TRAINS owned by passengers and staff could be running on the mainline track in Somerset by this time next year.

The co-operatively run rail service between Taunton and Westbury could become a reality after Go-op submitted a formal application to run services in the South West.

Go-op has applied to the Office of Rail and Road to connect the two towns starting in 2023.

There would be 10 ten departures a day, improving service levels in market towns such as Frome and Melksham.

Go-op vice-chairman Alex Lawrie (pictured) 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.

Somerset County Gazette:

“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, equating to some 17.5million 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 £37.5million of productivity gains could result for South West towns served by Go-op.

Go-op services between Taunton and Westbury would also provide connections for services to and from Yeovil, Southampton and Exeter. In addition, half will be extended to Swindon, and others up to Weston-super-Mare.

Somerset County Gazette:

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 professionally handled.

Go-op will be seeking investment from passengers and the local community to make the service a reality. After paying, including a fair rate of interest to investors, remaining profits will be devoted to further improvements to public transport.

Go-op is to launch a £1.1million fundraising appeal to ethically-minded investors who would like to see a sustainable community-owned railway and good potential returns on their investment.

Mr Lawrie says Wiltshire and Somerset county councils, Cross Country Trains and the Department for Transport have all expressed support for the proposal.

Go-op would earn-while-you-learn train apprentice train drivers, community energy specialists and transport planning technicians, bringing new talent and innovation to a struggling industry and protecting communities for the future.