Two gasp-inducingly gorgeous areas of Wiltshire could soon have their rail routes to the Big Smoke reinstated, thanks to a group of local campaigners. The scenic spots in question come in the form of Bradford-on-Avon and Trowbridge; two medieval market towns that haven’t been directly linked to London by train since 2021. Passengers currently have to change at Salisbury or Southampton, racking up the journey time as they do so. But that could be changing very soon.
The West Wiltshire Rail User Group have recently set the wheels in motion on a petition to get the previously direct rail routes to London Waterloo back up and running. The petition comes following a public consultation that was launched by South Western Railway (the train operator that serves the area), asking locals to put their two cents in on what they’d like to change about the current service in order to help shape SWR’s 2027 timetable.
The group of campaigners believe that there would be minimal additional costs associated with getting a direct rail route reinstated as there are already lines linking Bradford-on-Avon and Trowbridge with Salisbury, and Salisbury with Waterloo. Locals are hoping that the two lines can be somewhat combine to create one direct service. Wiltshire Council reportedly said that it would ‘strongly welcome’ the direct train link.
Bradford-on-Avon is filled to the brim with cute cottages and ancient architecture – and has been hailed ‘as beautiful as the Cotswolds‘. Trowbridge, on the other hand, boasts a deeply rich heritage and a pretty impressive green space offering. I think it’s safe to say that a direct train from London to either of these historic hotspots would be welcomed with open arms.
