TRAIN services will not stop at Appleford every day from December as part of the programme of electrification.

First Great Western said it was the result of reduced services required to allow Network Rail to access the relief lines Over the summer, Network Rail started the process of electrifying the Great Western Main Line, which is expected to be completed by 2016. It means having to erect gantries along the line between London Paddington and South Wales to hold cables.

First Great Western spokesman James Davies said reduced services elsewhere because of this process would mean trains between Oxford and London will be longer, so cannot stop at Appleford on Sundays. He said: “We cannot stop six car trains at Appleford unless we lock the rear three carriages out of use from Didcot. This reduces the number of seats available for customers, as well as disrupting the journey for those sitting in the rear three units.

“Having looked at data for usage from Appleford, and found an average of less than one person on many trains, and none at all on others on a Sunday, we have decided not to lock the rear three carriages out of use, but to change the timetable for Appleford.”

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Richard Webber, county councillor for Sutton Courtenay and Marcham, said: “It is most unfortunate this is happening. It is going to cause an enormous amount of disruption and I don’t think the public has really had enough say.”

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