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July 08, 2006
Friday, 7th July - Melksham
I don't know where to start writing today ....
No, seriously, I DO know where to start, which is yesterday's visit by Chris Grayling MP, Shadow Transport Minister, Michael Ancram QC, MP, the BBC, and many, many others to the station. I did a little introduction, Chris spoke about the crazyness of the current DfT policy that's pushing Melksham back to just 2 trains a day in December and looks like it could be a step in a "closure by stealth" campaign from them that's been repeated elsewhere in the Great Western area and in other upcoming franchises, and we had a very good informal discussion around the platform. No-one had a good word to say for the Department for transport's plans as they relate to Swindon - Melksham - Southampton. Sufficient people there for the First represenentative to have to remind us to keep back from the platform edge (and indeed, as the final few stragglers left a long, long freight train passed through at speed).
Yesterday was also an important timetable discussion meeting in London and most of First's managers were there; our Region General Manager made an exception to join us in Melksham. Alison Forster, First Great Western's MD promised by email that she would ... "make sure you are fully updated as soon as a final decision is made". There's some promise in that - there is still a final decision in the offing
What else? I've been looking at / reading into some of the new proposed freight routes from Southampton, as per a Freighliner announcement of the last few days and it looks like many of the services will be routed via Melksham ... indeed, our section could well be a bottleneck if we retain a reasonable passenger service (do I spot a DfT plan / motive there? If so, they haven't told us that)
Yesterday's local paper had a huge 2 page advertising spead by Knorr-Bremse, designers and manufacturers of railway equipment here in Melksham employing hundreds of staff, which declared Melksham - Now a Centre of World Leading Rail Technology. How ironic on the very day that we were holding a critical meeting to discuss the future of the whole railway service to the town.
I also learnt yesterday that "supersaver" fares were quietly withdrawn by First Great Western a few weeks ago, I presume as a part of their simplification of the fare structure. Supersavers offered the lowest cost "walk up" - i.e. not advanced purchase - fares on many journeys to London on days that are NOT considered peak days. i.e. they were typically available Monday through Thursday, Sundays and Winter Saturdays, but were NOT available around holiday periods. The lowest walk up fares are now the Savers, available on all days but with restrictions on which trains can be used; previous users of Supersavers must now step up to these more expensive tickets.
This morning, I passed by the station just before the 09:15 to Southampton left - gladdened to be able to report about a dozen people waiting. I'm nor a great user of certain services, and that includes the southbound 09:15 at the weekend. Gladdened to see so many there in spite of all the engineering cancellations this particular train suffers, and I wondered how many more would already be on board from Swindon and Chippenham when it comes through.
---OOO---
Finally, I must end a piece dated exactly one year on from the London Tube bombings by adding a few words here to remind us of all those people who died, who were injured, and their friends and relatives for whom the suffering goes on.
Posted by gje at July 8, 2006 10:38 AM