TransWilts Line: community rail designation
Seeks views on the proposal to designate the TransWilts Line (Swindon to Westbury) as a community rail service.
We propose to designate the TransWilts Line (Swindon to Westbury) as a community rail service. This is in line with the department’s Community rail development strategy which offers ‘new life for local lines’, through a community driven approach.
Designation aims to improve the financial performance, value for money and social value of community railways to help make sure of their long term future.
As the ‘Community rail development strategy’ was widely consulted on, this is a short consultation involving local and rail industry stakeholders.
Designation, and more importantly full local engagement with the railway, can provide a real opportunity to positively shape the future of local rail services.
There is an aim to strengthen community rail in the wider rail franchise programme.