For many years, we have seen "125" trains pass through Melksham during engineering works, nonestop.   Previous requests for these trains to stop very occasionally have been refused due to health and safety reasons - the platform is too short for the train and the trains did not have "Selective door opening".

Selective Door Opening is now available ... so there is no longer a reason why the trains can't stop on special occasions!

The Melksham Railway Development Group met on Friday evening and has proposed two excursions this spring from Trowbridge and Melksham to London, and to Devon, as follows.  The group has approached First Great Western with a view to stopping trains that are coming through anyway (calling at Chippenham and Westbury), each on just one day.

Saturday, 4th April 2009

Trowbridge 09:30, Melksham 09:40 to London Paddington, arr 11:15
Return Paddington 16:30, Melksham 18:00, Trowbridge 18:10
(With option for passengers to return on 20:15 / 21:47 / 21:58 with change)
Anticipated fare - Adult 30 pounds, Child 10 pounds to include underground

Saturday, 9th May 2009

Melksham 09:05, Trowbridge 09:10, Exeter 10:17
Exter 20:48, Trowbridge 22:00, Melksham 22:10
(with option to Plymouth and connections Paignton, Exmouth, Barnstaple, Looe)
Anticipated fare - Adult 20 pounds, Child 10 pounds (to Exeter or Paignton)

Please note - this is a draft proposal. The dates may change (the group is quite happy to do so if FGW suggest other dates during the period might be better / less crowded on the train), and it's also possible that First Great Western will have other reasons that they can't / won't stop the train (but we can tempt them by reminding them just how many people the MRDG can get on the Santa Special ;-) )