New Go-op train service between Swindon, Taunton and Weston-super-Mare approved by ORR

[Killingworth]

So fundraising is still low and they have only achieved 1% of their 'reduced' target after one month of launching the campaign.

Without much support, it seems that this novel idea will not succeed and will pass into the long distance-such a shame after to much effort have been put into it.

£2,600,000 by 7th March 2025 at 5:00pm? Currently 67 investors have pledged £49,215. That is such a big shortfall one has to wonder what Go-op's directors have up their sleeves. They look to be mature men of the world who must surely have sounded out supporters to be assured that at least £1m or so would be forthcoming?

Practical aspects of actual operations look somewhat optimistic but become academic if there isn't a major uplift in the funding to reach first base very soon.

 

[Meerkat]

£2,600,000 by 7th March 2025 at 5:00pm? Currently 67 investors have pledged £49,215. That is such a big shortfall one has to wonder what Go-op's directors have up their sleeves. They look to be mature men of the world who must surely have sounded out supporters to be assured that at least £1m or so would be forthcoming?

Practical aspects of actual operations look somewhat optimistic but become academic if there isn't a major uplift in the funding to reach first base very soon.

There are many examples of people having plans and just not being able to stop, however many signals they get that it isn’t going to work. Of course sometimes this is because they are getting paid - has anyone in the Go-op set up been making a career out of it?

 

[Snow1964]

£2,600,000 by 7th March 2025 at 5:00pm? Currently 67 investors have pledged £49,215. That is such a big shortfall one has to wonder what Go-op's directors have up their sleeves.

Seems to have been a few bigger investments in last few days, even showing one of the £10,000+ has been taken

Currently at £ 61,740

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/go-op-som-wilts-rail

 

[43096]

Seems to have been a few bigger investments in last few days, even showing one of the £10,000+ has been taken

Currently at £ 61,740

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/go-op-som-wilts-rail

Good to see that "Bring Back British Rail" has invested in an open access competitor to the nationalised railway!

 

[PG]

An update has been issued.

Go-op Co-operative Limited​

22nd January 2025

Successful start!​

To everyone who's backed our campaign so far; thank you!
You’re helping us make history. We’re getting closer to launching the first-ever co-operative train operating company in the South West. This is more than just a railway - it’s a movement, built by and for passengers, demonstrating the incredible impact individuals can have when we work together to bring positive change to our communities.
Go-op has spent over ten years developing a route to connect poorly served stations in the west country. The direct services between Taunton and Swindon call at towns such as Frome, Melksham and Castle Cary that have for years had little more than two-hourly service, and provide valuable connections which will also open up new opportunities for travel for residents of Yeovil, Dorchester, Salisbury and Bridgwater. The new service is seeing support from not only potential passengers, but also local councils, fellow co-op organisations, and railway and transport communities.
We believe innovation and meaningful change don’t just come from policymakers - they come from people. By supporting Go-op, you’re proving that if communities want something better, we can work together to make it happen. We’re determined to make this a reality, but for us to succeed, we need as many people as possible to hear about our mission and get involved. Please help us keep the momentum going by sharing our campaign with your friends, family, and networks. Every share counts!
Oh, and did you see the recent article about us in The Guardian? Keep an eye out for more stories like this in the press—and help us spread the word about the exciting future we’re building together!

---

You can only post a comment if you have backed this project. Support project

 

[steeevooo]

I suppose it all comes down to what one defines as a "successful start"!

 

[Harpo]

I suppose it all comes down to what one defines as a "successful start"!

Quite. I note that the ‘Support Project’ link at the end of their puff skips the embarrassing ‘donated so far’ page and jumps straight to ‘invest’.

 

[Killingworth]

Now at £73,065 from 93 investors after a surge at 12.53 today.

 

[The exile]

Melksham has pretty sparse service (considering how the town has grown).

The western end of the line points on the wrong direction really (sorry, Trowbridge) so getting to Bath and Bristol requires a change.

 

[Class15]

Good to see that "Bring Back British Rail" has invested in an open access competitor to the nationalised railway!

Likely frustrated by the way the railways are being run, and the railway is not going to be nationalised, freight will still be privately run, as well as open access.

