Liberal Democrat MPs from the South West are celebrating a transport victory after Great Western Railway (GWR) reversed its plans to introduce routine stops at Old Oak Common for trains heading to London Paddington. Following significant lobbying efforts, the railway operator has confirmed that services will now only stop at the new station when there is “good reason to do so.”

Lewis Clarke www.devonlive.com 

The decision comes as GWR prepares to expand its fleet with 26 additional trains. Critics had argued that forcing express services to halt at Old Oak Common would have added unnecessary delays for passengers travelling from the South West.

In a joint statement, the group of MPs said: “This is a huge victory for families and commuters living across our region.

“We already face significant levels of disruption on the railway network, and adding an additional stop at Old Oak Common that benefits no one would only have compounded these issues.

“It is right that this decision has been reversed and trains will now only stop with good reason.

“There is still work that needs to be done to ensure smooth journeys for people travelling from the South West, whether they are taking a short trip within the region or heading all the way to London. It’s frankly unacceptable. However, this announcement is a step towards improved services that we Liberal Democrats are determined to deliver.”

The announcement follows a briefing by the Peninsula Rail Taskforce, which had been pushing for improvements to South West rail connectivity. The Liberal Democrat MPs who signed the statement include Martin Wrigley ( Newton Abbot ), Anna Sabine (Frome and East Somerset), Tessa Munt (Wells and Mendip Hills), Cameron Thomas (Tewkesbury), Ian Roome ( North Devon ), Roz Savage (South Cotswolds), Caroline Voaden ( South Devon ), Sarah Gibson (Chippenham), Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton), Steve Darling ( Torbay ), Max Wilkinson (Cheltenham) and Rachel Gilmour ( Tiverton and Minehead).

As part of the lobbying efforts, Martin Wrigley pressed the rail minister in a Westminster Hall debate on January 14, calling for confirmation that fast services from the South West should be allowed to pass through Old Oak Common without stopping.