Not really a new story ... but a review of a trip from Melksham to Bristol yesterday.

Melksham to Bath - 11 mile journey took 51 minutes due to heavy traffic. After Atworth (about 2 miles from Melksham) no-on at all left or joined the bus until Bath itself. Average speed 12 m.p.h.

Bath to Bristol - 12 mile journey took 20 minutes. That was a train that called at Oldfield Park (about 20 joines) and Keynsham (just one or two on and off). Average speed 36 m.p.h.

I took pictures on the way back ...


Having got off the train at Bath ... it was already full and was going to be really crowded in a 2 car 158 with all these people as well as it headed into Wiltshire.


The X71 bus was full too as it left Bath for Melksham, with 2 or 3 standees ...

Note for newcomers - with 6 return trains a day in the "TransWilts" line, there would be 2 services every 3 hours by train all the way to Bristol - change at Trowbridge or Chippenham, with a combined journey time of around 35 minutes rather than 70 minutes.