 

[overthere 2]

Minehead is not a regular market, it's not particularly large, and it's not really that untapped. Running services on and off the WSR over the NR connection will just be awkward as all trains must use the relief line between Taunton and the junction.
Taunton is not a particularly large destination in it's own right and that area is not especially close to anywhere that might be (primarily Bristol). Whereas Swindon-Westbury axis does interact with the GWR services to/from Bristol and is very much within regular commuting range, with towns of people who might regularly commute.

You are right about them both being not very big but that is why I think it would work because as I say for work, education (college) and health I doubt there is much or any provision in the area so people would need to travel. As for Minehead Im guessing when you say "not really that untapped" or "not a regular market" you are talking about a bus service? which I would say: In the morning and evening rush hour is the road between Minehead and Taunton/M5 so empty you could play a game of football in the road and only get out of the way for the full or standing bus or is the bus empty and you take your life in your hands crossing the road? also Butlins seem to have large car parks which indicates that like most people if it is a choice between car and bus, bus wins everytime.


If the service takes off and makes money then what could happen is a single track could be laid from the junction to the bay platform at Taunton with a set of points on to the main line. The Go-Op services could run down the line and over the points on to the main line in the morning and evening and WSR trains could run in to the bay during the day.

 

[Bald Rick]

If the service takes off and makes money

To put it in context, the number of regional services in the south west of England that cover their costs on a year round basis is precisely zero.

 

[duffield]

You are right about them both being not very big but that is why I think it would work because as I say for work, education (college) and health I doubt there is much or any provision in the area so people would need to travel. As for Minehead Im guessing when you say "not really that untapped" or "not a regular market" you are talking about a bus service? which I would say: In the morning and evening rush hour is the road between Minehead and Taunton/M5 so empty you could play a game of football in the road and only get out of the way for the full or standing bus or is the bus empty and you take your life in your hands crossing the road? also Butlins seem to have large car parks which indicates that like most people if it is a choice between car and bus, bus wins everytime.


If the service takes off and makes money then what could happen is a single track could be laid from the junction to the bay platform at Taunton with a set of points on to the main line. The Go-Op services could run down the line and over the points on to the main line in the morning and evening and WSR trains could run in to the bay during the day.

"If the service takes off and makes money then what could happen is a single track could be laid from the junction to the bay platform at Taunton with a set of points on to the main line. "

I thought we'd already established in many previous discussions that, due to changes since the removal of this track, there is now insufficient room and the main lines would need slewing (and various equipment cabinets would need moving) at likely vast expense in order to reinstate it. But I suppose it doesn't matter as they're not actually proposing to run west of Taunton anyhow.

 

[overthere 2]

Taunton is not a particularly large destination in it's own right and that area is not especially close to anywhere that might be (primarily Bristol). Whereas Swindon-Westbury axis does interact with the GWR services to/from Bristol and is very much within regular commuting range, with towns of people who might regularly commute.

Meant to add this in post #371, but there is one thing to do in Taunton. A bloke with a massive car collection has taken over an old department store and turned it in to a museum.

Here is the website www.countyclassicsmotormuseum.co.uk

Any combination of heritage and mainline is probably doomed. Think about the nightmare that SWR running to Swanage and Swanage Railway running to Wareham turned into.

The reason they failed was because the SWR service only went to Corfe castle, the Swanage service was stupidly expensive and they both ran sporadically from mid morning to mid afternoon which was useless for both residents of Swanage wanting to "go out" and visitors wanting to "come in".

 

[brad465]

If this development goes all the way, among others, then the case for improving the service through Melksham, and/or at least adding a passing loop on the branch, will increase:

Massive 500 homes scheme approved despite local fury

Plans approved - much to upset of locals

www.somersetlive.co.uk

Plans for up to 500 homes have been approved by a Wiltshire Council planning committee, despite the council receiving 198 letters relating to the scheme.

The homes will be located in Melksham East, on land at Blackmore Farm on Sandridge Common, where the existing agricultural buildings will be demolished.

Plans for up to 500 homes have been approved by a Wiltshire Council planning committee, despite the council receiving 198 letters relating to the scheme.

