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June 01, 2007
The way forward - improved service and improved station
Melksham's bid for an accessible station ...
under the "People's Millions" scheme of the Big Lottery Fund.
West Wiltshire's bid for a decent train link to Chippenham, Swindon and beyond
working with Wiltshire County Council, the Department for Transport and First.
Management overview
Melksham is a rapidly growing town (current population around 24,000) with heavy traffic flows to the neighbouring towns such as Chippenham, Swindon and Bath. By road, all of these journeys are along single carriageway roads through villages with low speed limits that are often jammed, even outside the usual rush hours.
By public transport, the train to Swindon takes 25 minutes, whereas the journey by bus is 95 minutes - however, most people drive. The train is underutilised because:
a) The service is sparse (2 trains a day each way) and poorly timed for most people (the services leave Melksham before 07:30 in the morning and after 19:30 in the evening).
b) Buses do not serve the station due to its difficult position at the end of a cul-de-sac.
c) The station's only access through an industrial area is intimidating to many travellers.
d) A lack of publicity, and a reputation for frequent cancallation.
There is currently a two-pronged campaign being run (from which we are seeing practical positive feedback) to correct these various issues.
On the SERVICE, Save The Train and many others have been campaigning hard for an appropriate TransWilts service and discussions now underway including Wiltshire County Council, First Great Western and the Department for Transport should result in an appropiate service (level and time) to meet the needs and aspirations of travellers as from December 2007. By using a "shuttle" train rather than a service that interoperates with other trains, the service will run also be much more reliable.
On the STATION, the Melksham Railway Development Group is spearheading a bid for "the people's millions" through the big lottery fund, for finance to complete the link road from Spencer's Gate to the station. This involves clearing just 12 metres of land which is already earmarked for the purpose, and finishing the road to the already built roundabout access and the station. Not only will the link road allow buses to serve the station, but it will also provide access from an area of residences, shops and restaurants rather than having the only access through the industrial area.
Note that the campaign for an improved service is NOT just a Melksham one - the line provides the ONLY direct public transport link between the five largest towns in Wiltshire and has widespread support across the County. Swindon - Chippenham - Melksham - Trowbridge - Salisbury. Also served by this route - Westbury and Warminster, and the route on to From in Somerset.
Posted by gje at June 1, 2007 09:02 PM