Save the Melksham Train
Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
DfT Pendolino Lengthening And Fleet Expansion Project - 6432/10903
Written by Lee on Wednesday, 19th March 2008

The Department proposes to increase capacity on the West Coast Mainline by enabling the procurement of additional Class 390 vehicles, including a replacement of the set damaged in the Grayrigg accident (links below.)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/pendolinolengthening/

http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=4797

Re: DfT Pendolino Lengthening And Fleet Expansion Project - 6432/10942
Written by Industry Insider on Thursday, 20th March 2008

Whilst this is welcoming news, Virgin Trains submitted a proposal a while ago to lenghten the trains to 11-cars with an not unreasonable increase in subsidy to pay for it. The Government rejected that proposal, preferring to wait until the franchise is re-let. This is the first I have heard 'new' sets being mentioned though, even if it is only a handful.

Even considering that this December the current fleet utilisation is being stepped up to provide considerably more seats and faster journeys, with current growth forecasts that will soon be swallowed up, and by the time these extra carriages are delivered trains will once again be struggling to cope with passenger numbers.

It's a shame that we have to wait until virtual 'breaking point' before investment is forthcoming to allieviate passengers that have suffered for years.

Re: DfT Pendolino Lengthening And Fleet Expansion Project - 6432/11303
Written by Lee on Friday, 4th April 2008

The Department plans to hold an industry event on Thursday 10 April from 10am until 12pm at its Great Minster House offices in Marsham Street, London related to this (link below.)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/pendolinolengthening/pendolinonidustryevent

Re: DfT Pendolino Lengthening And Fleet Expansion Project - 6432/12169
Written by Lee on Tuesday, 6th May 2008

From the First Great Western Coffee Shop Forum :

[quote author=Lee Fletcher link=topic=2129.msg20131#msg20131 date=1210103079]
[quote author=John R link=topic=2129.msg20130#msg20130 date=1210102331]
Extra 106 coaches were given the go-ahead today. As a point of interest, I wonder how many times this will be "announced" by the government before they are finally put into service.

Re: DfT Pendolino Lengthening And Fleet Expansion Project - 6432/12495
Written by Lee on Tuesday, 3rd June 2008

Pendolino Train Lengthening and Additional Vehicles Project Invitation to Tender for Service Provider (link below.)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/pendolinolengthening/tender/

 
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Save the Train was the campaign to bring an approriate train service back to and through Melksham.

Most big contributors are still around writing at the Coffee shop forum where new members are very welcome.

The train has been saved - sort of - we have stepped back up from an unusable service to a poorish one but it's doing very well. We did that through setting up the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. That fulfilled its early objectives; it has been taken over by local and regional government types who are now doing medium and long term work. The team from this forun can also be found at the Melksham Rail User Group (which was the Melksham Rail Development Group at the time these articles were written and we had no users.

We mustn't loose sight, though, that the train service remains poor and needs our community support in marketing and campaigning to keep it going in a positive direction ... and all the more so when we're expecting to find a different normallity once we get out of the Coronavirus Pandemic and head for zero carbon via the climate crisis. Yes, it's saved ... it's now a key community facility ... the need for enhancement and the strong and near-universal local support remain, and the rail industry and goverment remain slow to move and provide the enhancements even to level us up with other towns. Please support the Melksham Rail User Group - now very much in partnership rather than protest with the rail industry and local government, including GWR, TransWilts and unitary and town councils. And please use the trains and buses, and cycle and walk when you can.

-- Graham Ellis, (webmaster), February 2021


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