Great Western Railway will run the first of its restored direct services between Bristol Temple Meads and Oxford this Saturday at 1018, the first in more than 20 years.

The first service from Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads will run at 1203.

In response to growth in demand for leisure travel by train, GWR will operate two return Saturday services between the cities from Saturday 14 September.

A direct service last ran in 2003.

Customers will be able to take in iconic sights for these two popular destinations, with quickest direct journey times between the two cities starting from one hour 11 minutes.

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said:

“We’re always looking at innovative ways of creating new business and improving connectivity. Changing customer patterns since Covid have provided a clear opportunity for us to expand our leisure offering and the Bristol-Oxford route is one which offers real potential.”

Matt Griffith, Director of Policy, Business West said:

“A direct service between Oxford, Swindon, Bath and Bristol would be a real boost to the region and the benefits of living and doing business here. Having direct connectivity between some of the world’s best Universities, businesses and tourist attractions is a fantastic positive and we think will prove very popular.

“We hope this new ‘brain train’ service will grow from strength to strength and make residents, business and investors really excited about all that the great western region has to offer.”

Providing a welcome economic boost with direct services to and from Oxford towards Bristol and beyond, Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning at Oxford City Council said:

“An Oxford to Bristol service is a game-changer for the region, linking two dynamic economic areas and opening up new opportunities for business and leisure.   

“For the first time in 20 years, we will be able to get on a train in Oxford and get off it in Bristol! This makes travel to the whole southwest easier and faster. 

“This project helps unlock our city’s growth potential as well as helping to alleviate traffic congestion around Oxford. It’s a smart, sustainable step forward.” 

With trains stopping at Swindon, the new services offer better connections between the larger cities and the town too.

Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said:

“We are delighted that Great Western Railway is launching the new service as it will make it much easier for local residents to travel to Oxford and beyond. We have already seen improvements to our excellent rail links to Bath and Bristol through the electrification of the main line and this new temporary service will improve that still further.

“I hope the trial is a great success and it leads to permanent and more frequent services.”

GWR has requested to run the following services from September 14, including stops at Bath Spa, Chippenham and Swindon:

1018 Bristol Temple Meads-Oxford

• Calling at Bath Spa (1031); Chippenham (1044); Swindon 1058) and Oxford (1129)

1203 Oxford-Bristol Temple Meads

• Calling at Swindon (1234); Chippenham (1245); Bath Spa (1300) and Bristol Temple Meads (1312)

1518 Bristol Temple Meads-Oxford

• Calling at Bath Spa (1531); Chippenham (1545); Swindon (1600) and Oxford (1631)

1712 Oxford-Bristol Temple Meads

• Calling at Swindon (1746); Chippenham (1758); Bath Spa (1811) and Bristol Temple Meads (1823)

The new services are part of a trial to assess demand and will run until December, running throughout the period of the Bath and Oxford Christmas markets.