Go-op has officially launched its £2.8 million crowdfunding campaign, to raise the money needed to get services up and running in 2026.
The co-operative open access operator, which received Office of Rail and Road approval in November to start running services from Taunton to Swindon via Westbury and Melksham, and from Taunton to Weston-super-Mare, held two events on December 18 to unveil its share offer and business plan.
Members have the chance to invest in ‘community shares’, which Go-op said “focuses on steady returns, a blend of social and financial reward, and broad-based, democratic management”.
On its Crowdfunder page, people can pledge amounts ranging from £25 to £10,000 with various levels of rewards on offer. As of January 7, 58 people had pledged a combined total of £41,565 to the project.
Go-op Chairman Alex Lawrie has estimated that £1m-£1.5m will be required for the eight level crossing upgrades along its routes which must be completed before services can start.
He said: “We have demonstrated our resilience in navigating challenges to reach this point. Now, we confront the significant task of securing investment not only for a dependable service, but also for enhanced safety measures.
“We must guarantee safe track operations and ensure that our trains are operated by expertly trained professionals who prioritise passenger safety.”
The Crowdfund link is https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ go-op-som-wilts-rail.
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