is to be found here:

https://www.southwesterntimetable.com/

Mark

[Mark A]

There's an impending 'Early engagement event' at Waterloo -for the future timetable - which was scheduled for Thursday 25th June but given the forecast it's been postponed to 1st July (16:00-20:00 on the concourse by the platform 10-11 gateline).

Mark

[Mark A]

The South Western Railway timetable consultation - from the web site.

'As we develop our plans, we’ll seek views and feedback on our proposals from stakeholders, customers and the wider community, including running a full public consultation in Autumn 2026.'

The impending change in management of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) to join SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) in the 'Nationalised' stable rather sounds as though it's not the sort of consultation for which the conclusions are already set in stone.

It would be good to have people managing the nationalised rail service realise that the provision, initially of a service of three trains a day between Bristol and Waterloo is very achievable - and that the service that ceased in 2021 was an efficient use of train paths, was popular and which had the potential for further growth.

It would be a big win = for rail services in Wiltshire in particular - if this was represented in the data collected by the consultation.

If the nationalised railway is looking for stellar examples of relative minor changes that much improve the network connectivity of their services, this one is a contender.

Mark

https://www.southwesterntimetable.com/

[Clan Line]

https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/26251226.push-wiltshire-towns-london-train-link-progresses/

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Town fighting to restore direct trains to London

[Image from here is not available to guests]
John Baxter, Brian Mathew MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context), Sam Blackwell and Mark Annand want to see the route to London reinstated - Image © Brian Mathew MP

People have urged transport bosses to reinstate train services between a west Wiltshire town and London.

Passengers had previously been able to travel from Bradford-on-Avon to London Waterloo until the route, which went via Salisbury, was axed in 2021.

A consultation has now been launched by South Western Railway (SWR^» (South Western Railway - about)) to ask people what they would like to see changed about current services; a development which has heartened campaigners.

Sam Blackwell, mayor of Bradford-on-Avon, told Radio Wiltshire. "It is encouraging. They are taking ideas and trying to understand what changes passengers want from the timetable."

A spokesperson for SWR and Network Rail Wessex said "all feedback" is welcomed as part of a "timetable refresh".

Blackwell is among those who have backed West Wiltshire Rail User Group's campaign to restore direct train services between Bradford-on-Avon and the capital. The group says bringing the services back would make journeys easier, especially for older people and those with mobility needs, while supporting local businesses, tourism and sustainable travel.

Blackwell continued: "We currently have a regular service which goes down to Salisbury, stops there and then comes back. There is also an SWR existing service which goes from Salisbury to London Waterloo. Part of this proposal would ask the rail operators to look at joining those services up."

The mayor said reinstating the route would also benefit other stations such as Trowbridge and Keynsham.

Graham Ellis, a transport campaigner based in Melksham, said he believed there would not be large costs associated with getting the service up and running again. He added: "There is a train which runs from Bristol to Salisbury and we're simply saying connect that up with the train from Salisbury to London. Sure there is timetable planning and likely consultation costs, but we aren't looking for any extra trains."

Meanwhile, Wiltshire Council has said it would "strongly welcome" the introduction of a direct service between west Wiltshire and London.

Martin Smith, cabinet member for highways, said: "We have already committed to promoting new railway stations at Devizes, Corsham and Wilton, as well as a new platform at Westbury, and will continue to work closely with local partners, Network Rail, the Department for Transport and train operators to secure better rail services and strengthen connectivity across Wiltshire."

Brian Mathew, MP for Melksham and Devizes, said he "fully supports" reinstating the service. "Restoring through trains would be a practical and cost-effective step to improve access to jobs and education, support local tourism and deliver a more connected railway for passengers," he added.

A SWR spokesperson every suggestion will be carefully reviewed as we balance enhancing connectivity and meeting demand. "Responses will be provided through the formal consultation process at the appropriate time," they added.