Every Summer, Melksham holds a "Party in the Park" in association with the carnival parade and many of the local inhabitants turn our - it's usually a very good show.

This year, the "Save the Train" campaign was represented at the part, moving away from our more usual on line activities .... and we had a survey on our pitch were we asked visitors to complete our tickchart / survey.

It's all very for us to claim that people would use the train if [[fill in the gap]] ... but I wanted some proof.   And I wanted to get local opinion as to what people would fill in to the gap!


Completing the survey

Here are the answers:

Have you ever used the train to / from Melksham?
Yes: 24, No:  22

Would you use the train to / from Melksham in the future?
Yes: 43, No:  1

If you have answered YES, please complete: "I would use the train to / from Melksham if ..."
* there were more trains:  38
* trains ran at appropriate times: 44
* the trains were more reliable: 31
* there was better information about them: 34
* they were lower cost: 31
* there was better access to the station: 20
* Some other reason (please write in):
--- Easier / more convenient to buy tickets before travelling
--- Integretaed bus and train
--- Bank Holidays
--- Melksham is centre of Wiltshire
* I do not feel improvements are needs: 0

Here is the raw data:



Some comments about the results:

* We did not talk to people about our views or the questions before they completed the survey, but we did talk with them afterwards.

* Most of the people who have used the train in the past NO LONGER use it ... but as you can see they would use it again if ....

* Many of the non-users aren't aware or the reliability of the current servivce, or otherwise, so were unsure whether to tick that line.

* Many people have heard the headlines about First's fares being very high and were not aware that local journeys are relatively cheap.

* Extra comment "easier to buy tickets".   The lady in question explained that she was buying apurchase ahead ticket at just a couple of days notice from Mellsham, but could not get it delivereed nor collect it locally - she had to go up to Chippenham.

* Extra comment - "Bank Holidays".  This particular respondent pointed out just how much travel there is (how popular the trains used to be) on Sundays and Ban Holiday, and wanted to stress the need for an appropriate service on those days too.

* Extra comment - "Integrated bus and Train".   The need for the buses to meet the trains and provide an integrated transport system.  With First running both the trains and the buses, it was suggested that this integration should be a "no-brainer".