The Cotswold Line Promotion Group (CLPG) s delighted to announce that its first charter train since 2019 will take passengers from stations along the line to Taunton, Exeter and Torbay.
A nine-car Great Western Railway (GWR) InterCity Express Train (IET) will make the trip to the South West on Saturday, April 22, starting from Oxford and heading to Worcester, before running to Somerset and Devon.
On the return journey, the train will be routed from Taunton to Oxford and will then drop off passengers at stations towards Worcester.
Members of the CLPG, which represents passengers on the line, were given priority to book reserved seats on the train, but non-members are now welcome to make bookings as well.
CLPG chairman John Ellis said: “We know how much our members and people living along the line enjoy being able to catch a direct train to a special destination. We are looking forward to seeing friends old and new. I would like to thank GWR for making an IET available for the day.”
While final timings are subject to confirmation, the train is due to leave Oxford at 06.00, the picking up passengers at Hanborough, Charlbury, Kingham, Moreton-in-Marsh, Honeybourne, Evesham, Pershore, Worcestershire Parkway and Worcester Shrub Hill, where it will depart at 07.36, then call to drop off passengers at Taunton and Exeter St David’s. It is due to reach Paignton at 10.41.
The return journey will leave Paignton at 15.54, calling to pick up passengers at Exeter St David’s and Taunton, before reaching Oxford at 18.53 and then stopping at Cotswold Line stations before terminating at Worcester Shrub Hill at 20.22.
Standard class tickets are £55 for adults (£45 for CLPG members) and £30 for children aged 5 to 16 (£25 for members’ children). Children aged under five can travel free of charge. All first class tickets have been sold. Payment can be made by cheque or using online banking.
Full details of the train and a booking form can be downloaded from the CLPG’s new website at https://clpg.online – any enquiries should be made to Chris Bates at chrisjbates@btinernet.com or call (before 7.30pm) 07803 902030.
Completed booking forms should be returned to: Cotswold Line Promotion Group, Birch Rise, Swan Lane, Great Bourton, Banbury, OX17 1QR. All applications must include a stamped self-addressed envelope, which will be used to send out tickets.
