A comparison - a journey by public transport yesterday evening from Melksham to Chippenham

On the way up, I caught the 18:04 bus (Market Place timing) which left the stop nearest the railway station at 18:17 (estimate 10 minutes late) and cost 3.25.  Although this bus is not shown as serving Chippenham railway station, I asked where the driver suggested I get off for the train and he told me that the bus carried on from the bus station to the train station; indeed it did and that was where I got off - at 18:38.

There were 3 other passengers on the bus when I got on in Melksham - one probably on a child fare and the other two adults. No Pensioner's passes. Noone else got on or off until Chippenham. The bus left Chippenham on its return journey to Melksham with just 3 passengers on board - one from the bus station who had bought a ticket to Trowbridge, and the other two from the railway station, their destination unknown.

The bus was a double decker, with seating for 72 and standing room for 9.  There is no information point or other indication available of when the bus will (or will not) arrive at the bus stop where I joined the service. Had I been travelling on to Swindon, the 18:55 train would have got me there at 19:10.
 
On the way back, I caught the 19:01 train, which left at 19:23 (19:08 from Swindon, I understand).  The delay was notified to us in good time (it showed as 19:16 - one minute after a 125! - for the longest of times) and was said to be due to a delay at Worcester.  The train arrived in Melksham at 19:34.

13 passengers remained on the train at Chippenham where a further 6 joined, making a combined load of 19 to Melksham. 8 people got off at Melksham.  The fare was 2.90.  I counted about 4 cars at Melksham Station, and about the same number left the station area on foot.


Contrasts and similarities

bus v train

10 late v 22 late
21 minute journey v 11 minute journey
3 passengers v 19 passengers
no delay information v good delay information
3.25 v 2.90
72 seats v 75 seats
1 change, Melksham to Swindon v direct service, Swindon to Melksham
53 minutes Melksham to Swindon v 26 minutes Swindon to Melksham
no intermediate traffic v no intermediate traffic
operated by First v operated by First
friendly, helpful staff v friendly, helpful staff