The groups campaigning for an improved service from West Wiltshire to Swindon, which would include a decent service for Melksham, very much appreciate all the work the First Great Western are putting in to help achieve this.

There is regular overcrowding in many places, including from Trowbridge to Bath on which  most regular rush hour travellers have been turned away from overfull trains. Some of that overcrowding is caused by travellers from Frome, Warminster, Westbury and Trowbridge to Swindon who (at present) have to change in Bath.  A direct morning train from the West Wiltshire towns of Warminster, Westbury, Trowbridge and Melksham arriving into Swindon at about a quarter to 9, and a return service leaving Swindon shortly before 6 p.m. would reduce the numbers of people turned away from the West Wilts to Bristol services AND would improve travel to / from Swindon.  We should remember that some 120,000 journeys a year were made on the line from West Wilsthire to Swindon prior to the service cuts made by First in December 2006 - but the current service which First admit is "hardly an attractive proposition" is used (my estimate) for less that 10,000 journeys a year. That gives you some measure of the overcrowding that would be pulled off surrounding train services, and roads such as the A350, by a more appropriate service.

In rail company terms, the stock allocation for a carriage to run on the line is relatively minor.  According to published industry figures, First Great Western run 776 carriages and we're talking about ONE.  So First's comment that they have other priorities too is appreciated.