Ethos Public Relations Manchester

Co-operative train services on track for change

by Ethos public relations

An innovative community-owned rail service is making tracks to become the UK’s first co-operative Train Operating Company.

Go! Co-operative plans to run services that will see Oxford and Banbury linked with Swindon, Chippenham, Westbury and Yeovil, with some trains running to Birmingham and Weymouth.

“Our mission is to reduce the social and environmental impacts of travel by providing mutually owned, high quality, inclusive public transport services,” says Keith Vingoe, Chief Executive of Go! Co-op.

“And we intend to do this in three ways. We will offer rail services on the national rail network combined with bus and light rail 'feeder' routes and the development of car clubs. Together these will mean really joined up transport.”

Keith added: “We have identified a cross country route that will bring great benefit to local communities from Somerset up to the Midlands. We will be utilising existing track in a new way, to provide a real alternative to car travel.”

The co-operative will apply to run the service under the Office for Rail Regulation’s open access scheme, which allows firms to run routes not served by the main rail franchise operators.

“This will be the first time a co-operative has applied to operate trains on the national network. It’s a great opportunity for people who become members to have a say in the running of a train operating company,” said Keith.

Go! Co-op plans to have trains running from December 2011.

To launch Go! Co-op, public events will take place in the Midlands and South West regions on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 April.

For more information about Go! Co-operative visit www.go-now.coop.

Posted at 12^th April 2010