South West Trains gets green light for more services

Rail regulator the Office of Rail and Road has approved additional South West Trains services on the West of England Line from Monday December 14.

Half-hourly services will run from London to Tisbury, Gillingham, Templecombe, Sherborne and Yeovil Junction between 1520 and 1920.

Ten trains on weekdays connecting Yeovil Junction and Yeovil Pen Mill.

Two new daily services connecting Bruton directly with London for the first time.

Two new daily direct services between Castle Cary and Frome and Basingstoke, Woking and Clapham Junction.

Yeovil Junction, Sherborne and Templecombe will have two additional afternoon trains - the 1350 from London Waterloo and 1553 from Yeovil Junction.

Two trains per hour from Exeter to Honiton between 1600 and 1800.

Yeovil Pen Mill will have six direct trains from and two trains to London Waterloo each weekday.

Half-hourly late afternoon and evening South West Trains services will run between Salisbury and London Waterloo.

As well as the new services, South West Trains has introduced a programme to refurbish all 30 of the Class 159s on the West of England route.

South West Trains Managing Director Tim Shoveller said: “We had some great feedback from local communities, and we have taken these views on board and made changes where appropriate. We look forwarding to launching the new services as part of the December timetable change.”