The homes will be located in Melksham East, on land at Blackmore Farm on Sandridge Common, where the existing agricultural buildings will be demolished.

The application was considered at the strategic planning committee meeting on Thursday, January 23.

Attendees heard about issues that were causing “a great deal of concern to the local community”, such as the safety of the A3102 access and the pressure of such a development on local facilities.

The vice chair of Melksham Without Parish Council, Cllr David Pafford, suggested the proposal was “cutting corners” and leaving “any perceived problems to be resolved later under a future section 106 agreement”, a process he claimed local councils are “excluded” from.

Mrs Teresa Strange, clerk to the parish council, argued that the development would be bigger than many villages in Wiltshire without adequate facilities.

Cllr Nick Holder noted that although he did support “plan-led development at this site”, 500 houses were “too many”.

Gleeson Land previously submitted plans for 650 dwellings on the same site but was turned down by Wiltshire Council in March 2024.

Managing director of Tor and Co, Jacqueline Mulliner, was present at the meeting to speak on behalf of Gleeson Land.

She listed some of the contributions proposed by the applicant, such as £76,000 of local cycle and walking improvements, £750,000 of bus service enhancements, £118,000 for a 3G artificial pitch at Melksham Community Campus, and £513,000 towards NHS healthcare improvements.

The developer has already reportedly provided contributions to enhancing bus services in the area, among other infrastructure contributions, maybe Go-Op could go asking them for a contribution to the rail service too.

 

[The Planner]

If this development goes all the way, among others, then the case for improving the service through Melksham, and/or at least adding a passing loop on the branch, will increase:

Massive 500 homes scheme approved despite local fury

Plans approved - much to upset of locals

www.somersetlive.co.uk

The developer has already reportedly provided contributions to enhancing bus services in the area, among other infrastructure contributions, maybe Go-Op could go asking them for a contribution to the rail service too.

I expect the bus service is as far the developer will go with section 106.

 

[brad465]

I expect the bus service is as far the developer will go with section 106.

Yes I expect that would be the case, especially as prospective OAO's are much less worthy of investing towards than an entity like GWR.

If it's in any way possible though to get developers to contribute more and/or in more applications towards improving railway infrastructure, I think they should, particularly given public finances are tight (my public sector organisation is certainly good at using partnership funding for making key projects happen where government funding is insufficient).

 

[Snow1964]

Now over 100 investors

£81,165 (3% of target) with 35 days rempaining

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/go-op-som-wilts-rail

 

[YouLostAStar]

"Go-op Co-operative Limited​

31st January 2025

The journey continues: growing support for Go-op​

Thank you for championing co-operative ownership!
We are bringing the benefits of the co-op system to the passenger rail sector for the first time ever. Through Go-op, passengers will have a direct voice in the specification and delivery of routes, and staff will be empowered to set the highest standards for delivery. As you know, this current share offer is to launch our first rail service from Taunton to Swindon and Weston-Super-Mare, but our mission is to continue to innovate across multiple routes and different modes of transport, all in pursuit of the same grand goal: to enhance mobility while reducing the social and environmental impacts of transport.
Our Crowdfunder is in full swing, and thanks to your help, we’ve already raised over £80,000! There’s obviously still a long way to go, but we’re confident we can get there with the support of our community. Since before this campaign was launched, the Go-op team has been hard at work behind the scenes - getting in touch with institutional investors and having encouraging conversations with local government, co-ops, social investment funds, regional capital investors and community groups to gain support for our open-access rail services. If you know anyone else, an individual or an organisation, that you think we should talk to, please let us know!
By investing, sharing our campaign on social media, or just telling a friend, colleague or family member about Go-op, you’re joining a growing community of like-minded individuals and businesses who believe in public transport owned by its users and workers; a system designed to bring essential rail services to the heart of our communities.
If you want to spread our message, why not share a recent article about us? For example, our Vice Chair and Acting Operations Director Alex Lawrie did an in-depth interview with The Telegraph, published a few days ago (this later made it into the Daily Mail too, of course)."

