| Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
07.00 or 07.02 from Westbury-Cheltenham - 1116/3198 Written by Ruthg on Thursday, 18th January 2007 It was running this morning, unfortunately no one got on or off at Melksham, but I did see a commuter from Melksham who got on at Chippenham instead. Re: 07.00 or 07.02 from Westbury-Cheltenham - 1116/3200 Written by Nick Field on Thursday, 18th January 2007 [quote author=Ruthg link=topic=1116.msg3198#msg3198 date=1169109608] but I did see a commuter from Melksham who got on at Chippenham instead. [/quote] Evidence that people are starting to railhead, when they could be using a station that is more local to them >:( Re: 07.00 or 07.02 from Westbury-Cheltenham - 1116/3201 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Thursday, 18th January 2007 Thanks, Ruth and Nick. I heard earlier this week (and it appeared here) that the morning trains were cancelled all week. So it's possibly not a surprise that there was no-one waiting at Melksham. But, seriously, with 50% cancellation and no backup "via Bath" behind, would you rely on it? If it does run reliably (99.5% of the time) from next Monday (Alison Forster's promise on the radio) or from the end of the month (Andrew Griffith's by email to me), should we ask that First as a gestrure of faith pay for some advertising of the service in the local press along the line? Re: 07.00 or 07.02 from Westbury-Cheltenham - 1116/3213 Written by Dawn on Thursday, 18th January 2007 Hi There were 3 of us waiting this morning at Melksham when a taxi pulled up at about 07:20, it was meant to be a replacement for the earlier train but said he was also booked for a replacement for the 07:17 when he'd done the earlier run and would take us to Chippenham. After Tuesdays experiance of the information point telling us the train was coming until after it was supposed to arrive, and then telling us there was not a train due for 90 mins, we all chose to take the taxi that was there instead of waiting for the train that might or might not have come in the future. We all then got on the train when it arrived late at Chippenham. The conductor told me that FGW had not canncelled the taxis it had booked for the week. So there may be a choice again tomorrow..... Re: 07.00 or 07.02 from Westbury-Cheltenham - 1116/3216 Written by Sion Bretton on Thursday, 18th January 2007 I was going to go for 7.17 out of Melksham, but drove to Trowbridge as I needed to get to work in Bristol. Re: 07.00 or 07.02 from Westbury-Cheltenham - 1116/3217 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Thursday, 18th January 2007 [quote author=Dawn link=topic=1116.msg3213#msg3213 date=1169122523] Hi There were 3 of us waiting this morning at Melksham..... [/quote] Hi, Dawn ... thanks for the update and post and welcome to the forum. I hope for all our sakes the situation gets better soon (we have been promised that it will, but there's been a string of broken promises). I have suggested elsewhere that we ask First to show their committment to the line once the service is reliable "again" (first time in living memory) by paying for some adverts to highlight it in the local papers. What do you think? Re: 07.00 or 07.02 from Westbury-Cheltenham - 1116/3218 Written by Dawn on Thursday, 18th January 2007 Thanks for the welcome. When Wessex introduced the increaced service some years ago (4ish?) a leaflet was distributed advertising it and adverts/articales appeared in one of the free papers (Melksham Independant?). I can't say I noticed a dramatic difference in the number of people using the trains as a result but you never know. I can't remember who produced the leaflet but I seem to remember speaking to a gentleman from a group called something like 'Melksham Train Action Group' I think they also planted the flowers in the planter on the station. I'm not sure if they still exsist but I've a feeling I saw and spoke to someone tending the flowers not that long ago. But as you've probably sussed by now my memory for this kind of detail isn't good. It was interesting when they canncelled the 07:17 on Tuesday that when I rang FGW customer services and asked what alternative transport they were arranging for the 3 of us at Melksham (none of us had gone to the station by car) I was put on hold for a long while until he came back to say he'd just arranged some. However, one of the gentlemen waiting rang his wife to come and pick him up and gave me and the other gentleman waiting a lift too. I had a slight guilt pang that when