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Frome to Swindon via Westbury or Bath - 160/382 Written by Ruthg on Sunday, 19th February 2006 I get the Frome to Swindon train via Melksham 5 days a week. I am now dismayed to see that the draft timetable proposes cutting the straight through service from Frome at 7.20 to Swindon for 8.18. Instead the service is going to be a train from Frome at 7.04 originating from Weymouth, offering a connection at Westbury or Bath and arriving in Swindon at 8.03 (very early). I also notice the evening train from Swindon leaves far later than most people would need and now has a connection time of 1 minute!!! at Westbury. Now anyone who gets off at Westbury will have seen me and fellow commuters running now for our connection, which is supposed to be 10 minutes but never is, 1 minute is just laughable. To make matters worse this proposed tain at 7.04 is not only going to replace the 7.20 but also the 8.12 to Bristol Temple Meads, which is popular and always packed with standing room only by Bradford on Avon.There will be another train to Bristol Temple Meads leaving at 9.03 (a time not suitable to most commuters) Me and fellow commuters at Frome can't quite believe that First Great Western think it is a good idea to cut a peak time commuter train and I've heard comments such as "they don't pay us enough to get up at 6 a.m. everyday" and 'we'll have to move or get another job." It's ironic really because I moved here having read Frome was a commuter town with good connections to Swindon, Bath and Bristol. I also notice apartments are being built down near the station presumably being advertised as suitable for train commuters. Re: Frome to Swindon via Westbury or Bath - 160/384 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Monday, 20th February 2006 Ruth, thanks for joining in here. I'll look to post what I know of answers in the next coupls of days ... I'm actually working in Dublin this week - just got here off the ferry - but I will have a chance to put in a couple of hours this evening. One question that stands out - that one minute connection. I have asked first about that (one of four questions) and they "don't yet have an answer" as to whether or not they will be offering any sort of guarantee. But there are a few odd holes and inconsistencies in the timings we're invited to comment on - for example, the train from Swindon is shown as being overtaken by a train from Bristol between Trowbridge and Westbury. Err .... I think an update is needed. Re: Frome to Swindon via Westbury or Bath - 160/387 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Tuesday, 21st February 2006 Answering some questions ... (forgive briefness - I'm on a slow hotel line) 1. I have been asked about ongoing connections from Westbury (e.g. to Frome) and I have asked First in turn. They say that they don't yet have an answer for me on what will (and what won't) be a connection. 2. There will be no cheap day return fares to London bookable on the day from Melksham. As both of the trains that connect to London do so into rush hour trains, the standard class fare will be 108 pounds. No special derogation will be offered because "it could lead to abuse of the system further up the line" according to Nikki Lake of First. 3. The Melksham Rail Development Group continues to actively lobby; they're much more of a behind-the-scenes operation ... I have come out screaming and shouting on this web site and they are taking the different approach. In my judgement, having both approaches active and having decision makers hearing in all sorts of different ways is the best way. 4. Wiltshire County Council directors plead poverty and lack of responsibility when asked to support the train service. There are, though, a number of councillors and officers who are as supportive as they can be. WCC is in favour of retaining the service at a decent level, but I have yet to find any decision maker who can / will put resources into meeting that goal. Re: Frome to Swindon via Westbury or Bath - 160/390 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Tuesday, 21st February 2006 JUST RECEIVED ... an answer on connections [i]Dear Mr Ellis We have now received a response from our Timetable Planning department regarding the 3rd and 4th points that you raised with us. "3. Re: Frome to Swindon via Westbury or Bath - 160/392 Written by Nick Field on Tuesday, 21st February 2006 So the way I read it - If your travelling from beyond Swindon on a delayed express and wanting to connect with the Melksham train they will hold the Melksham train for you. This in turn could then mean some poor sod not affected by your delay could well miss their onward connection at Westbury due to the local train being held for you? But thats tough on them because there are later trains they could catch ??? Re: Frome to Swindon via Westbury or Bath - 160/393 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Tuesday, 21st February 2006 Yes, Nick - that's the effect. Ita also means - in theory - that the 07:37 from Westbury to Swindon would NOT be held in the morning if the train coming up from Weymouth was late, but the 19:13 in the evening WOULD be held. If have a feeling that rules made, and sensible, for regular interval / frequent services are being applied to infrequent services where a different criteria might apply. I expect that potential travellers on other lines that are down to a skeleton service, such as Newquay, will be driven away if their mainline trains prove to have a poor record and occasionally miss the connection Re: Frome to Swindon via Westbury or Bath - 160/395 Written by Nick Field on Tuesday, 21st February 2006 [quote author=Graham Ellis link=topic=160.msg393#msg393 date=1140543543] I expect that potential travellers on other lines that are down to a skeleton service, such as Newquay, will be driven away if their mainline trains prove to have a poor record and occasionally miss the connection [/quote] My cynical side says thats what they want - so then they have the perfect excuse to cut the service completely at a later date :-X Re: Frome to Swindon via Westbury or Bath - 160/413 Written by Ruthg on Wednesday, 1st March 2006 Graham from what you've been told about connections it will force me to have to use an alternative route via Bath in the evening. The 1 minute connection time to Frome from Westbury is just too risky. I know this journey is one made by at least 3 others at that time of day so I'm sure we'll all have to go via Bath, meaning of course that there will be less commuters on the Melksham train making it yet more vulnerable. :-\ Re: Frome to Swindon via Westbury or Bath - 160/414 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Wednesday, 1st March 2006 Ruth - the timetable is just a draft ... make your inputs by 8th March. Re: Frome to Swindon via Westbury or Bath - 160/415 Written by Ruthg on Thursday, 2nd March 2006 Graham, thanks for the info about the overtaking train. I have written some letters and will be sending them shortly. 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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