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/go-op-som-wilts-rail

^ Latest update from Friday on the fundraiser.
32 days left at this point and they need £2518000 with a target of £2600000
I would love to see them hit it but unless there's some big investors out there waiting for the last minute then I don't see it happening

 

[43096]

Go-op Co-operative Limited​

31st January 2025

The journey continues: growing support for Go-op​

Thank you for championing co-operative ownership!
We are bringing the benefits of the co-op system to the passenger rail sector for the first time ever. Through Go-op, passengers will have a direct voice in the specification and delivery of routes, and staff will be empowered to set the highest standards for delivery. As you know, this current share offer is to launch our first rail service from Taunton to Swindon and Weston-Super-Mare, but our mission is to continue to innovate across multiple routes and different modes of transport, all in pursuit of the same grand goal: to enhance mobility while reducing the social and environmental impacts of transport.
Our Crowdfunder is in full swing, and thanks to your help, we’ve already raised over £80,000! There’s obviously still a long way to go, but we’re confident we can get there with the support of our community. Since before this campaign was launched, the Go-op team has been hard at work behind the scenes - getting in touch with institutional investors and having encouraging conversations with local government, co-ops, social investment funds, regional capital investors and community groups to gain support for our open-access rail services. If you know anyone else, an individual or an organisation, that you think we should talk to, please let us know!
By investing, sharing our campaign on social media, or just telling a friend, colleague or family member about Go-op, you’re joining a growing community of like-minded individuals and businesses who believe in public transport owned by its users and workers; a system designed to bring essential rail services to the heart of our communities.
If you want to spread our message, why not share a recent article about us? For example, our Vice Chair and Acting Operations Director Alex Lawrie did an in-depth interview with The Telegraph, published a few days ago (this later made it into the Daily Mail too, of course).

^ Latest update from Friday on the fundraiser.
32 days left at this point and they need £2518000 with a target of £2600000
I would love to see them hit it but unless there's some big investors out there waiting for the last minute then I don't see it happening

Let's be honest, unless they have some donors in the background waiting to put serious money in, they are completely stuffed. And if they do have those donors waiting, then surely you'd announce it sooner to give the crowdfunding the appearance that it will succeed.

 

[overthere 2]

I thought we'd already established in many previous discussions that, due to changes since the removal of this track, there is now insufficient room and the main lines would need slewing (and various equipment cabinets would need moving) at likely vast expense in order to reinstate it. But I suppose it doesn't matter as they're not actually proposing to run west of Taunton anyhow.

As I said in my original post while I wish them well, I think with what they have got planned they will fail so Minehead is a must on the other hand im not saying spend countless amounts of money to get everything perfect then run the service and find it fails and thus the wasting money.

Instead do what they have already planned but add Minehead as a 2 year experiment and find a way to make do with what infastructure is already there and see what happens, if it makes a loss, scrap it but if it breaks even or makes money then while your are running the experiment do some rough calculations on the back of an envelope to see what the upgrade costs would be and then instead of doing the works needed on their own wait until there is other work that needs doing and lump it in with that so it cuts down on the costs.

Also on another thread somebody showed a map of planned housing (and looking on Google maps I presume a supermarket as there does not appear to be one in the area) on land next door to Norton Fitzwarren junction/station and you can sell a house that is walking distance to a station for a lot more than one with out.

So say to the developer you can have the land in return you pay for the track upgrades needed and to the supermarket you can pay for the station and if they have a cafe it could double up a as a buffet. The station could be as it is at the moment for the Minehead branch only or it could be built next to the junction so it serves the mainline as well, also if the proposed stations are built at Wellington and Cullompton it could be part of a local rail service.

 

[Bald Rick]

So say to the developer you can have the land in return you pay for the track upgrades needed and to the supermarket you can pay for the station and if they have a cafe it could double up a as a buffet. The station could be as it is at the moment for the Minehead branch only or it could be built next to the junction so it serves the mainline as well, also if the proposed stations are built at Wellington and Cullompton it could be part of a local rail service.

What sort of guarantees do you think the developer need from the train operator to commit to spending the extra multi-millions on the ’track upgrades’?

