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

[Cowley]

If we could keep any further posts after this on topic now please.

Thank you.

 

[Bringback309s]

Any updates regarding this? Is it now dead in the water?

 

[stuu]

It was never alive

 

[Cach17]

My assertion that Go-op is the railway equivalent of Baltia Air Lines has yet to be disproven, so...

 

[PG]

I somewhere in the previous 500+ posts it was mentioned that the access rights granted by the ORR expire if they are not used by a certain date - December 2026 IIRC? After that I think death can be pronounced officially...

 

[greatkingrat]

From the decision letter:

46.These conditions precedent will include a requirement to evidence, to ORR’s satisfaction and within 12 months of the contract being entered into:
• the necessary finance to start operations;
• the necessary finance to fund £1.5m of level crossing enhancements in advance of operations commencing; and
• that the necessary rolling stock has been secured.

So yes, the rights will lapse in Dec 2026 unless a miracle happens.

 

[pdeaves]

From the decision letter:

46.These conditions precedent will include a requirement to evidence, to ORR’s satisfaction and within 12 months of the contract being entered into:
• the necessary finance to start operations;
• the necessary finance to fund £1.5m of level crossing enhancements in advance of operations commencing; and
• that the necessary rolling stock has been secured.

So yes, the rights will lapse in Dec 2026 unless a miracle happens.

I read somewhere (earlier this thread? elsewhere?) that they were looking for an 'operating partner'. I take that to mean talking to some of the big players 'can you run these trains on our behalf?'. It will be interesting to see if they can pull a rabbit out of a hat on that one, but even if (if) successful it would go against the 'co-op' ethos.

 

[TheLastMinute]

From the decision letter:

46.These conditions precedent will include a requirement to evidence, to ORR’s satisfaction and within 12 months of the contract being entered into:
• the necessary finance to start operations;
• the necessary finance to fund £1.5m of level crossing enhancements in advance of operations commencing; and
• that the necessary rolling stock has been secured.

So yes, the rights will lapse in Dec 2026 unless a miracle happens.

I think the deadline is sooner than December 2026. The ORR letter stated 12 months from when the "contract" was signed. I assume this would be the Track Access Contract that was signed with Network Railway on 28 April 2025. That being the case, they would have until the end of April 2026 to prove to ORR that they have the £2.6 million plus a lease of 4 x 153 units.

3.2 (f) The Train Operator has provided to ORR evidence satisfactory to ORR of the following:

(i) that it has entered into a contract scheduled to expire on or after the Expiry Date to procure no fewer than four Class 153 units;​

(ii) that it has the necessary finance, equivalent to one million and one hundred thousand pounds (£1,100,000), to commence operation of the Services; and​

(iii) that it has the necessary finance to fund level crossing enhancements in advance of operations commencing that mitigate the risks on the eight identified level crossings to the satisfaction of Network Rail, up to the March 2024 estimate of one and a half million pounds (£1,500,000)​

<SNIP>

3.3.2 The Train Operator shall use reasonable endeavours to secure that condition precedent contained in Clause 3.2(f) is satisfied as soon as practicable, and in any event not later than the date falling 12 months after the date of this contract

<SNIP>

3.4.1 If the conditions precedent set out in Clauses:

b) 3.2(f) has not been satisfied in full on or before the date falling 12 months after the date of this contract, this contract shall lapse​

 

[Russel]

How many applications have Go-Op made now, I'm sure they have proposed a few different routes over the years?

 

[ainsworth74]

How many applications have Go-Op made now, I'm sure they have proposed a few different routes over the years?

Many but this is the first that's been approved (subject to caveats noted in the above few posts).

I maintain that ORR's scheme here was to kill Co-Op style operations off permanently by giving Go-Op access rights and then when confronted with the reality of actually getting an operational service off the ground ends up sinking.

 

[The exile]

Many but this is the first that's been approved (subject to caveats noted in the above few posts).

