See:
http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/high/getnewsitem.htm?id=2018Wiltshire County Council hails the success of the Trowbridge to Swindon bus service, with traveller level rising by 50% in the three years from 2003, and pledges increased funding for the service (current funding 85,000 pounds per annum).
"""Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, Wiltshire County Council cabinet member for environment, transport and economic development, said: "An efficient and effective public transport system is vital so that people in Wiltshire can take full advantage of all the leisure and employment opportunities available to them.""""
I agree with you, Fleur. But I question whether a service that takes 95 minutes end to end (Trowbridge to Swidnon) is as efficient as it could be, when the train service that you could (but did not) support financially took just 35 minutes, had growth rates that were just as spectacular, and was looking for a lesser overall investment than the bus (the article talks of 500k; the train operating comnay was talking of 300k.
West Wiltshire to Swindon by public transport:
Melksham
Bus, change at Devizes - 92 minutes
Direct train - 25 minutes
Trowbridge
Direct bus - 95 minutes
Direct train - 35 minutes
Warminster
Bus, change at Trowbridge - 130 minutes
Direct train - 55 minutes
Westbury
Bus, change at Trowbridge - 117 minutes
Direct train - 45 minutes
Growth rate on the trains EXCEEDED growth rate on the buses, so I fail to see the justification of the different treatment. I AM in favour of good buses - but also good transport by other means too, especially where it will save the daily traveller over 2 HOURS on his / her round trip.
Footnote - I have taken real bus connection times in the middle of the day, current service and they do look to be excellently set with just a few minutes between one service arriving and the other leaving - a real piece of good work between different operators than should be applauded. That does mean, mind you, that there really isn't any scope for reducing the bus times by improving connections.
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