Save the Melksham Train
Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
Encourage your MP to attend the debate in parliament on TUESDAY - 216/534
Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Sunday, 23rd April 2006

[b]Here is the text of a letter I have sent to my MP encouraging him to attend the debate in parliament on Tuesday.

Re: Encourage your MP to attend the debate in parliament on TUESDAY - 216/535
Written by Nick Field on Sunday, 23rd April 2006

Another email sent to James Gray requesting his attendance  :)

Re: Encourage your MP to attend the debate in parliament on TUESDAY - 216/536
Written by Sion Bretton on Sunday, 23rd April 2006

E-mail sent

Re: Encourage your MP to attend the debate in parliament on TUESDAY - 216/544
Written by Nick Field on Monday, 24th April 2006

Good news in that I have had an email back from James Gray confirming he will be attending this meeting.  I specifically mentioned Swindon to Southampton in my email to him, so I hope this gets a mention in the debate.


Re: Encourage your MP to attend the debate in parliament on TUESDAY - 216/547
Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Tuesday, 25th April 2006

Debate is now on ... I haven't heard whether or not my MP will be attending ...

Re: Encourage your MP to attend the debate in parliament on TUESDAY - 216/550
Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Tuesday, 25th April 2006

Email dictated by MICHAEL ANCRAM ....

Thank you for your message about the debate on trains in the south west held in Westminster Hall this morning.

Re: Encourage your MP to attend the debate in parliament on TUESDAY - 216/551
Written by Sion Bretton on Tuesday, 25th April 2006

looks like I had same mail here is my reply:

Thank you for your message about the debate on trains in the south west
held in Westminster Hall this morning.  It was well attended by MPs from
across the region.  I intervened in the debate to raise the specific
points about Melksham and the reduction in services and also the more
general points about the effects of these reductions on road usage, the
environment, business and the mobility of the elderly.  By definition
these debates are short and more about putting things on the record
rather than getting answers.

I will continue therefore to press Melksham's case.

Michael Ancram


Re: Encourage your MP to attend the debate in parliament on TUESDAY - 216/556
Written by Lee on Wednesday, 26th April 2006

A full account of the debate is available here.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060425/halltext/60425h01.htm#column_183

Re: Encourage your MP to attend the debate in parliament on TUESDAY - 216/557
Written by Nick Field on Wednesday, 26th April 2006

i have received the following press release from James Gray:

MP FIGHTS FOR LOCAL TRAIN SERVICES



Re: Encourage your MP to attend the debate in parliament on TUESDAY - 216/566
Written by Lee on Friday, 28th April 2006

Dr Andrew Murrison stands up for the London Waterloo - Bristol Service.

From the Wiltshire Times website.
http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/latestheadlines/display.var.745254.0.mp_makes_new_bid_for_trains.php



Re: Encourage your MP to attend the debate in parliament on TUESDAY - 216/567
Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Saturday, 29th April 2006

The Waterloo service is a tough one.

Re: Encourage your MP to attend the debate in parliament on TUESDAY - 216/573
Written by Lee on Wednesday, 3rd May 2006

Here is an article that specifically mentions the Melksham service and Anne Snelgrove's contribution to the debate.

From the Swindon Advertiser website :
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/headlines/display.var.746551.0.rail_cuts_will_jam_the_roads.php

 
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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