Here's the reason that the National Rail Website can't offer me journeys from Melksham to Coventry ....
Dear Graham Ellis,
Thank you for your eMail.
Unfortunately this journey can only be displayed with the use of a not via option which we do not currently have on the Journey Planner.
To get the journey times you will need to split the journey Melksham to Didcot Parkway and Didcot Parkway to Coventry.
We trust that this information is of use to you.
Regards,
I asked them to tell me how people who don't know where they're likely to have to change can use their system to find the journey, which is supposed to be national, comprehensive and unbiased ...
Dear Graham Ellis,
Thank you for your eMail.
At the moment it is not possible to plan this journey using the Journey Planner unless you split the journey at Didcot Parkway and allow at least 5 minutes for connection.
Using Didcot Parkway as a via station will not work as the problem is due to Reading. The fastest journey is to change at Reading but this involves travelling between Didcot Parkway and Reading in both directions. The only way to prevent this would be to enter Reading as a station to avoid, as stated this is not possible at this time.
We do supply downloadable maps on our website for assistance in planning journeys. These are available in the 'Train Companies and Maps' section of the website in PDF format. Adobe acrobat is the recommended viewer for these maps.
Unfortunately, this will not allow you to view the fares. This information is available from National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or from your local manned station.
An alternative route is available via Birmingham and services will be displayed by using Kemble as the via station in the Journey Planner.
We have reported the problem to the relevant department.
Once again, we thank you for your eMail.
Regards,
I've always felt that Reading was a problem and would have been better built somewhere just to the South of Leeds 
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