Do I want to help boost use of the current service?  Yes, ABSOLUTELY I do!   I know that journeys to and from Melksham grew by 35% last year, and I would like to see them grow by another 35% this year.  That's in line with Wiltshire County Council's wish to increase rail travel by 50% over a ten year period from 1999 ... and they've achieved 24% county wide so far.

Ideas?

1. PUBLICISE the service.    At Swindon, it seems like a hidden secret.  You won't see too many signs advertising the Trowbridge, Warminster and Salisbury train even at the station.  And in Melksham, frankly, it sometimes feels that half of the population don't even know that we have a station!

2. TELL people about the trains and the options they have.  It's not easy to look at the timetable boards at the station and work out the when and how you can get to London .... but you can, and the times can be easily laid out - example -

3. ENCOURAGE commuters and other regular users where the current train pattern suits.   How about a "Kiss and Ride" day - get partners to bring their spouses to the station for the morning train, and pick them up in the evening.   I would be very happy to go to the station and serve coffees on that day as a publicity push (But please don't ask me to kiss everyone) 

4. LAY ON special events ... I think we'll be having the Santa train on 10th December for Swindon shopping, and there's more we can do too.

5. An online timetable telling how to get to / from Melksham to any other UK place by public transport.

6. Guided and unguided special trips.   Southampton, Bournemouth and Poole.  London.   Bristol and Cardiff. ....