Hi everyone!

I'm Gareth Evans, currently residing in Glasgow as I'm 'trying' to do a PhD up here. What I'm researching is slightly off-topic, but it's all to do with the implications of providing improved map information to bus users, and whether eliminating the uncertainty of where services operate to will stimulate increased patronage on buses and hopefully reduce car usage. All good for the socio-economic and environmental cause!    One parallel I can draw is that although travel and other local information does exist in and around the Melksham station area, it's not in a prime location and so is not being put to its optimum use. Am glad to see that your website highlights this fact - let's hope something can be done about it!

As a non-driver, I'm a regular user and keen supporter of the railways - I actually came across this website via a search about the now closed station at Etruria  - and wholly support campaigns like this. It's a real shame that with rising congestion levels on our roads and all the associated pollution etc. etc. that the SRA/DfT are so short-sighted in reducing local rail services where there is a clear social need for them.

I've lived in both England and Scotland, and in the short time I've lived in Scotland (just over a year now), two new stations have opened (Gartcosh and Kelvinside) with three more to open soon (Chatelherault, Merryton and Larkhall). With the introduction of the Winter Timetable in December, there will be increased commuter services around Inverness and more late evening services in Strathclyde.

Then there are also proposals to reinstate the line between Bathgate and Airdrie providing another Glasgow-Edinburgh link as well as the Glasgow Airport rail-link, Glasgow Crossrail and a number of station reopenings throughout Scotland. I'm not political, but the Scottish Executive do seem to view rail in a positive light compared to the authorities south of the border. To add weight to my arguement, the only rail recent reopening I can think of in England/Wales is that of the Vale of Glamorgan line, yet many local services are still being withered away - Wolverhampton to Walsall for example - in favour of express services, which is one reason why Etruria was closed. 'scuse me for perhaps being melodramatic, but I can't help but think of Beeching looming again

Anyway, I hope that when the tendering results are announced for the GW franchise, whoever wins will ensure that the Melksham service is continued to its current standards, perhaps even improving them?!

Keep up the excellent work!

Gareth