Yesterday (08/06/2007) I decided to travel from Portsmouth to the Melksham Rail Development Group AGM (click on http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2476.msg5535#msg5535) by bus , using a £6 First Hampshire & Dorset Explorer ticket.

My intinery was as follows :

0947 First 5 Cosham Health Centre - Fareham Bus Station arrive 1018.

1035 First 78 Fareham Bus Station - Southampton West Quay arrive 1130.

1152 Wilts & Dorset X7 Southampton West Quay - Salisbury Bus Station arrive 1254.

1400 Wilts & Dorset X4 Salisbury Bus Station - Trowbridge Town Hall arrive 1525.

1741 First 234 Trowbridge Town Hall - Melksham Railway Station Approach (thanks driver....) arrive 1804.

I am leaving today by train as follows (£10.50 "Firstminute" fare) :

1545 First Great Western Melksham - Westbury arrive 1602.

1659 First Great Western Westbury - Cosham arrive 1832.

Two points of note :

1) The 1545 Melksham departure is the FIRST SOUTHBOUND TRAIN OF THE DAY.

2) The 1602 Westbury arrival misses the 1559 Westbury - Cosham departure by 3 MINUTES (thanks FGW....)