On Tuesday 19 May 2026, Swindon24 reported on the return of direct trains between Swindon and Oxford. The first service left Swindon station at 7am on Monday 18 May 2026, the report said, ending a 23-year gap.
The Great Western Railway (GWR) service runs from Bristol Temple Meads through Bath, Chippenham and Swindon to Oxford. Passengers no longer need to change at Didcot Parkway or Reading.
What did it mean for passengers?
- The fastest Swindon to Oxford journey takes under 30 minutes.
- An introductory fare of £6 for a single, each way, between Swindon and Oxford applied for the first month.
- Swindon North MP Will Stone described the service as an hourly train link.
Mr Stone said: "Given the relatively short distance between Swindon and Oxford, current connectivity is poor." Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary and Swindon South MP, said: "Stronger transport links are vital to unlocking opportunity".
The report set the link in a wider picture: easier access from Swindon to Oxford's universities, research parks and hospitals, and a connection towards the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. Matt Griffith, director of policy at Business West, was also quoted. The report added that GWR was expected to move into public ownership in December 2026 under the government's rail plans.
Source: Swindon24.
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