|
Pages: [1]
|
 |
|
 Author
|
Topic: Melksham Station / train service to feature in Radio 4 program (Read 2848 times)
|
|
Graham Ellis
|
The "You and Yours" program on BBC Radio 4 will be running major features on "Railway Closure by Stealth" on 20th and 21st December. Their reporter Mark Holdstock visited Melksham where the service is threatened with a two thirds cut in spite or rising traffic figures, to interview Graham Ellis who's running the "Save the train" website at http://www.savethetrain.org.uk Mark Holdstock interviews Graham Ellis at Melksham Station The winner of the Greater Western railway franchise - the award of the contract to run the few remaining trains to and from Melksham as well as all other services to the West of London - will be announced the same week. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Nick Field
|
Hi Graham
Do you know if this feature went out? I missed it live on the radio but the BBC website has a listen again feature where I went through Monday and Tuesdays you and yours programs but didnt hear anything about it?
Nick
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Graham Ellis
|
I understand that they rejigged the schedule .... they're still planning to use it, but now on - I believe - 5th January. May be a day or two either way. I'll actually be travelling on 5th so won't get a chance to hear it. Thank goodness for archives!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Graz
|
Just listened to this now. Derek Twigg avoided virtually every question despite repeated attempts from the presenter - and he seems to only care about Pitsea and the West coast main line. He ignored all the facts about Melksham and came up with a bunch of pathetic excuses instead.
"The railways are improving...more investment...more trains..." Yeah, maybe, but only if you live in the same town as Mr. Twigg!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Graham Ellis
|
Random thoughts:
Pitsea is part of the Billericay parliamentary constituency ... which is always one of the first marginals to declare at general elections and usually goes the way of the balance of power - it's a real "bellweather".
Hough Green station in Derek Twigg's own constiuency enjoys a much better train service that Melksham, yet has only about a third of the ticket sales per train calling. Open return fare per mile to Liverpool is 19p / mile, which is not very different to the price per mile we pay from Melksham to Swindon under Wessex Trains, but far lower than the 50p per mile that First charge on the Swindon to London service.
The "game" has moved on. Government decisions taken and the thing has been put into the hands of the First group. The best shot at having a viable train service to Melksham beyond this coming December is to convince them that they can make a worthwhile profit on the service.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pages: [1]
|
|
|
 |
