Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
A look forward to 2006 - 102/214 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Sunday, 1st January 2006
Happy New Year, everyone. What will be happening in 2006?
* In a few week's time, timetabling meetings with Network Rail will set into place timetables for 2007, so the next few weeks represents our last chance to write to the First Group and give them our customer feedback on what would be appropriate and profitable for them. See my sample letter
* On 1st April, the First Group takes over the operation of the services from Wessex Trains, but under the current timetable. I would expect the train crews to be the same staff transferred to the new company (it has to be someone with the route knowledge), but the very top level of management to be replaced - can't have two Managing Directors! The intermediate level ... an open question but I HOPE they retain the good people that we've met
* 10th December - the new timetable comes into force. Unless we manage to persuade First to have a change of heart, 11th December will see the first weekday train to Trowbridge not leaving until about 6 p.m. in the evening ... and the only other one at about 10 p.m. Swindon trains at about 07:30 and 9 p.m. only.
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Save the Train was the campaign to bring an approriate train service back to and through Melksham.
Most big contributors are still around writing at the Coffee shop forum where new members are very welcome.
The train has been saved - sort of - we have stepped back up from an unusable service to a poorish one but it's doing very well. We did that through setting up the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. That fulfilled its early objectives; it has been taken over by local and regional government types who are now doing medium and long term work. The team from this forun can also be found at the Melksham Rail User Group (which was the Melksham Rail Development Group at the time these articles were written and we had no users.
We mustn't loose sight, though, that the train service remains poor and needs our community support in marketing and campaigning to keep it going in a positive direction ... and all the more so when we're expecting to find a different normallity once we get out of the Coronavirus Pandemic and head for zero carbon via the climate crisis. Yes, it's saved ... it's now a key community facility ... the need for enhancement and the strong and near-universal local support remain, and the rail industry and goverment remain slow to move and provide the enhancements even to level us up with other towns. Please support the Melksham Rail User Group - now very much in partnership rather than protest with the rail industry and local government, including GWR, TransWilts and unitary and town councils. And please use the trains and buses, and cycle and walk when you can.
-- Graham Ellis, (webmaster), February 2021
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