the transport arrived we would have gone but not enough to ring them back and tell them not to bother! Re: 07.00 or 07.02 from Westbury-Cheltenham - 1116/3220 Written by Lee on Thursday, 18th January 2007 [quote author=Dawn link=topic=1116.msg3218#msg3218 date=1169133909]Thanks for the welcome. When Wessex introduced the increaced service some years ago (4ish?) a leaflet was distributed advertising it and adverts/articales appeared in one of the free papers (Melksham Independant?). I can't say I noticed a dramatic difference in the number of people using the trains as a result but you never know. I can't remember who produced the leaflet but I seem to remember speaking to a gentleman from a group called something like 'Melksham Train Action Group' I think they also planted the flowers in the planter on the station. I'm not sure if they still exsist but I've a feeling I saw and spoke to someone tending the flowers not that long ago. But as you've probably sussed by now my memory for this kind of detail isn't good.[/quote] I believe that you may be thinking of the Melksham Rail Development Group. Here is a relevant link. http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/melkshamrailway/157_Flowers_for_Melksham_Flowers_at_Melksham.html Re: 07.00 or 07.02 from Westbury-Cheltenham - 1116/3223 Written by Lee on Thursday, 18th January 2007 Surprise , surprise. 18:27 Southampton Central to Cheltenham Spa due 21:27 This train will be terminated at Westbury and restarted from Swindon. It will no longer call at: Trowbridge, Melksham and Chippenham. 17:28 Cheltenham Spa to Westbury due 19:24 This train will be terminated at Swindon. It will no longer call at: Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge and Westbury. Full list (you might not want to read it.) Line problem in the Chippenham area. Train services between Bristol Temple Meads and Swindon have been disrupted due to severe weather conditions in the Chippenham area. Delays can be expected. Road transport will be provided between Bath & Swindon. Line problem in the Newbury area. Train services between Reading and Westbury have been disrupted due to severe weather conditions in the Newbury area. Delays may still occur. Line problem between Par and Newquay. Train services between Par and Newquay are being disrupted due to several trees on the line.. Short notice alterations, cancellations and delays can be expected. Road transport has been arranged. Line problem between St Ives and St Erth. Train services between St Ives and St Erth are being disrupted due to a train fault. Short notice alterations, cancellations and delays can be expected. Road transport has been arranged. Line problem between Wokingham and Guildford. Train services between Wokingham and Guildford are being disrupted due to 3 trees on the line at Blackwater. Engineers are working as fast as possible to restore services to normal. Short notice alterations, cancellations and delays can be expected. Line problem at Great Malvern. Train services at Great Malvern are being disrupted due to unsafe station building. Delays can be expected. Roof unsafe and trains unable to call. Line problem in the Appleford area. Train services between Oxford and Didcot Parkway are being disrupted due to an obstruction on the line in the Appleford area. Short notice alterations, cancellations and delays can be expected. Line problem between Twyford and Henley-On-Thames. Train services between Twyford and Henley-On-Thames are being disrupted due to a tree on the line at Wargrave. Delays can be expected. Road replacement is being provided Line problem at Ealing Broadway. Train services at Ealing Broadway are being disrupted due to unsafe roofing at the entrance to Ealing Broadway . Engineers are working as fast as possible to restore services to normal. Short notice cancellations can be expected. No trains are calling at Ealing Broadway an no underground services are running in and out of Ealing station either. Customers are advised to use alternative routes. Line problem. Train services on all routes are being disrupted due to high winds. Short notice alterations, cancellations and delays can be expected. The 50 mph speed restrictions no longer applies between London Paddington and Bristol, Westbury and Oxford. Journey times to and from all destinations will be longer than usual due to the speed restrictions still in force. Service disruption will continue for the rest of today, and there will be a reduced service on most long distance routes. 