I maintain that ORR's scheme here was to kill Co-Op style operations off permanently by giving Go-Op access rights and then when confronted with the reality of actually getting an operational service off the ground ends up sinking.

Or indeed it getting one stage further - actually launching then collapsing due to insufficient resourcing (crew, working trains etc) to queer the pitch for any future similar bids.

 

[TheLastMinute]

Or indeed it getting one stage further - actually launching then collapsing due to insufficient resourcing (crew, working trains etc) to queer the pitch for any future similar bids.

I suspect the requirement for Go-Op to have £1.1 million available to cover operational costs is intended to ensure there's enough cash to keep the service running for a little while should it ever actually start.

It really wouldn't be fair on anyone, but particularly the staff and passengers, for the regulator to want them to fail after they start operating. Much better to draw a line in the sand with a deadline before people make live changing decisions, which is what the ORR seem to have done.

 

[pdeaves]

It really wouldn't be fair on anyone, but particularly the staff and passengers, for the regulator to want them to fail after they start operating. Much better to draw a line in the sand with a deadline before people make live changing decisions, which is what the ORR seem to have done.

Yes. ORR seems to have tried very hard to be as gentle as possible whilst still dealing properly with harsh realities.

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes to be clear I'm not suggesting that the ORR are there willing them to fail! More that there is an element of "You've applied so many times, in so many different configurations, here have a go! Sink or swim! If you swim happy days for everyone, but if you sink then lets draw a line under all this shall we?".

 

[The exile]

Yes to be clear I'm not suggesting that the ORR are there willing them to fail! More that there is an element of "You've applied so many times, in so many different configurations, here have a go! Sink or swim! If you swim happy days for everyone, but if you sink then lets draw a line under all this shall we?".

Indeed. Credible (and justifiable) hurdles which offer a degree of protection should the project fall at the next one without being punitive.

 

[Killingworth]

From Co-op News​

‘One last chance’ for Go-op passenger train co-operative​

The co-op, which wants to operate underserved routes in the south west, has until May to secure funding – or lose track access​

See; https://www.thenews.coop/one-last-chance-for-go-op-passenger-train-co-operative/

February 26, 2026

Ciarán Daly
Go-op, which hopes to launch co-operatively owned rail services between Taunton and Swindon, says it has until May to secure funding.
Launched in November 2024, Go-op was set to be the UK’s first co-op rail operator, with plans to run services between Swindon, Taunton, and Weston-Super-Mare.
It promised more train services on an underserved route, as well as a different kind of ownership model: 50% owned by consumers, 25% by workers, and the rest by social investors.
But when railway regulators offered Go-op track access rights up to 2030, this came with several conditions: namely, that Go-op would need to secure £3.6m worth of funding by May 2026 and launch services by December of this year, or else lose its track access. Following several unsuccessful fundraising attempts over the years, including a public share offering and a crowdfunder, the co-op is running short of time.
Go-op says there is “now one last chance” for investors to get involved and save the co-operative.
“The business case is as strong as ever,” operations director Alex Lawrie told Railway Gazette, “and we’ve not held back from offering strong returns on investment – keystone investors have the opportunity to double their money.
“But the fact of the matter is that with time running out for delivery of the new services, we’re hearing from investors large and small that factors outside Go-op’s control are making it impossible for them to commit to the investment that is required.”
With the Labour government looking to gradually re-nationalise passenger train services by 2027 as private contracts expire, Lawrie said “an impression of government hostility to future open access rail” has “drowned out the actual support from the Department for Transport for this particular service”.
Go-op added that a variety of factors, from underinvestment to industrial disputes, have “severely damaged” rail’s reputation – and that “hidden structural biases” in business funding have created “unnecessary obstacles” for the co-op.
“Investors that recognise the inherent strengths of rail as mode of transport,” said Lawrie, “and respond to the specific strengths of this proposal rather than historic impressions of the whole industry, will find a fundamentally sound proposition.
“Regardless of the outcome of this particular contract, Go-op will continue to work towards public transport that is accountable to its users; and will explore more innovative approaches to mobilising investment in the Taunton – Swindon corridor.”

