An ambitious £30 million project that could transform local rail services is moving forward.
Local MP Brian Mathew, key stakeholders and local councillors met recently at the Assembly Hall to discuss the Bath and Wiltshire Metro project.
The project, aimed at transforming rail services across the region, would see two trains per hour in each direction through Melksham and could lead to new stations in Corsham and Devizes.
With an estimated cost of £30 to 50 million, the project could be delivered with a series of ‘relatively low-cost’ infrastructure upgrades, including platform reinstatement at Westbury and Chippenham, a passing loop at Melksham, and improvements at Thingley Junction.
Transformative
MP Brian Mathew said, “This is the start of something transformative for Wiltshire. Where good transport leads, housing and economic opportunity will follow. We all know that public transport, and in particular the rail service, is not at the level we’d like in Wiltshire and I am a committed to working hard to try to improve this.”
At the meeting, attendees explored how targeted rail investment could unlock sustainable housing growth, reduce traffic congestion and boost economic opportunity.
Brian Mathew said, “The Metro’s vision is rooted in the ‘Connected Cities’ model, inspired by garden city principles. It proposes gentle-density housing development within a 1km radius of improved or new stations, creating walkable, rail-linked communities along the A350 corridor.”
Funding options under consideration include developer contributions via land value uplift and support from the National Wealth Fund.
A planning workshop is scheduled for 11th September with the view of pushing the project forward to a strategic outline business case.
New services
Improvements to rail services through Melksham could be delivered as early as next year. New independent train operating company Go-op has been given the green light to operate services between Taunton and Swindon. Go-op will compete with Great Western Railway (GWR), a public service operator.
Work to support infrastructure development has also begun, with a major study on platform reinstatement at Westbury set to be complete by the end of the year. Providing an additional platform in Westbury is critical to enabling more frequent services and supporting the case for a new station at Devizes.
Pictured: The meeting of key stakeholders and local councillors
