Save the Melksham Train
Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
Bus kills traffic - 197/481
Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Thursday, 30th March 2006

When I catch the 17:02 from Melksham to Swindon, it usually leaves Melksham with between 25 and 30 people on board.

Re: Bus kills traffic - 197/482
Written by Nick Field on Friday, 31st March 2006

I'd agree with this.  Something the authorities dont seem to realise is that a journey by rail is much more popular and attracts more passengers than an equivalant bus service.  I've witnessed countless people over the years abandon the station (not Melksham but other stations) to make there own arrangments if there are problems with the trains, also as has been mentioned in the past on this forum if people realise that there is a bus replacement before travelling they will seek an alternative, their car being the most likely.

Re: Bus kills traffic - 197/483
Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Friday, 31st March 2006

Just done a customer run for the 17:02.  Too busy sending 'em off to do much of a count, but there were 6 folks on the platform when the train came in, and about 20 or so on the train.

 
link to index of articles


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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