Save the Melksham Train
Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
Source of trains for a future service - 1003/2801
Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Monday, 8th January 2007

Yes, I still do hope that we can get an appropriate train service for Melksham form - well - as soon as possible. The new timetable is causing chaos in the Bristol Commuter area and it's getting to the "something must be done" status. As far as the TransWilts is concerned, the changes to the timetable were so dreadful that a 60% cut in trains appears to have lost First 90% of the business which can't make sense for them. But it also illustrates just how much traffic on the line decreases / increases with the numbe of trains run. It confirms my suggestion for a two hourly service..

Are there trains available .... how about these:





That's 10 x 158 units and 4 x 153 units which are stored at Eastleigh.  Let's have some of them back in service while they're still practically re-usable.

Re: Source of trains for a future service - 1003/3000
Written by Nick Field on Saturday, 13th January 2007

I understand these units are in what is called 'warm storage'  Does anyone know exactly what that means,for example does it mean that they can be started up and put back into service at little notice and not requiring and work on them, or does it mean if they are not used for a while they will start to deteriote and may get to the stage where an expensive refurb is required?
Thanks.




Re: Source of trains for a future service - 1003/3004
Written by Steve35 on Sunday, 14th January 2007

[quote author=Nick Field link=topic=1003.msg3000#msg3000 date=1168724798]
I understand these units are in what is called 'warm storage'  Does anyone know exactly what that means,for example does it mean that they can be started up and put back into service at little notice and not requiring and work on them, or does it mean if they are not used for a while they will start to deteriote and may get to the stage where an expensive refurb is required?
[/Quote]

It means that they should receive some degree of care (eg possibly being started up from time to time) rather than being totally abandoned. At the moment to get them back into service they would just need a basic servicing exam rather than any major work.
There's a rumour that the 'one' franchise in Anglia might be interested in leasing the Eastleigh 153's. Of course the DfT would have to underwrite the lease before that could happen. Would DfT dare to give the go ahead given the undoubted furore that would ensue in the FGW area...? We'll have to wait and see on that one.

 
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Save the Train was the campaign to bring an approriate train service back to and through Melksham.

Most big contributors are still around writing at the Coffee shop forum where new members are very welcome.

The train has been saved - sort of - we have stepped back up from an unusable service to a poorish one but it's doing very well. We did that through setting up the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. That fulfilled its early objectives; it has been taken over by local and regional government types who are now doing medium and long term work. The team from this forun can also be found at the Melksham Rail User Group (which was the Melksham Rail Development Group at the time these articles were written and we had no users.

We mustn't loose sight, though, that the train service remains poor and needs our community support in marketing and campaigning to keep it going in a positive direction ... and all the more so when we're expecting to find a different normallity once we get out of the Coronavirus Pandemic and head for zero carbon via the climate crisis. Yes, it's saved ... it's now a key community facility ... the need for enhancement and the strong and near-universal local support remain, and the rail industry and goverment remain slow to move and provide the enhancements even to level us up with other towns. Please support the Melksham Rail User Group - now very much in partnership rather than protest with the rail industry and local government, including GWR, TransWilts and unitary and town councils. And please use the trains and buses, and cycle and walk when you can.

-- Graham Ellis, (webmaster), February 2021


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