No signs to say "this is the station". But this IS the station - there's a fence with a gate behind those two cars



The approach road, taken from the A365 where buses pass but do not stop.  A L King Roofing moved out recently to a brand new yard, and their old lot lies idle. And once again, no real indication that there's a station down there!



A few hundred yards down the track, a public crossing over the line.  The railway property adjoins West Country Farmers here, who's site is the subject of a planning application by Asda for a new store.

It's a commercial and practical decision for them.

From a practical viewpoint, the bus companies are not keen to take their buses down the cul-de-sac and turn them at the station, even though rail replacement coaches do go down there.  That's because of the extra journey time it would add, and because the area tend to be busier with road traffic during the week (when the trains run) than during the weekend.   There is land set aside to complete a loop via the station to McDonald's and with that road in place, the turning issue and the extra time taken becomes less critical.

From a commercial view point, there would be little for a bus company to gain from diverting existing serfvivces to the station based ont he current timetable.   The ONLY bus that goes past the station before the 07:17 train is an X71 from Bowerhill - and actually it would be a VERY useful feeder at about 07:05 into the Swindon train.   But in the evening, after the 19:11 arrival there's nothing on the same route until 23:30 to get people back more across Melksham (there is a bus between 8 and 9 on X72 that serves some of the area).

Add in the extra trains and / or the link through to Spencer's Gate and the metric change!