AN ambitious move to launch the UK’s first co-operatively managed rail service in the South West has moved a step closer.

Bristol-based Go-op has handed in a formal application to run new rail services in Somerset and Wiltshire following planning over the past 12 years.

Go-Op has applied to the Office of Rail and Road to run services between Taunton and Westbury, starting in autumn 2023.

This will see ten departures a day, improving the service levels in growing market towns such as Frome and Melksham.

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Alex Lawrie, vice chairman at Go-op, said: “Go-op has taken several years of careful research and planning to ensure that our plan is both compliant with the highest standards of rail operation, and commercially viable too.

“As a co-operative, not only can Go-op improve transport links for some of our important local growing towns but we could help reduce CO2 emissions by 2.7 million kilogrammes annually if people move their journeys to our railway.”

Independent experts estimate that as many as 40 per cent of passengers would be new to the rail network and this equates to some 17.5 million seat miles each year, with a significant number likely to shift from travelling by car.

A Go-op study of productivity benefits shows up to £37.5 million of productivity gains could result for towns in the South West served by Go-op.

The settlements that Go-op is bringing significant ‘agglomeration benefits’ to include Yeovil, Castle Cary, Frome, Melksham, Chippenham and Taunton itself.

Go-op services between Taunton and Westbury will also provide much-needed connections for services to and from Yeovil, Southampton and Exeter. In addition, half will be extended to Swindon, and others up the Somerset coast to Weston Super Mare.

Mr Lawrie added: “As a co-op, members of the public and Go-op employees will own and manage the organisation, with train operation and day-to-day running being professionally run, just like any other train business.

“But unlike other train operating companies, Go-op will be seeking investment from passengers and the local community to make this service a reality.

“What's more, Go-op does not distribute profits to private owners - after paying all expenses (including a fair rate of interest to investors) all remaining profits will be devoted to further improvements to public transport.”

With a target of £1.1 million, Go-op is to launch a funding round focusing on ethically-minded investors who would like to see a sustainable community-owned railway and good potential returns on their investment.

Following an industry consultation, Wiltshire Council, Somerset Council, Cross Country Trains and the Department for Transport have all expressed support for the proposal.

Go-op is also looking forward to train new apprentice train drivers, new community energy specialists and new transport planning technicians, bringing new talent and innovation to a struggling industry and protecting communities for the future.

Apprentices will earn whilst they learn, qualifying to work for the UK’s first community-owned train company and elsewhere in the sector.

Mr Lawrie added: “A debate about private versus nationalised rail system misses out the benefits that a co-operatively owned train business can bring.

“We are confident that we can bring together the benefits of a community and worker focus to create a sound commercial operating model.”

GWR and Network Rail recently convened a working group to study ways in which the timetable in the Westbury area could be optimised to deliver improved customer benefit and network performance.

Go-op introduced its proposed timetable so that any new services that do gain regulatory approval will be fully integrated into the new timetable and thoroughly tested for any adverse impacts on existing operations.