Plans to restore direct Bristol to Oxford trains

Great Western Railway (GWR) says it plans to run direct services between Bristol and Oxford for the first time in more than 20 years.

GWR said it hopes to run two return Saturday services between the cities from 14 September, in a trial, as a response to an increase in demand.

The service will also include stops at Bath Spa, Chippenham and Swindon.

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said they were "always looking" at ways of "improving connectivity".

"Changing customer patterns since Covid have provided a clear opportunity for us to expand our leisure offering and the Bristol-Oxford route is one which offers real potential," he added.

A direct service between the two cities last ran in 2003.

The proposal is still being discussed and needs approval from the Department for Transport (DfT) and Network Rail.

If approved, the trial service would run until December.

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