Save the Melksham Train
Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
Passenger Numbers Surge Brings Hope For Walsall-Wolverhampton As DfT Axe Looms - 7584/12284
Written by Lee on Tuesday, 13th May 2008

Services between Walsall and Wolverhampton might not only be saved but doubled under plans unveiled today (link below.)
http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/05/12/boost-for-threatened-train-line/

A 30 per cent surge in passenger numbers has been seen since the line was given an 18-month reprieve until December this year. The Express & Star revealed last week that it is estimated the service has increased to 60,000 passengers in the last year since 2005, up 30 per cent.

West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority chairman Gary Clarke has also said the service could be made to run every half-hour. A feasibility study on rail links in Walsall is due and could see the service doubled by 2012 following signal improvements by Network Rail and Wolverhampton

Re: Passenger Numbers Surge Brings Hope For Walsall-Wolverhampton As DfT Axe Loo - 7584/12291
Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Wednesday, 14th May 2008

This will be a VERY interesting one to watch.  The figures quoted are a 30% rise to 60,000 passengers, compared to a 35% annual rise to 120,000 on the "TransWilts" before it had its heart cut out.  Comparisons are difficult though ... doesn't the Wolverhampton - Walsall service run every hour, which is three of four times the frequency of the TransWilts before the cuts.

Clearly, I hope the service survives; I believe (from what I know) that it probably should.  Yet if it does, we can shout "hypocrasy" loud and clear - which would perhaps make us feel good for a few minutes if notheing else.

Re: Passenger Numbers Surge Brings Hope For Walsall-Wolverhampton As DfT Axe Looms - 7584/12668
Written by Lee on Friday, 11th July 2008

Centro says it has received a letter from rail minister Tom Harris where he refuses to continue funding the Walsall to Wolverhampton route due to low patronage. But it has also emerged that there is insufficient rolling stock available to keep the service operating when a series of region-wide timetable changes come into effect this December (link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5079

The chairman and head of passenger transport executive Centro, Cllr Gary Clarke this week pledged to fight the government

 
link to index of articles


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


This site is hosted by Well House Consultants Ltd. (http://www.wellho.net)
Contact Information
 

Further Information:
 Home
 Current Summary
 Daily update
 User forum
 Consultation
 Service now
 Service future
 Future Analysis
 Recent Statistics
 Recent letters
 Letter to DfT
 Save the train
 Presentation
 Support us
 Other Maps
 Station facilities
 Station approach
 Pictures
 Trains diverted
 History
 About Melksham
 Site Map
 About this site