The railway service in Melksham could see significant enhancements by 2026, as an independent train operator has been granted approval to introduce new services. These plans could improve links between Melksham and Swindon, Trowbridge, Chippenham, Westbury and Frome.
Go-op – a co-operatively owned operator – plans to operate return weekday and weekend services between Taunton and Weston-super-Mare; Taunton and Westbury; Taunton and Swindon; and Frome and Westbury. It will compete with Great Western Railway (GWR), a public service operator.
The new services would start in December 2025 at the earliest and no later than December 2026 in order to use the capacity granted by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).
As part of ORR’s decision, Go-op must provide evidence of the necessary finance to start operations, fund level crossing enhancements, and that the necessary rolling stock has been secured.
Chair of Melksham’s transport user group Graham Ellis, said it would be a ‘delight’ if the new services are implemented. “The onward service to Taunton will be magic for people headed west as the current connection from the TransWilts is ‘pants’.”
“I congratulate Alex Lawrie of Go-op on the approval and I will certainly be in touch to help make sure that all the parties involved work together so that it does come about.”
This is not the first time Go-op has made a proposal to enhance railway services in the town. In 2019, the operator proposed to connect Melksham with the West Midlands but the plans were put on hold. Then, in 2021, Go-op proposed a significant addition to the rail timetable from summer 2022 with additional six departures a day from Melksham to Chippenham, Swindon, Westbury, Frome, Castle Cary and Taunton but the plans never progressed.