 

[anthony263]

Its a good idea on paper but I doubt we'll ever see this service happening

 

[Horizon22]

From Co-op News​

‘One last chance’ for Go-op passenger train co-operative​

The co-op, which wants to operate underserved routes in the south west, has until May to secure funding – or lose track access​

See; https://www.thenews.coop/one-last-chance-for-go-op-passenger-train-co-operative/

If truly the "business case remained as strong as ever", it would be further down the pipeline by now.

 

[dgl]

"Factors outside our control", yes that'll be the financial viability of the service then.

 

[duffield]

The following quote from the above article makes it sound like they've all but given up (my bold emphasis added):

Go-op says there is “now one last chance” for investors to get involved and save the co-operative.

“The business case is as strong as ever,” operations director Alex Lawrie told Railway Gazette, “and we’ve not held back from offering strong returns on investment – keystone investors have the opportunity to double their money.

“But the fact of the matter is that with time running out for delivery of the new services, we’re hearing from investors large and small that factors outside Go-op’s control are making it impossible for them to commit to the investment that is required.”

 

[The Planner]

Saying they launched in November 2024 is stretching it a bit. They said they would be starting back in 2010-2011 running to Birmingham Moor St

 

[stuu]

It's a stupid idea and I live in Taunton and I like trains. Are there really that many potential passengers who would use a direct train but are currently put off by changing at Temple Meads?

 

[steeevooo]

If truly the "business case remained as strong as ever", it would be further down the pipeline by now.

To be fair, the business case probably is as strong as ever. It's just that it was never even mildly strong in the first place.

 

[The exile]

To be fair, the business case probably is as strong as ever. It's just that it was never even mildly strong in the first place.

In fact it’s probably slightly less weak than it was in 2021/22 just post COvid

 

[-Colly405-]

From Co-op News​

‘One last chance’ for Go-op passenger train co-operative​

The co-op, which wants to operate underserved routes in the south west, has until May to secure funding – or lose track access​

See; https://www.thenews.coop/one-last-chance-for-go-op-passenger-train-co-operative/

I genuinely thought we'd seen the last of this

 

[PG]

I genuinely thought we'd seen the last of this

Seen maybe; but I'm pretty sure we've not heard the last of it - they'll want to get as much mileage as possible out of it!

 

[zwk500]

I genuinely thought we'd seen the last of this

We might not have much longer to look, from the tone of that press release. The main question is whether they'll call it themselves or drag it out until their access rights expire.

 

[Annetts key]

To be fair, the business case probably is as strong as ever. It's just that it was never even mildly strong in the first place.

Given the general improvement in passengers numbers I would guesstimate that the business case is probably better now than when this plan was put together. Now, whether it's good enough, that's another matter. Certainly, it's currently not looking like this project will be funded.

The trouble is, ultimately, until someone tries running the services, no one will ever know if the proposed services are actually viable.

It's a stupid idea and I live in Taunton and I like trains. Are there really that many potential passengers who would use a direct train but are currently put off by changing at Temple Meads?

I think you maybe missing the point. Going via Bristol Temple Meads is literally going the long way round for some of the journeys that these proposed services are intended to provide. It's not about passengers travelling from the starting station to the terminal destination. But rather about providing better local services.

 

[brad465]

Their best hope is the next Euromillions' jackpot winner donates that money to the cause (which would be under 3% of the current jackpot). But the chances that a Brit winning it and then proceeding to donate that is probably less than someone winning the jackpot twice in their lifetime.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Their best hope is the next Euromillions' jackpot winner donates that money to the cause (which would be under 3% of the current jackpot). But the chances that a Brit winning it and then proceeding to donate that is probably less than someone winning the jackpot twice in their lifetime.

Maybe their 'One last chance' is the tickets they bought for the next draw.