 

[Berners17]

Alex Lawrie will be on Frome FM tomorrow at 1200 to talk about the current Go-Op situation. I hope to ask some pertinent questions whilst giving him the chance to get a few more investors interested. Frome FM is on 96.6fm locally to Frome and online simultaneously at www.frome.fm CLICK listen live

 

[43096]

Alex Lawrie will be on Frome FM tomorrow at 1200 to talk about the current Go-Op situation. I hope to ask some pertinent questions whilst giving him the chance to get a few more investors interested. Frome FM is on 96.6fm locally to Frome and online simultaneously at www.frome.fm CLICK listen live

You could start by asking how he thinks they'll get £2.5M in the next 4 weeks, considering they have managed just £82k in the last six weeks.

 

[overthere 2]

What sort of guarantees do you think the developer need from the train operator to commit to spending the extra multi-millions on the ’track upgrades’?

When a developer is given permission to build they usually have to give some money to the council towards building or upgrading local services, providing amenities (social centres, sports fields etc), environmental things or upgrades to transport. So in this case they hand over the cash to the council then the council give it to Network Rail also in the planning they could insist that the station is the "hub" with the "spokes" being footpaths/cycle lanes leading from all the surrounding houses.

Its also worth looking at post #11 in this thread: www.railforums.co.uk/threads/south-wales-electrified-infrastructure-pretty-ugly-local-residents-say.281383/ , and clicking on the link to the newspaper article (post#1) brings this from the comments section:


"What will affect house prices in Windemere Avenue will be the new Roath Park station. According to Nationwide houses 500m from a station in other cities enjoy a premium of between 6% and 10%."

Alex Lawrie will be on Frome FM tomorrow at 1200 to talk about the current Go-Op situation. I hope to ask some pertinent questions whilst giving him the chance to get a few more investors interested. Frome FM is on 96.6fm locally to Frome and online simultaneously at www.frome.fm CLICK listen live

Did you get to ask him any questions and did anything interesting come out?

 

[Simon11]

You could start by asking how he thinks they'll get £2.5M in the next 4 weeks, considering they have managed just £82k in the last six weeks.

Did anyone listen to it and learn anything new?

Since that radio interview, they have managed to raise an additional £1,525 in five days.....

With only 106 supporters, it certainly gives the impression that local people in the area that would benefit from Go-Op operations certainly are not interested and there is likely to be low demand for these services. Plus within that 106 supporters, I would assume that quite a lot of people don't actually live in the catchment area anyway!


As time goes on, its does seem strange that any communications from Go-OP to raise the money seems that say the same things and there doesn't appear to be any concern or challenges raised to them that they appear to be really struggling without any glimmer of any major investment on the horizon. For now, they keep 'waving' their flags looking all rosy while if this were to be a professional private sector firm launching this, they would have had a much stronger strategy/ plan or would have drop their idea years ago.


Heck, SVR has received almost £36,000 in donations from many hundreds of supporters, as well as practical offers of help from a number of sources within just five days!!!!!

 

[Ashley Hill]

Would there be any support for such a service if it was operated by GWR?

 

[stuu]

Also on another thread somebody showed a map of planned housing (and looking on Google maps I presume a supermarket as there does not appear to be one in the area) on land next door to Norton Fitzwarren junction/station and you can sell a house that is walking distance to a station for a lot more than one with out.

So say to the developer you can have the land in return you pay for the track upgrades needed and to the supermarket you can pay for the station and if they have a cafe it could double up a as a buffet. The station could be as it is at the moment for the Minehead branch only or it could be built next to the junction so it serves the mainline as well, also if the proposed stations are built at Wellington and Cullompton it could be part of a local rail service.

The last segment of land due to be developed in Norton Fitzwarren is going to have 300 houses built on it. Wellington railway station was/is expected to cost £20m+, so a station at NF would presumably be a similar price. That would be £66k for every house, when £10-15k is the going rate for CIL

 

[The exile]

Would there be any support for such a service if it was operated by GWR?

People wouldn't need to dip into their pockets long before the service started (or at least if they did, it would be through taxation about which they would have no choice until the next election).

 

[brad465]

The last segment of land due to be developed in Norton Fitzwarren is going to have 300 houses built on it. Wellington railway station was/is expected to cost £20m+, so a station at NF would presumably be a similar price. That would be £66k for every house, when £10-15k is the going rate for CIL

What does CIL mean?