A "where do we stand now?" post ... a year after this site was founded

1. The Department for Transport can instruct First to run an appropriate service.
(the most logical way forward, but being "stonewalled" rather than looked at properly. Political pressure might just be able to help us get a propper look)

2. The First group could provide a service off their own bat.
(commercially the route is viable, BUT First will make more profit if they divert passenger on to services with a change at Bath or buses so that it's not in their commercial interest as the monopoly provider in the area to run the TransWilts.  Possibiities of someone else running a service on the line to compete with First, or possibilities that the County Council could start favouring other operators on bus contracts since they're abusing their monopoly, could 'shame' First into providing an appropriate service.)

3. A Service can be provided under an Open Access arrangement.
(A big step for another provider to step in - but a Swindon to Waterloo service, or an Oxford to Southampton, make huge sense on top of an extended Swindon to Westbury which is probably too small beer (though profitable) as a longer term Open Access operation.

4. A Service can be provided under another franchise, such as the South Western one.
(this is perhaps the most attractive way of providing service with an element of transport competition in the area, provided that the South West franchise is not awarded to the same operator as the Great Western)