| Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
Under Pressure! [[Bristol Parkway]] - 1075/3035 Written by Michelle Last on Monday, 15th January 2007 I like the cheesie theme and maybe mine's a little tenuous... I noted a dialogue conerning the the Westbury and Cheltenham service - since the the timetable changes in December I am no longer able to get from Bradford-on-Avon to Bristol Parkway - it stops at Patchway instead! Not helpful. Desperate to hear from anyone with a similar dilemma to reinstate what was clearly not a popular enough service in FGWT's eyes! [i][Edit by moderator ... Michelle, I've split the topic as it deserves its own thread. Re: Under Pressure! - 1075/3043 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Monday, 15th January 2007 Michelle - welcome to the board. Am I right in saying the the North to East curve at Bristol no longer has a rush hour train service - it's "via Temple Meads" for everyone? Not quite my area. All over the region, journeys like yours, and my customers, have been slashed. If my customers want to arrive in Melksham at 09:00, they could leave at 07:45 until December. Now they must leave on the last train before and sleep at Swindon before catching the 06:19 onward, which is cancelled more often than it runs. In fact, of 12 major travel opportunities / flows that were previously catered for, NOT ONE is catered for now. I've not come across the Patchway v Parkway issue before - and I guess now that the old service is gone and the people are disipated, it would be hard to find them. If you want to be active about it, you could hand flyers out to people who leave Patchway station in the morning off the effected trains, or visit the offices in the Parkway area. Try HTV and the BBC, go to the meeting in Bath tomorrow night and ask around there. Just a few thoughts ... Re: Under Pressure! - 1075/3055 Written by Graz on Monday, 15th January 2007 Hey Michelle, as a former passenger using these direct trains I can sympathise. I used to travel from Cheltenham Spa to Oldfield Park, a direct train left there at 17:01- the Worcester Shrub Hill to Frome service. I can't emphasise enough how convenientand comfortable this service was to me, as it was a nice easy journey home from University. (and normally a comfortable 2-3 car 158 as well.) I must have taken this train hundreds of times. Many travellers from Yate travelled direct to Bath and beyond, and the train was full by Bristol Parkway. I remember an elderly couple enquiring on how to get to Castle Cary from Cheltenham, and the station manager told them to get that train and change at Westbury- to which they were surprised and very pleased a direct train took them so far. I noticed these trains had disappeared from the draft timetables- and protested at the draft stage. But they were cut all the same, and I'm sure it displaced many direct travellers such as yourself. When I occasionally travel to Cheltenham again I won't be able to get this train, even if changing at Bristol Temple Meads as it arrives 2 minutes after the Westbury train has departed Bristol. So I'd have to get the packed Virgin Voyager service. Now that I think of it, I will suggest to FGW that we have direct trains between Cheltenham and Westbury/Frome again via Bristol. Not too many, just one at peak like before (northbound AM southbound PM). They were so convenient for many passengers like me and you, and it's a real shame to have seen them gone. :( Re: Under Pressure! - 1075/3056 Written by Lee on Monday, 15th January 2007 [quote author=Graz link=topic=1075.msg3055#msg3055 date=1168880019]Now that I think of it, I will suggest to FGW that we have direct trains between Cheltenham and Westbury/Frome again via Bristol. Not too many, just one at peak like before (northbound AM southbound PM). They were so convenient for many passengers like me and you, and it's a real shame to have seen them gone. :([/quote] Chris and I examined a similiar option (link below.) http://www.shinewithstyle.co.uk/literature/Draft%20Greater%20Bristol%20Metro%20Proposals%20RMT%20edited.pdf Re: Under Pressure! - 1075/3064 Written by Graz on Monday, 15th January 2007 I'm afraid I'm going to be deviating off topic Lee! But I hadn't seen that, and I applaud you and Chris for the proposal. Although to make me even happier, start the Yeovil/Weymouth service from Cheltenham Spa ;D I'm honestly not sure what I'd prefer: Severn Beach - Yeovil services, or Cheltenham Spa - Yeovil. I think Severn Beach - Yeovil may be a better option, but, a peak time service from Frome/Yeovil - Cheltenham AM and back PM definitely wouldn't hurt. Anyway, I'll definitely add the suggestion to First when I finish writing the email. Re: Under Pressure! - 1075/3068 Written by streety7 on Monday, 15th January 2007 [quote author=Graz link=topic=1075.msg3055#msg3055 date=1168880019] Not too many, just one at peak like before (northbound AM southbound PM). They were so convenient for many passengers like me and you, and it's a real shame to have seen them gone. :( [/quote] I note that there were northbound and southbound trains in the AM and PM... I am pretty sure there was a southbound train in the AM from Cheltenham to Westbury... Then a train arriving at Cheltenham from Westbury at around 0845.. In the afternoon, as you mention the 1701 Cheltenham - Frome service (starts from Worcester Shrub Hill)... And then a northbound service in the late evening from Southampton Central - Gloucester, arriving at 0002. I remember seeing somewhere else on the forum someone who used this late night Southampton - Gloucester service as it was so useful to them, but I can't remember where... Re: Under Pressure! [[Bristol Parkway]] - 1075/3538 Written by martyjon on Sunday, 28th January 2007 Should be relieved in the short term with the construction of a third platform at this (Bristol Parkway) station well underway. MG Re: Under Pressure! - 1075/3540 Written by Graz on Sunday, 28th January 2007 [quote author=Chris Street link=topic=1075.msg3068#msg3068 date=1168896736] [quote author=Graz link=topic=1075.msg3055#msg3055 date=1168880019] Not too many, just one at peak like before (northbound AM southbound PM). They were so convenient for many passengers like me and you, and it's a real shame to have seen them gone. :( [/quote] I note that there were northbound and southbound trains in the AM and PM... I am pretty sure there was a southbound train in the AM from Cheltenham to Westbury... Then a train arriving at Cheltenham from Westbury at around 0845.. In the afternoon, as you mention the 1701 Cheltenham - Frome service (starts from Worcester Shrub Hill)... And then a northbound service in the late evening from Southampton Central - Gloucester, arriving at 0002. I remember seeing somewhere else on the forum someone who used this late night Southampton - Gloucester service as it was so useful to them, but I can't remember where... [/quote] Many people got on the morning service too, but I didn't get that one quite so often as it was normally packed full by the time it got to Oldfield Park (and it arrived a little late at Cheltenham quite often- 9:45, I think...). Although, under Wessex it was very often 4 cars in length, 2 of which detatching at Gloucester. Both trains were very well used. I wouldn't be lying if I said FGW have made a mistake there. Just out of interest, who would use that late-night Gloucester service? Last train of the evening...arrived past midnight, I think! [Quote]Should be relieved in the short term with the construction of a third platform at this (Bristol Parkway) station well underway. MG[/Quote] Very good point. More capacity- less likely this train will hold up already late Voyagers, or get severely delayed going down to Frome in the evening having to wait for free platforms. link to index of articles |
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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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