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| 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 |