Modernising travel in the South West
Passengers, communities and businesses in the South West of England will benefit from big changes happening on our railway.
Big Changes in 2020
Trains
- 93 new Intercity Express trains now operating on Great Western Railway
- Biggest timetable change in 40 years for Great Western Railway passengers in December 2019 – 30% increase in trains for 2020
- More room for passengers travelling on CrossCountry trains between Exeter and Bristol with 400,000 extra seats compared to 2018
Stations, tracks, depots
- Worcestershire Parkway Station opened in late 2019
- Bristol Temple Meads historic roof renovation worth £40 million starts 2020
Communities
- In 2020 Great Western Railway has £750,000 available for community projects
- CrossCountry passengers can reserve a seat up to ten minutes before travel by text message
- CrossCountry is partnered with UK Scouts to promote personal safety, with now over 35,000 activity badges awarded
Major upgrade work
- £7.5 billion is being spent on electrifying routes from London to Cardiff, station improvements, and track upgrades
- By summer 2020 Dawlish will have a new £80 million sea wall, boosting the resilience of a vital piece of the regions infrastructure
Changes happening now in the South West
Below are press releases from rail companies in the South West promoting changes and improvements happening in the area.
![Father and daughter railway employees on track]()
Track-engineering father and son keep railway running safelyRailway upgrades by a father-and-son duo are today helping keep critical supplies and key workers moving across Britain. Over...
![Freight trains getting loaded]()
Key railway workers enable 370,000 tonnes of vital food and medicineThis week alone key workers from Network Rail have enabled more than 370,000 tonnes of freight to be moved between west London...
![Construction works on raised line]()
Network Rail on track to reopen East Grinstead lineNetwork Rail remains on track to complete landslip repairs to reopen the East Grinstead railway line for key workers and...
![You vs train promotional materials]()
BPT and Network Rail remind us of the dangers of the railwayWith schools closed for the foreseeable future, and parents seeking to fill their children’s time at home, British Transport...
![All industry logos in joint open letter, TOCs, FOCs, Network Rail and Unions]()
Together we are keeping the country connected for essential travelJoint rail industry open letter: These are exceptional times. COVID-19 is changing how everyone in the UK lives, works and...
![Birmingham New St station interior night time]()
Rail companies run reduced timetable to protect train services & staffWorking together, rail operators have agreed with government a reduction in service levels to help tackle the spread of...
People across the South West support rail companies’ proposals for change
The rail industry recognise the need for big changes, that's why together we submitted proposals for a radical alternative to the current franchising system to the independently-chaired Williams review looking into the future of Britain's railway. We proposed for a more customer focussed, joined-up and accountable railway.
See what’s happening elsewhere in Britain
What big changes do you want?
Rail companies are calling for big changes but what matters to you?
