| Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
Questions on the new timetable - 156/372 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Thursday, 16th February 2006 I have just addressed the following to First ... will keep you posted 1. On the current timetable, if I want to make a day return trip to London from Melksham I can use the 09:12 train and buy a Saver or SuperSaver ticket for 38 or 45 pounds. Re: Questions on the new timetable - 156/373 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Friday, 17th February 2006 Here's the answer ... [quote] Dear Mr Ellis Thank you for your email commenting on the proposed changes to the timetable, to be implemented in December 2006. Please be assured that I have forwarded your comments to the Timetable Planning Department for the information of all relevant parties; your feedback is very important to us. If we receive any further information specific to your area of interest, and in response to your comments, we will contact you again at the earliest opportunity and keep you updated. Thank you once again for taking the time to contact me, and for your valued feedback regarding our rescheduled services. Yours Sincerely Nikki Lake Customer Relations [/quote] Hmmm ... that looks like the wrong form letter Re: Questions on the new timetable - 156/378 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Friday, 17th February 2006 After a further prompt, I have received some answers to the first two questions - see separate threads: Day trip prices Alternative public transport Re: Questions on the new timetable - 156/381 Written by Nick Field on Saturday, 18th February 2006 Well having only just had a chance to catch up on the news and look at the new timetable I have to say its very disappointing. Re: Questions on the new timetable - 156/383 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Monday, 20th February 2006 Nick, I'll post further / fill you in on what I know in terms of answers in the next day or two; I've been offline for 48 hours and even now I'm only back via a borrowed system at my customer's office in Dublin. Re: Questions on the new timetable - 156/388 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Tuesday, 21st February 2006 Answering some questions ... (forgive briefness - I'm on a slow hotel line) 1. I have been asked about ongoing connections from Westbury (e.g. to Frome) and I have asked First in turn. They say that they don't yet have an answer for me on what will (and what won't) be a connection. 2. There will be no cheap day return fares to London bookable on the day from Melksham. As both of the trains that connect to London do so into rush hour trains, the standard class fare will be 108 pounds. No special derogation will be offered because "it could lead to abuse of the system further up the line" according to Nikki Lake of First. 3. The Melksham Rail Development Group continues to actively lobby; they're much more of a behind-the-scenes operation ... I have come out screaming and shouting on this web site and they are taking the different approach. In my judgement, having both approaches active and having decision makers hearing in all sorts of different ways is the best way. 4. Wiltshire County Council directors plead poverty and lack of responsibility when asked to support the train service. There are, though, a number of councillors and officers who are as supportive as they can be. WCC is in favour of retaining the service at a decent level, but I have yet to find any decision maker who can / will put resources into meeting that goal. Re: Questions on the new timetable - 156/391 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Tuesday, 21st February 2006 An answer (just received) on connections "3. Thank you for your comments on the connections at Westbury. As part of the development of the timetable we will continue, where we can, to ensure that robust connections are available. It is not normal practice for FGW to hold trains for connections except in certain circumstances such as last trains of the day." link to index of articles |
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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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