Here's a timetable change from the other night



showing just how practical it is to route one of the peak hour semifast trains to / from Paddington that go to Westbury and beyond via Melksham and Trowbridge giving both of them a fast through service to London Paddington that they currently don't have.

Notes:

The 2001 census recorded MORE London commuters from Melksham than from Westbury (clearly many of them did NOT start by train from Melksham!)

In the morning, trains leave Westbury for London Paddington at 06:08 and 06:21 - very close together. Although there may be capacity issues and changing patterns may need changing on the Berks and Hants that both trains take at present, there is scope to source the train from there.   In the evening, it's a little more problematic with trains at about 30 minute intervals and it would be all too easy to leave a long gap at some B&H stations.