16:22 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central due 19:40 This train will be started from Southampton Central. It will no longer call at: Portsmouth Harbour, Portsmouth & Southsea, Fratton, Cosham and Fareham. 13:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 16:49 This train will be terminated at Southampton Central. It will no longer call at: Fareham, Cosham, Fratton, Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour. 15:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour due 18:56 This train will be started from Bristol Temple Meads. It will no longer call at: Cardiff Central, Newport South Wales and Filton Abbey Wood. 16:57 Brighton to Cardiff Central due 21:23 This train will be started from Barnham. It will no longer call at: Brighton, Hove, Shoreham-By-Sea and Worthing. 15:39 Southampton Central to Westbury due 16:45 This train has been cancelled. 15:05 London Paddington to Penzance due 20:35 This train will be restarted from Plymouth at 18:35. It will no longer call at: London Paddington, Reading, Pewsey, Westbury, Castle Cary, Taunton, Tiverton Parkway, Exeter St Davids, Newton Abbot and Totnes. 18:00 London Paddington to Taunton due 20:49 This train will be cancelled. This is due to high winds. 17:55 Cardiff Central to London Paddington due 20:00 This train will be cancelled. This is due to high winds. 17:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 18:45 This train will be cancelled. This is due to high winds. 17:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 18:44 This train will be cancelled. This is due to high winds. 16:55 Cardiff Central to London Paddington due 19:02 This train will be cancelled. This is due to high winds. 16:35 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 18:42 This train will be cancelled. This is due to high winds. 16:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington due 17:41 This train will be cancelled. This is due to high winds. 16:00 London Paddington to Taunton due 18:46 This train will be cancelled. This is due to high winds. 15:55 Cardiff Central to London Paddington due 18:02 This train will be cancelled. This is due to high winds. 15:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central due 17:20 This train will be cancelled. This is due to high winds. 15:00 London Paddington to Weston-super-Mare due 17:15 This train will be cancelled. This is due to high winds. 14:55 Cardiff Central to London Paddington due 17:02 This train will be cancelled. This is due to high winds. 14:46 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington due 16:56 This train will be cancelled. This is due to high winds. 14:15 Paignton to London Paddington due 17:22 This train will be cancelled. This is due to high winds. 14:28 Weston-super-Mare to London Paddington due 16:41 This train has been cancelled. This is due to high winds. Re: 07.00 or 07.02 from Westbury-Cheltenham - 1116/3226 Written by Nick Field on Thursday, 18th January 2007 I have just heard that part of the roof at Chippenham Station has blown off :o and that there are 'no trains' I am unsure if that means the line is completely closed or that trains are passing through without stopping. Re: 07.00 or 07.02 from Westbury-Cheltenham - 1116/3227 Written by Ruthg on Thursday, 18th January 2007 I left work because I saw all the cancellations and managed to get the late running 14.26 from Swindon to Bristol Temple Meads which was running 1hr20mins late. We were diverted via Bristol Parkway as no trains were going through Chippenham because of debris on the line. I have subsequently been told it was the roof of the footbridge which was blown off. The conductor on the train I managed to catch from BTM to Westbury believed it may have been cleared and that was at approx 6pm. Took me 3 hours to get home to Frome. :'( Hi Dawn I spoke to someone from Melksham at Swindon this morning, was it you? Re: 07.00 or 07.02 from Westbury-Cheltenham - 1116/3228 Written by Nick Field on Thursday, 18th January 2007 [quote author=Ruthg link=topic=1116.msg3227#msg3227 date=1169146312] I have subsequently been told it was the roof of the footbridge which was blown off. [/quote] They have only just refurbished that! Re: 07.00 or 07.02 from Westbury-Cheltenham - 1116/3238 Written by Dawn on Friday, 19th January 2007 [Hi Dawn I spoke to someone from Melksham at Swindon this morning, was it you? [quote][/quote] Yep, that was me. Hi to you too. 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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