Here is some news on improved bus services in Wiltshire:

http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/display.var.1365199.0.improvements_to_bus_services.php

Note the following:

"Ian White, Wiltshire County Council public transport manager, said: "We have been working hard to improve and promote our services in partnership with bus operators."

Have they being doing the same with rail operators?

I for one am all in favour of appropriate change .... but also very careful not to suggest service / travel opportunity losses as a result except in areas where I have a very strong knowledge indeed.  And I acknowledge that the county council in their publicity will, just like the train operators, concentrate on the positive.

I personally see no harm in the bus services to Swindon being totally out of the hands of First - at least on the leg on from Devizes. There may, though, be through ticketing issues?    What is horrific is that it takes 95 minues by bus from Melksham to Swindon (change in Deveizes, a good connrction) but just 25 minutes by train. 

The only two opportunities for the latter are at 07:17 and 19:50 each day - times that look as if they were calculated without the  needs of the Melksham to Swindon traveller being taken into account.  07:50 and 17:12 would be MUCH more useful, and would still conform to the government's specification.