Save the Melksham Train
STOP PRESS - we have heard from First Great Western in the last few days, as follows:

"We had hoped that we could organise an additional service through Wiltshire serving Melksham in particular. We looked very carefully at all the options, but whilst the plan received good support, and remains something we want to do, the cost of the new service is considerable. It will not be covered by the revenue that the service will generate, and as a commercial organisation we can only therefore proceed if we can find some joint funding to offset the costs. Despite our efforts this has to not proved possible to date, and we will not be able to offer any extra services in the next timetable due out in December.

"We will continue to discuss the plans with stakeholders and will keep looking for a partner to help finance the service, but this will not be possible before the December 2009 timetable (at the earliest)."


See who has signed up to pledge support, more details of the validated service that has just had the plug pulled and some personal comment
Forum archive ... Blog archive

WRITE for a real train service for Melksham

* The trains WOULD be used if a good service was provided
* Melksham is a GROWING town with substantial and growing travel needs
* The people of Melksham WILL work well with a good supplier
* A proper service WOULD make a profit for the First Group

Who's who?

The Managing Director of First Greater Western

Alison Forster
Managing Director
First Great Western
Milford House
1, Milford Street
Swindon SN1 1HL

I'm sure that Ms Forster is going to be very busy for the next few months and will pass on these letters to someone who has the new service offerings as a more specific brief. First don't give out many names, so write to Ms Forster at the moment and I'll come back with alternative(s) if and when I have them

Customer Relations for the First Great(er) Western operation

Customer Relation Department
First Greater Western
Freepost SWB40576
Plymouth PL4 6ZZ

My contacts are Alice Broadhurst and Gary Badcoe - both of whom pass on comments to "the relevant managers" - so this is said to be an indirect conduit to the correct people.

Our local train service user's representative on First's passenger panel

Roger Newman
36 Blind Lane
Southwick
Trowbridge
Wilts BA14 9PJ

Note - Members of the passenger panel are NOT employees of First Group, but they have been appointed by the company to represent passenger's view to them. It's sufficiently official for them to attend meetings on First's behalf, and have official First Group badges. Mr Newman attended our "Save the Train" meeting on September 20th and spoke "for" First Group; with them winning the bid and proposing to act (I believe) against the interests of Melksham, we should now use him as a conduit of our views to the company.

At the top of the First Group ... their chief executive

Moir Lockhead
FirstGroup plc
Block E, 3rd Floor
Macmillan House
Paddington Station
London W2 1FG


If you want to send your comments on line, you can:
* email customer.relations@gwt.firstgroup.com
* web form at http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/contact/feedback.php


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