Only nine, later eleven, people at this meeting  whereas there had been quite a good turnout at Yeovil in the morning.  >From the attendance list (not all signed in) I noted Pam Roquette (Salisbury Campaign for better Transport), Rod Taylor (Corsham), Richard Gamble, David Phillips, Geoff Osborne (Mayor of Trowbridge), Larry (?) Allan (Town Council), Jasper Selwyn (Devizes) and Duncan Hames (Lib Dem).  We were given a 35 minute presentation: Mission Statement, Open Access Rail, their Route 1 (TransWilts was acknowledged here), Rolling Stock, Tickets and Finance.  Bus/Light feeder railways and Car Pools were also covered.  I am sure you are aware but their focus for the core route (Yeovil Junction to Banbury) would be for four trains each way per day concentrating more on the peak travel times with more focus on the casual traveller on the weekend.  Rolling stock loco hauled (both ends) refurbished coaches.  Tickets will be cross network on a three-yearly rolling pricing policy and internet sales.  Regarding Finance they hope to break even in three years.
 
Regarding the questions, I asked about the rolling stock with reference to selective door opening with the short platform at Melksham and Frome – response may have to fit selective to the coaches or may consider lengthening the Melksham platform.  I asked about tickets: First Class – maybe but do not want to take up too many seats for this; Peak/off peak – yes similar to the other Operators.  I asked if there were any station exclusions (Wrexham and Shropshire are not allowed to stop at New Street) – no none (but Oxford Council are not being very helpful).  I also asked how they intended to cope with weekend engineering working particularly in the critical path between Bradford and Thingley Junctions – either just run to both ends or add a bus between.
 
Someone asked about staffing -  they will recruit their own staff.  The point was made that three or four trains a day will not attract people to the trains – response other Operators will fill the gap.  A complicated point was made (by the gentleman on crutches) about the funding behind Go relating it to the way other Open Access Operators were funded, e.g. Wrexham and Shropshire by Chiltern/D B Schenker) – response the funding is secure and part of the cooperative.  Pam asked if the trains would not get priority on the routes and perhaps be shunted into sidings to let other Operators pass – response may have some problem getting out at Thingley and also at Foxhall (on the Didcot Triangle) in having to cross onto the mainline, otherwise no such problem expected.  A question was asked about linking bus services at the stations – not part of the remit except where Go may put on buses from feeder areas not on the network to connect with the trains.  I asked in connection with the extended route about the use of Moor Street’s two platforms particularly as Chiltern intend to use it for regular Marylebone services – recognise the issue and need a fairly quick turnaround.
 
Hope that is helpful.