News of official clearance for a new Swindon-Oxford rail service has been widely welcomed.
The restoration of a link has been the subject of extensive campaigning in recent years, including by Swindon Borough Council, Swindon South MP and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Swindon North counterpart Will Stone.
Backers say the link will have economic benefits not just for Swindon but for the wider region.
in the latest development, Government body the Office of Rail & Road has given the green light to a bid by Great Western Railway to establish a direct two-hourly service, daily apart from Sundays, between Bristol, Swindon and Oxford.
However, the change is dependent on national infrastructure body Network Rail putting new level crossing safety measures in place.
Swindon South MP Heidi Alexander said: "I’m so pleased that GWR have now got clearances from the relevant authorities to run a weekday direct train service from Swindon to Oxford.
"The weekend trial has been very popular and this new direct weekday service will offer a quick, convenient alternative to driving.
"As one of Swindon’s two MPs this is something I have long pushed for in conjunction with my parliamentary colleague Will Stone for Swindon North and Swindon Labour Councillors.
"As soon as we’ve got a confirmed date for the service to start, we’ll be sure to let everyone know.
"Better transport connections for Swindon are proof of what Labour Councillors working with Labour MPs and a Labour Government can achieve for our town.
"With more money going into fixing our broken roads and with the first rail fares freeze in 30 years, this is all good news for Swindon."
He added: "A direct daily train service to Oxford is on the way soon:, starting every two hours, with plans to ramp up to hourly once Oxford station upgrades are complete.
"This connection puts Swindon on the map for the wider East West Rail network, linking us into a major route stretching from Oxford to Cambridge, opening up jobs, opportunities, and easier travel across the region.
"Swindon just got a whole lot more connected."
The news comes hot on the heels of the announcement that Great Western Railway is to return to public ownership on 13 December.
It is some 30 years since the service, along with others throughout the country was privatised.
Heidi Alexander welcomed the change, saying: "This is another significant moment as this Labour government continues to bring our railway back into public ownership and puts passengers first, not shareholders."
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