Save the Melksham Train
Six NEW factors why the TransWilts train that serves Melksham should be enhanced and not cut

1. Ticket sales from and to Melksham station (served only by trains on that route) rose from 20390 in 2003-2004 to 27485 in 2004-2005 - that's a 35% increase in tickets

2. Weekend and offpeak use of the line has increased. As a long standing user of this service, I have felt that it has been getting busier. When I became aware of the proposed new frachise service level, I noted down some current figures and can tell you that weekend services I have used in the last couple of months have conveyed 35 and 22 passengers respectively.

3. The local transport plan for Wiltshire puts this line at the heart of its rail strategy. "The Swindon / West Wilts / Southampton service should be developed as it has considerable potential to help relieve local transport and environmental problems". It is my understanding that this strategy was being revised at the same time as the franchise bid levels, and so it may not have been considered when the levels were being set for the bid requests.

4. Consultations and Invitation to tender for the franchise were concurrent activities, so there was little or no stakeholder input into the proposed service levels. (Indeed, there were discussions held as to how consultations might be minimised) Such input has now become more available and should be considered. The fact that no input was received at a time that no input had been requested cannot be used to draw the conclusion that the local community does not care about the rail service! See next point.

5. I became aware as a private individual, and operator of a local business in Melksham, of the proposed level of service from a newspaper article in August, and it came as a surprise. In order to gauge support along the travel corridor of the railway, I wrote to the local paper and put up a web site (ref 6). In the following month, some 500 different people visited the web site and some 60 went to the trouble of completing forms of support to add their name to the cause. A meeting called with little publicity - and by me as a private individual - drew some 30 people to a meeting with a similar number of apologies received.

6. Business and housing development in Melksham, the removal or reduction of medical facilities at the intermediate towns served and their concentration at the end of this railway line, and the building of the County record office at Chippenham (as an offshoot of the council which is based in Trowbridge, also on the route) are all recent factors that will lead to a continued growth of use of this railway service over the next year ... and beyond should the service still be offered.

*** All of the above came to light AFTER the Strategic Rail Authority drew up their Invitition to Tender with the through services on the West Wilts route totally withdrawn.

*** These are additions to the other good reasons already listed for saving the service - see main web site

*** There IS a variation mechanism in place under which the Department for Transport can vary the level of service to be provided at the preferred bidder stage, or after the award

Written 2005-10-07 08:13:45

Available entries ...

Welcome to News and Views
Welcome to News and Views
The story so far
Looking slightly wider
Don't let this become history!
Meeting, 20th September - getting nervous
Encouraging traffic not just warm words
Official (Government) view ... and I agree
Excursion!
Don't believe everything you hear
Old pictures. Not to be repeated event
Meeting!
Great meeting but just a start.
35% Growth in one year - Melksham ticket statistics
Swindon to Trowbridge
Regularity, Reliability, Realistic connections
Core meeting
Didn't you read page 52 of web document?
An easy timetable - Melksham to Chippenham and Swindon
Would this government close a station completely?
Quotes from Government
Tuesday, 18th October - Kiss and Ride day
And more train users ...
Try the train on 18th October
Tracking codes for TransWilts stations
New stats prove it - the service IS used
Bump from Glasgow
Ready for Tuesday
Kiss and Ride report
A case of the tail wagging the dog??
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A disappointing letter
Some scenes at Melksham Station
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Busy train at Melksham
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Update
New year, 2006
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The Meeting Season
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Wilts County Council could save the Melksham / Transwilts train
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Current status ...
Further threats
Keep watching - coming to the boil!
Recent Correspondence
From my postbag ...
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Meeting with a local MP
Today or tomorrow
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On the 05:52 this morning
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Draft timetables (continued)
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Roger Jones answers 5 months later!
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Someone can't wait!
High emotion
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An update - BAD, BAD news for Melksham ...
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Meeting, tonight
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Meeting, 21st - notes
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Diary Date - 12th May
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Home soon.
Put yourself in their shoes
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Our battle ....
... is part of a planned war
Political pressure - press release
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Internet connection issues
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Letter from Derek Twigg
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Visit by Chris Grayling and Michael Ancram
Friday, 7th July - Melksham
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In praise of estate agents
Press Release - Open Access operator negotiations
Open Access case strengthened
A desire for honesty
Flowers for Melksham. Flowers at Melksham.
Has our publicity reached the right people?
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A year on - an empty bank holiday
Bus connections to Melksham from Chippenham
Is this train used?
If its working well, change it so it doesnt.
20% service cut = 40% traffic cut?
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Consultant's reports recommended a modest INCREASE
From Ystrad Mynach
Taunton meeting
More cancellations
Passenger or lemmings
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Is this fare?
Returning from their UK course
End of term - don't care
Current and future summary
2 weeks to go
Fading away?
Coming to a course in Melksham
Last Week - Press Release
Fizzle
They're gone ... but ...
New service - first impressions
"Told you so"
Christmas, 2006
Welcome to 2007
PLEASE LOBBY - First, Dft, County Council, your MP
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Report - Monday night's meeting - press brief
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Reply to Petition
Petition Response - detail, opinion, context
Government pressure to shut up. But let us look forward.
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Helsinki and Heathrow to Melksham - Saturday
Gordon Dodge, Rest in Peace
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The way forward - improved service and improved station
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Diary notes
New faces - mayors and chairs.
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Radio - tomorrow morning?
Weymouth, Poor Provisional, and Sunday
A Comparison - travel in the USA by train
The Ghost Train, Purton
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Comment on December timetables
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Want to comment? You're welcome on the forum
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Meeting Season
The heart says "public transport", the head forces car
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Road - busy ... railway - no trains, so no users
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Campaign update - news for December 08 / 09 / 10 / 11 ...
Preserved Railways - a look forward
Spring 2009 Campaign update

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