At London Waterloo Station on 14th December local MP David Warburton, launched the new direct train service from Bruton and Frome to London Waterloo.
At 12.50, press and public gathered at Waterloo Station to send off the first of the new service trains to the West Country.
The service, run by Salisbury-based South West Trains (SWT) will be formed of 3-coach Class 159 trains notable for their bright red seats and complete with First Class and on-board catering. The trains are the best performing in their class and are also currently being upgraded by SWT.
The new service will run at 17:12 from Bruton and at 17:24 from Frome direct to London Waterloo, and return from Waterloo at 12:50 each weekday. An additional two trains to Salisbury will also give an evening service running almost hourly to Westbury, with regular onward connections to Bath and Bristol.
David Warburton said, “The launch of this new service by South West Trains is great news for Frome and Bruton, giving us a much-needed boost to our rail links and a welcome reduction in gaps in the timetable.
“We’ve struggled for a long time to get more trains in this area so this is a tremendously exciting development, and the Class 159 will no doubt provide an excellent on-board passenger experience.
“While this new connectivity is a great start for Bruton and Frome, I will continue to push for additions to the timetable – it’s important that we get a regular service to London at weekends, for instance – and there will be many, like me, who want to see earlier trains running to London from our area. But this is a great start and I hope the beginning of decent connectivity for Frome and Bruton.”
