| Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
A View From Alison Forster - 2304/5309 Written by Lee on Friday, 18th May 2007 Thank you for your email. I appreciate that you are disappointed with the current timetable for Melksham. The new timetable was based on the one specified in the Greater Western franchise bid. During the bid process and subsequently we made over 200 changes to the original draft proposals many of which came as a direct result of customer feedback in our consultation. We also looked at all the other proposals from customers, some of which were rejected for commercial reasons, others because of the knock on effect to the rest of the timetable and others due to stock limitations. We must meet the Service Level Commitment set down on the franchise bid. We can also make changes beyond this (subject to approval), and it would not be accurate to suggest that the timetable is fully prescribed and we continue to review and monitor its operation with a view to future changes, but I cannot offer to add the additional service you suggest. Thank you again for writing. I know that this will be disappointing but we continue to keep the timetable under review and I have noted your comments. Re: A View From Alison Forster - 2304/5310 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Friday, 18th May 2007 The service level committment laid down in the bid was (a minumum of) two services from Westbury to Swindon each day, ONE OF WHICH WAS TO ARRIVE BETWEEN 08:00 AND 08:30. I have to say I get rather frustrated and the clear untruths in letters such as this one sent to you, Lee .... even before they start finding reasons/excuses (delete as appropriate) for not providing the type of service that logic and reports suggests should be provided. Re: A View From Alison Forster - 2304/5330 Written by courgettelawn on Sunday, 20th May 2007 And this to me. The original slant of my email regarding the lack of improvements in the May 2007 timetable, the terrible connectivity between Salisbury and north Wilts (Chippenham and Swindon). --- Thank you for your email. I appreciate that you are disappointed with the current timetable for Melksham. The new timetable was based on the one specified in the Greater Western franchise bid. During the bid process and subsequently we made over 200 changes to the original draft proposals many of which came as a direct result of customer feedback in our consultation. We also looked at all the other proposals from customers, some of which were rejected for commercial reasons, others because of the knock on effect to the rest of the timetable and others due to stock limitations. We must meet the Service Level Commitment set down on the franchise bid. We can also make changes beyond this (subject to approval), and it would not be accurate to suggest that the timetable is fully prescribed and we continue to review and monitor its operation with a view to future changes, but I cannot offer to add the additional service you suggest. Thank you again for writing. I know that this will be disappointing but we continue to keep the timetable under review and I have noted your comments. </ends> ---- 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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