COMMUTERS could catch direct trains from Swindon to Oxford for the first time in eight years if the country’s first co-operative rail firm secures official approval.

The Go! Co-operative is seeking investors to fund a revolutionary route from Yeovil to Swindon and onto Birmingham.

The co-operative needs to raise £250,000 from investors to support its initial work - which is to travel from Yeovil Junction, to the Midlands, via Yeovil Pen Mill, Frome, Westbury, Melksham, Trowbridge, Chippenham, Swindon and Oxford.

Yesterday Keith Vingoe, the CEO of the Go! co-operative, based in Bristol, said the firm was hoping to run four trains a day on the route by 2011 – and eventually wants all trains to travel as far as Birmingham.

The company hopes to bring together passengers, the local community and employees in order to create a real alternative to private car use and improve links between main lines to smaller towns and villages.

Mr Vingoe said that because most of the bigger rail companies focus on large routes out of London, Birmingham and Manchester leaving “second cities” like Swindon and Oxford to fend for themselves.

He said: “I think most people find it curious that there is no direct service between Swindon and Oxford for example, Birmingham also doesn’t have a direct train to either town.

“These are routes with demand but the larger companies don’t service them.

“Our business model is very similar to that of the discount airlines a few years ago, before that you couldn’t get anywhere unless the massive airlines like Pan-Am didn’t fly there.

“That has all changed now, it is very interesting to look at facts and figures focusing on where people live as opposed to where they work – feeder towns are becoming more common.

“After all one of the key things behind privitisation is to maximise use of the rail system.”

Mr Vingoe’s comments come off the back of a recent report to MPs which found the Swindon to London train journey on First Great Western was the most expensive like-for-like journey anywhere in Europe, at 70p per mile.

Launch events will take place on April 20 and 21 in Yeovil, Trowbridge, Swindon and Oxford.

The co-operative is looking for small investors willing to put up £100 for 100 shares. So far £50,000 has been raised.

Mr Vingoe added: “This will be the first time a co-operative has managed to get into the rail industry. It’s a great opportunity for people who become members to have a say in the running of a train operating company.”

To become a member requires a minimum of 500 shares, with each share costing £1, and applications can be made via the prospectus on the website http://www.go-now.coop/workspace/uploads/files/offer_document_%28web%29.pdf.

More information can be viewed on visit www.go-now.coop.