Save the Melksham Train
This is an archived page.
Please see [here] if you're looking for the current "Save the Train" home page.
Please see [here] for the TransWilts site.
Friday, 26th March 2010. Launch of TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. Bridge House, Trowbridge, from 19:30
An exciting new step forward to rejeuvenation of the line, its service and its use
BUSY, EXCELLENT MEETING ... see [here] for initial report
Train service remains dire - southbound from Swindon at 06:15 and 18:45, northbound from Westbury at 07:02 and 19:35. Please pledge your support if you would like to see an increase to six trains a day -
arriving Swindon at 07:48 08:53 11:50 14:50 17:36 and 20:19,
returning at 06:18 09:02 12:02 15:02 17:55 and 18:45.


Keynote for 2010

Forum archive ... Blog archive

Decision Makers - Addresses
Addresses for decision makers and major influencers - Great Western Franchise timetabling / Tuning. These are the people that should be lobbied NOW in order to save the train service from Southampton and Salisbury via Trowbridge and Melksham to Chippenham and Swindon.

a) I understand that the ultimate decision is laid at the door of Derek Twigg and Alastair Darling (former Transport secretary, a role now filled by Douglas Alexander).

Derek Twigg
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DR

email - derek.twigg@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Douglas Alexander
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DR

email - douglas.alexander@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Both Douglas Alexander and Derek Twigg are very busy and must rely heavily on the advise of their Rail team at the Department for Transport. The following team members (all at Marsham Street) are involved.

Roger Jones - Franchise Specification Manager
email - roger.jones@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Peter West - in charge of the Greater Western franchise operation
email - peter.west@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Mike Mitchell - Director General, Rail Group
email - mike.mitchell@dft.gsi.gov.uk

David Hibbs - Community and rural rail
email - david.hibbs@dft.gsi.gov.uk

John Gilbert - Divisional Manager, Rail Contract Procurement
email - john.gilbert@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Peter McCarthy - Head of Rail Customer and Stakeholder Relations
email - peter.mccarthy@dft.gsi.gov.uk

b) Much of the recommedation on services is made by the Government offices in the regions - and in the case of the Southampton to Swindon service the main player is.

Andrew Seedhouse
Transport Team
Government Office for the South West
2 Rivergate
Temple Quay
Bristol
BS1 6EH

email - swtransport@gosw.gsi.gov.uk
and - andrew.seedhouse@gosw.gsi.gov.uk

Views of the importance of this player differ, but I listened to him at the meeting of the South West Passenger Transport User Forum last week. He was listening rather than talking, but clearly taking some resposibility.

c) County Councils have the ability to "buy in" to services and if there's a political will there, things CAN be achieved - look at Devon and Cornwall.

George Batten
Director on Environmental Services
Wiltshire County Council
County Hall
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JD

email - georgebatten@wiltshire.gov.uk
and copy - ericegar@wiltshire.gov.uk

Iain Reeve
Head of Transport Policy
Hampshire County Council
The Castle
Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 8UJ

email - iain.reeve@hants.gov.uk

d) Should a train service from Swindon to Southampton be retained, it would be operated as a part of the Great Western Franchise by the First group. It's an excellent idea to copy the following on your inputs. Although they do NOT make final level of service decisions, they're in a very strong position to recommend and they would also be the ones to implement any improvements.

Alison Forster
Managing Director
First Great Western,
Milford House,
1, Milford Street
Swindon
SN1 1HL

email - alison.forster@firstgroup.com

Julian Crow
Operations Manager, South West
First Great Western,
Milford House,
1, Milford Street
Swindon
SN1 1HL

email - julian.crow@firstgroup.com

Other team members involved:

Lesley Colman - Customer Liaison Manager
email - lesley.colman@firstgroup.com

Jane Jones - Co-ordniation, Timetable Consultations
email - jane.jones@firstgroup.com

Glenda Lamont - Director, Commercial Services
email - glenda.lamont@firstgroup.com

This document / list prepared by ...
-- Graham Ellis
404, The Spa, Melksham, Wilts, SN12 6QL
01225 708225 graham@wellho.net
March 2006

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