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| Ladies and Gentlemen,
An update on the train service through Melksham - under threat of reduction by two thirds from next year. Bids for the new franchise are currently with the Department for Transport ... with the franchise to be awarded in December. At this stage, the best actions we can take if we want to help save the service are (1) write to politicians and decision makers and make them aware of our views and (2) help publicise the current service and the threat it's under. Since the meetings last month, I've obtained various interesting statistics and other documents - increasing ticket sales, train usage, and even what appear to be plans to minimise consultation and not consult until after the Invitation to Tender was drawn up. I've been told that the traffic levels are low, and that's why resources are being moved. But I've not given a definition of "low" even though I have asked. * Next Publicity Next Tuesday (18th October) is Kiss and Ride day! If you usually commute to Chippenham, Swindon, Trowbridge or Westbury by road, take the train instead that day. Your partner can drop you off at Melksham station (or you can use free parking there), and we'll be serving hot drinks and handing out literature. * Who to write to? 1. Your MP see http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/safari/mainindex/council/vote/whoismymp.htm 2. Ministers at the Department for Transport see http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page1486.asp 3. Officials at the Department for Transport see http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/page/dft_railways_038368.hcsp * The case to make I'm accumulating information on the web site at http://www.savethetrain.org. See especially http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/update/index.html http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/save.html You're welcome to rephrase and restate points from my letter to Department for Transport that's at http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/octletter.html |
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