Much needed improvements to the Swindon to Gloucester railway line moved a step closer today after Transport Minister Andrew Adonis announced £2.5m of Government funding for preparatory research into double-tracking 12 miles of the route.

The stretch of line between Swindon and Kemble was singled-tracked in 1968 and the study is needed before detailed plans for improvements can be drawn up.

Transport Minister Andrew Adonis said: "Doubling 12 miles of the single track between Swindon and Gloucester is an excellent project which has the potential to make a real difference to people travelling through the South Cotswolds on this line. It is also an important diversionary route between South Wales and London when the Severn Tunnel is closed.

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"My Department will now work with the South West Regional Assembly and Welsh Assembly Government to explore other funding opportunities for the full scheme. The co-ordination between three organisations is a demonstration of the importance of this project.

"In total the Government has committed to investing £15bn of public money in the railways in the next five years."

The funding will allow engineers to carry out a full evaluation of the existing route and produce detailed plans for work to be done.

Depending on the outcome of the report and funding for the project being secured, work on doubling 12-miles of single track into two lines on this busy Swindon to Gloucester route could start as early as next year.

(JM/BMcC)