Did you know that when the famous Swindon railway works was in operation, the operating department used to send the newly built locomotives on a circular route from Swindon, via Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, avoiding Westbury to Newbury, (sometimes using the long closed Devizes branch - which Melksham could be the railhead for Devizes today), right up to Reading and back via Didcot to Swindon.

Imagine if a passenger service operated along those lines (sorry about the pun) in both directions connecting most of Wiltshire with Berkshire.

Speaking of Devizes, we could promote Melksham as the local railhead for people in the area, working with local bus companies to provide connecting services.

Dave.

 

There was a suggestion in fairly recent times that the Link train from Paddington to Bedwyn be extended to Westbury, with alternate journeys returning via Melksham - turning the thing into a circular route.   Fabulous idea (I think - not done a full study) and indeed we're halfway there with the extension from Bedwyn to Pewsey and Westbury under the new franchise.

Alas, Melksham doesn't make a sensible railhead for Devizes ... people would do better to catch the bus from there to Trowbridge or Chippneham and even if we had a frequent service that would still be the case; coming via Melksham would simply add a dogleg into their journey.

Nick - I know the guy ... I'll mention it to him / ask when I see him.   I suspect it's one (fish) bridge too far at the moment as we're now fighting to save what we have against people who say "I see no demand" but have probable never even been to Melksham station in their lives!