South West Passenger Transport User's Forum - meeting in Taunton on 30th September. A chance to meet and talk with other invited people - transport user group representatives, government officials, county councils, operators, experts, campaign groups. etc.

With the FOI information that's come out recently, etc, it promises to be something of an interesting meeting as far as I'm concerned.  As even, I'll concentrate on putting a positive TransWilts case, not only in respect of December 2006 but also in respect of the SW franchise and December 2007.

http://www.accesssouthwest.org/agenda4.html

The way it is supposed to work is that users are members of local groups and the local groups each send a representative.   So for train users to / from Melksham, there is representation via the MRDG (Melksham Rail Development Group) and the WWRUG (West Wilts Raid Users Group).  I was surprised but delighted to be invited along six months of so ago to the previous meeting, and it proved to be of great benefit in terms of contacts made and banners flown.  I supposed that the "Save the Train" website is filling a campaigning niche that's different to the MRDG and WWRUG.

Originally, I set up "Save the Train" as my bit of marketing help / hype for the threatened service, simply because it was so much easier for me than for many other people - dynamic web sites being very much my thing, whereas they're a complete mystery (in terms of how they work) to most folks.  And having seen (PRIOR to my move to Melksham, so no comparisons please) organisations get bogged down in their own admin, with decisions and urgent actions not taken as they had to wait for a too-late meeting, I decided to fly the flag of myself and my customers (hundreds of train users over the past few years) in a way that I could react within a few days to any changing situation. Now - I feel comfortable that my approach was the right one at the time, and has served well over the past 12 months.   Whether it's correct for me to maintain that stance into the future, or whether I should suggest a more organised setup, or a combination of "Save the Train" with one of the other two groups mentioned could be a worthy discussion.

Sion, I don't espect you thought you would trigger such a reaction.  But I do feel uncomfortable that I've 'got' the invite whereas others such as yourself, who travel on the train in person far more than I do, aren't "in".   Of course, you could have chosen / choose to be a very active member of MRDG or WWRUG in which case you would very likely by able to go as their representative.  You could also contact the organisers and ask (their details are on the link, and you've probably met them already in person at some of the meerings we've had).  Personal decision on this one ... I'm going on 30th and not delegating - too late to change for this meeting - but I AM happy to listen to view on the way forward, more than happy to get support, and I don't want to hang  on when I'm no longer providing anything useful like a Blair or Mugabe.