Town Council supports campaign to retain direct Bedwyn to Paddington rail service

The Town Council has agreed at its Planning Committee meeting (November 17) to write to the Department of Transport to support Transition Marlborough’s campaign to keep the direct rail service between Bedwyn and Paddington.

If electrification of the line stops – as is planned at present – at Newbury, passengers from Bedwyn to London would always have to change into crowded trains at Newbury or Reading.

Hungerford Town Council have already written to the department in support of the campaign.  

Councillor Guy Loosmore urged fellow councillors to act because to lose the direct service was “Just not on – it’s totally contrary to government policy of investing in infrastructure.  If we do not do it we will regret it later.”

Four councillors are going up to London on Tuesday – probably from Bedwyn station – to visit the House of Commons and meet the Rail Minister who is their MP, Claire Perry.  The Chairman of the Committee, Councillor Mervyn Hall, said he will make the point to the Minister – ‘firmly’.