The following being emailed to many of my contacts ...
*** Precise
I'm writing to tell you about a threat to the Southampton to Swindon
through train service - slated for total WITHDRAWAL from 9th December,
even though it was one of Wessex Train's success storied. I'm running
a campaign based in Melksham, which would be left without any train
service at all between 07:45 and 18:45 if it was withdrawn, and I
understand that you have an interest in travel and transport matters.
Time is short indeed ... final timetables are due in the next few
weeks, and at this stage political pressure is needed.
Could you please
a) Have a look at the case on the web site at
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk or below
b) Offer your support be emailing appropriate
decision makers - we've provide a page at
http://www.wellho.net/train/pwrite.html to make it just a few mouse clicks.
c) If you could along on Friday, 7th July at 11 a.m
to Melksham station, that would be great - our
MP (Michael Ancram) and the shadow transport
secretary (Chris Grayling) are meeting there to
lend us their support and help the cause.
Even if you're not located close to Melksham and the Swindon to
Southampton line, this could effect YOU. There are 500 stations
that have lower ticket sales than Melksham (out of 2500), and even
services such as Ivybridge, Looe and Saltash which have been to
some extent save recently may be under threat again soon - perhaps
as early as December 2007.
*** The fuller story.
Since it was introduced in 2001 by Wessex trains, the service from
Swindon to Southampton has been a roaring success. Ticket sales for
journeys to and from Melksham, for example, rose from around 3,000
per annum to over 27,000, and journeys on the northern section of
the line (Swindon - Chippenham - Melksham - Trowbridge - Westbury)
have risen to 109,000 per year - that's an average of 32 passengers
on every one-coach train. Five years ago, you could have had a
choice of almost any seat and the staff would have been glad to see
you. In the last year, I've been on many crowded trains.
In December 2006, this train service between Swindon and Southampton
is due to be withdrawn, cutting the only direct public transport
link between the two major centres. Melksham, where I live, looses
most of its entire train service, and leaves us without a single
daytime service (nothing from 07:20 to 18:56). Passengers wishing
to make journeys such as Salisbury to Chippenham and Trowbridge to
Swindon will have to dogleg via Bath, where there's an awkward
change involving a lot of steps, and connections have historically
been hit-and-miss. Of course, many people will be driven away from
the train all together and will drive.
IT JUST DOES NOT MAKE SENSE, DOES IT?
*** How has this crazy situation come about?
The operation of trains on the Swindon - Melksham - Westbury -
Salisbury - Southampton line has been rearranged as a part of the
Great Western franchise, and the line is now run by the First group.
The Strategic Rail Authority, since disbanded, requested bids based
on very low service levels on many lines across the South West.
A series of protests, appeals, political activities and consultations
have brought many reprives - in the case of the "Penzance Sleeper"
the extra publicity is even leading to First strengthening the train
because of increased demand.
Consultation on Swindon - Melksham - Westbury, though, has had
negative results. The line would continue to grow with a realistic
service of one train every two hours. The proposed skeleton service
(the latest draft shows just a train from Swindon at 06:20 and
another at 18:32) is unsuitable even for the Swindon commuter
traffic that it's said to serve ... who wants to get to work before
a quarter to 8, the have hang around until after half past six to
START their journey home?
I've travelled on the train, spoken to users, spoken to peotential
users, and costed the options out ("Nothing wrong with your figures,
Graham" said Julian Crow of First) and they show that the service
as proposed will probably be underutilised, but the service we're
requesting would continue to grow and would make FAR LESS OF A LOSS
than what's to be provided.
Last week, I received via Michael Ancram, my MP, a letter from
Derek Twigg who's the Minister responsible for railways at the
Department for Transport. He continues to quote research that's
over a year old, and is statistically flawed (data gathered over
about a week CANNOT be extrapollated to a complete year - not enough
data, not taking seasonal variation into account and I suspect
including a holiday period and/or a period of disruption) and
ignores the ticket sales and year on year figures which are NOT
flawed in the same way. Mr Twigg (or whoever drafted the letter
on his behalf) appears not to have the message yet that it would
cost LESS to subsidise a decent service that a skeleton one; "it
is a cost that we could not reasonably justify" he writes, and it
appears that the Department for Transport has not even seriously
reviewed the case for the Swindon to Melksham, Trowbridge, Salisbury
and Southampton service in the last year!
We're now just a few days from the final timetables for the whole
of the South West from December, and your assistance with one last
"11th hour" push would be appreciated.
*** But what can I do?
1. Please WRITE to your MP and to a transport minister / officials
requesting that they re-examine the case based on the reliable
statistics that are now available. I've provided a web page at
http://www.wellho.net/train/pwrite.htmlfrom which you can write TODAY.
2. Michael Ancram (the MP who covers Melksham) and the Shadow
Transport Secretary (Chris Grayling, MP) are meeting at Melksham
Station at 11 a.m. on Friday, 7th July. Please come along if you're
able and show your support.
*** Want to know more before you write?
There's a great deal more information available at
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk*** Who IS Graham Ellis who wrote you this email?
I live and work in Melksham, a rapidly growing town with a current
population of some 24,000. Many of my customers arrive in Melksham
and leave again by train, travelling from many parts of the country
to attend the training courses I run (see
http://www.wellho.net).
I'm also a frequent user of the train service and other public
transport for both work and personal journeys. I am not a member
of any political party, and I run the "save the train" web site
without sponsorship.
Please also feel free to contact me by email / phone / post if you
wish - my full details are at the base of this letter
Many thanks
Graham
Graham Ellis
graham@wellho.nethttp://www.wellho.nethttp://www.savethetrain.org.uk01225 708225
404, The Spa, Melksham, Wilts, SN12 6QL
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