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June 27, 2006
Selling off any possibility of improvement
I understand the the British Railways Residual Board, which owns some land at Melksham station, is selling some of it off .... INCLUDING the section that's earmaked in the local transport development plan to provide a link from the new "Spencer's Gate" development to the station. This is the same section of land that would be needed to provide access to a new station site behind MacDonald's .. a further aspiration of the local transport plan.
Passenger ticket sales to and from Melksham has shown a staggering growth in the past five years, and the network rail plans schedule the line for strong growth in the next ten years. I've spoken with many people who are NOT currently users of Melksham station in the past 12 months, but would be willing to use it if the service was improved. Chief amongst the reasons cited for their lack of use are:
a) Infrequent / irregular / unreliable service.
b) The poor loaction of the station at the back of an industial estate, with no possibility of the bus being routed past as it's at the end of a cul de sac.
I think that passenger growth will NOT continue to grow strongly if 60% of the trains are cut, as shown in the provisional timetables published by the operator, and if the station location and access improvements are not carried through in due course.
Posted by gje at June 27, 2006 07:34 PM