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CLPG’s 2017 charter train links the Cotswolds with the Somerset coast

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This year’s Cotswold Line Promotion Group charter train combines fast running on the Great Western main line with a trip through the Somerset countryside on the West Somerset Railway heritage line to the seaside resort of Minehead,

The excursion on Saturday, September 23, is only the second time a CLPG charter has reached Minehead. The first Cotswold-Quantock Express ran in 2010.

Many seats on board the Great Western Railway (GWR) High Speed Train have been snapped up already by members of the group, which represents passengers on the rail route between Oxford, Worcester and Hereford, but tickets are now on sale to the general public as well.

A limited number of first class tickets are still available, along with plenty of seats in standard class.

The train will leave Oxford at 7.45am, calling to pick up passengers at Hanborough, Charlbury, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Shipton, Kingham, Moreton-in-Marsh, Honeybourne, Evesham and Pershore en route to Worcester Shrub Hill. It will leave Worcester at 9.20am, running via Bristol and Taunton, and arriving at Minehead at 1pm.

The return train will depart from Minehead at 5.20pm, running via Swindon and Didcot to reach Oxford at 8.25pm. The train will then make the same stops as the outward journey to drop off passengers, arriving in Worcester just before 10pm.

Standard class tickets are £50 for adults (£40 for CLPG members) and £20 for children aged 5+. Children aged under five can travel free of charge. First class tickets are £90, or £85 for CLPG members, but there are no child discounts in first class.

CLPG chairman John Ellis said: “We know how much our members and people living along the line enjoy being able to catch a direct train to a special destination. We are looking forward to seeing friends old and new. I would like to thank GWR for again making an HST available to us.”

Booking forms can be downloaded from the group’s website at clpg.org.uk.

Completed booking forms, along with a cheque for the relevant amount, made payable to the CLPG, should be posted to:

Brian Clayton (CLPG)
Newhaven
Greenway Road
Blockley
Moreton-in-Marsh
GL56 9BQ.

All applications must include a stamped addressed envelope, which will be used to send out tickets in September. Anyone who would like confirmation of a booking is asked to provide an email address or an extra SAE.

Inquiries about tickets can be made by phone to Mr Clayton on 01386 701528 or by email to [email protected], or to the group’s chairman, John Ellis, on 01386 841253. Please note that anyone requiring first class seats is advised to check availability before making a booking.

Rail improvement work in the Oxford area Summer 2017

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Dear All,

I’m writing to advise that there will be some changes to rail services in the Oxford area this summer as Network Rail upgrade the layout of tracks south of the station. There are also some works to stations, bridge repairs and removal of now defunct signalling equipment.

The works takes place between 22-30 July and is fully explained on the attached leaflet.

Detailed train and replacement bus times can be found online at GWR.com. Use the online point to point journey planner, or visit http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/pockettimetable/ search and create a bespoke timetable.

I would be very grateful if you could circulate this information around your contacts in an effort to raise awareness, and if you have any questions please do get in touch.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Andy.

Andy McRae | Senior Project Manager (Communications) – Possession Delivery | Great Western Railway
3rd Floor | Milford House | Milford Street | Swindon | SN1 1HL
E: [email protected] | M: 07720 720060

Ascott Train Services December 2015

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Ascott Station December 2011
Ascott Station December 2011

After a break last year, Ascott-under-Wychwood residents will once again be able to catch a train on Saturdays to go shopping or enjoy a day out in the run-up to Christmas, thanks to the Cotswold Line Promotion Group.

Great Western Railway (GWR) has agreed to a request from the group for trains to make special stops at the Oxfordshire village’s station on Saturdays from November 28 to December 19, giving people the chance to go shopping in Oxford or London and visit Worcester’s popular Victorian Christmas Fayre. Similar services were provided in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Regular Saturday stops at the station were withdrawn in December 2006 but the CLPG believes that following the substantial investment in a second platform at Ascott as part of the redoubling of the line in 2011, it should have a better service than the current one weekday peak train into Oxford and one back.

The hope is that the reinstatement of regular Saturday trains and extra weekday services would make rail travel a much more attractive option for villagers and also encourage people to use trains to visit the Wychwoods area.

CLPG chairman John Ellis said:

I am delighted that GWR has again agreed to make extra stops at Ascott in the four weeks leading up to Christmas. The CLPG believes that there is a substantial suppressed demand for additional regular services to and from Oxford and London, and we will continue to campaign for this.

Take-up of the Christmas stops will be important in demonstrating that demand and I hope that the local communities will make good use of these services.

The following trains will stop at Ascott-under-Wychwood on Saturdays November 28 and December 5, 12 and 19.

The 07.10 from Hereford to London Paddington will call at 09.00. The train is due to arrive in Oxford at 09.25 and London at 10.44.

The 11.12 from London to Worcester and Great Malvern, which leaves Oxford at 12.23, will call at Ascott at 12.49, reaching Worcester Foregate Street at 13.44, while the 15.11 from London (16.23 from Oxford) to Great Malvern will call at Ascott at 16.47.

In addition, on November 28 only, the 17.49 from Great Malvern (18.02 from Worcester Foregate Street) to London will call at Ascott at 18.59 to allow visitors to the Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre to return home.

William Crossley
Cotswold Line Promotion Group