| Melksham and TransWilts train service - closure by stealth? * Melksham is a town with a population of over 20,000 and growing - there's much new construction in the area and a further 750 house development was approved just last month. * Melksham is served by five trains a day (slightly fewer at weekends) on the Swindon to Southampton service, and ticket sales have grown steadily from 3200 per year (five years ago) to 27435 last year. That's a seven fold increase. For every passenger who joins or leaves a train, 3 or 4 stay on (personal observation of all trains on a single day). * The request for bids for the new Greater Western Franchise calls for the current service of 68 trains a week to be replaced by just 20 trains a week with a commuter run to Swindon in the morning, back in the late afternoon, and a round trip during the evening. * This "proposed" new service is due to come into effect in December 2006. Consultation has been poor and I believe that local requirements / suggestions have not been taken into account. It should be a "no brainer" that a service that's grown this rapidly should be encouraged and nurtured but the reverse seems to be the case. Government actions: 1. The bid request announced the proposed withdrawal of the service in one line on 32 of a long document. No reason was given. 2. Consultations on what should be in the bid were held AT THE SAME TIME as the invitation to tender was issued, so that responses could not effect the initial bid process though - perhaps - they can now effect the fine tuning of the contract awarded. 3. The Department for Transport consulted with the Strategic rail authority and discussed how consultation could be minimised. (Information obtained under Freedom of Information). 4. Although the bidding process is running quickly, the Department for Transport is very slow to answer questions. I'm still waiting for a reply to a letter of 5th October, for example. The Department wrote to my MP on 8th November telling him that Roger Jones would reply ... I still await that reply. 5. Such replies as we HAVE received consistently tell us that traffic levels are low and that's why the service is being reduced, but requests to define what is meant by low traffic levels have never been answered. Ticket sales for Melksham are higher than for many other stations - even termini such as Wick and Fishguard rank lower. It looks rather like the planned new service has been dreamed up to run a service without having a train assigned to the line at all. An early service will go up to Swindon in the morning and the stock will run the Swindon to Cheltenham service during the day. It will come back in the evening and provide an extra train as - perhaps - a token gesture; the current evening train is the least used of the day and I can only think that the new service proposed is for operational reasons rather than passenger level reasons. The current operating environment: 1. Trains on the Swindon to Westbury and Southampton line always seem to be the first to be cancelled. I know of 5 services (that's 7%) in the last week, yet Wessex Trains clain to run over 99% of their services. 2. Northbound through trains to Southampton have already been cut back to Westbury (although Southbound ones are most still through services). 3. Waits of up to 27 minutes have been introduced into schedules of the remaining through trains at Westbury. As from 11th December, there's even a service that's scheduled to sit at Melksham station for 10 minutes. 4. The morning train from Westbury to Swindon was retimed to run 20 minutes earlier making it much less attractive for people working in that town - it just gets there too early. 5. In the event of engineering works or accident on nearby mainlines, the service through Melksham is delayed or withdrawn. We were without local trains (apart from the 05:52 to Swindon and 06:56 to Southampton) for 2 weeks in August 2004, for example. Requests to stop the expresses which have to slow right down for the curve through the station were rejected. 6. Connections at Swindon are NOT held so that anyone travelling from London will find that there's no onward train available in the event of a delay on the main line. That's happened twice (to my knowledge) just to the afternoon train in the last 2 weeks. 7. Some connections at Westbury are truely dreadful. It's now impractical to make a return journey on what used to the main line from Weymouth unless you leave there just after lunch. The one later train leaves you stranded for 2 and a half hours at Westbury. The 06:56 to Southampton which should provide a good connection to a London train at Westbury misses the connection by 3 minutes. 8. For 8 weekends recently, the trains were replaced by buses from Westbury right through to Swindon even though the works were limited to / on the Westbury to Bristol stretch. I know that work was being done at Bradford on Avon and at Keynsham on some weekends (neither on our line), and question whether our service really had to be suspended of if it was just stopped as an operating convenience. 9. Although goverment and operator talk a great deal about the Swindon commuter run (probably because they're saving that element), in practise much of the traffic on the line is long distance and oddball journeys. On a recent day, travellers questioned were making journeys that included to/from Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, South Wales and London. I can also document recent journeys ... York, Bolton, Colchester, Edinburgh. I estimate that such journeys make up a good proportion (perhaps even 50%) of the traffic. The station at Melksham: 1. There's no public telephone as there is supposed to be at every station; Wesses trains have a special dispensation NOT to provide one. 2. Timetables are part of a complex table and don't show the connections that people want to London, Bath and Bristol. 3. Signage is poor and the stations' in the back of an industrial estate which discourages timid travellers. 4. Interchange to bus services in non-existant. Even though buses pass the end of the station approach, they don't stop anywhere nearby and they are timed such that they do not connect. Publicity: 1. First Group's publicity suggests catching a bus to Melksham from Chippenham if you're coming by train - even though that's a walk across Chippenham whereas the connecting train leaves from the same platform. 2. Wessex trains make little mention of the line in their publicity and include it only in a complex timetable that doesn't show the journeys that many people want to make. The new timetable handout from 11th December still wasn't available (at Temple Meads, Bristol) on 5th. 3. Q Jump (on line booking - part of TheTrainLine.com) can't find the service to Melksham (I've had this reported several times and had to assure people that there really IS a train). 4. National Rail Enquiries could only off the advise that "the next train is at 21:33" when I asked them for alternative suggestions when the 17:02 to Swindon was cancelled last Thursday. 5. The West Wiltshire Public Transport timetable that used to be issued regularly was replaced by a BUS timetable recently, so it no longer shows the train service. What call is there for service? Speak to people in Melksham and they'll tell you 1. They would use the service if it was more reliable 2. They would use the service if it was more frequent 3. They would use the service if it the station was improved 4. They would use the service if they knew about it! A recent survey by the county council at Chippenham Station estimated that some 70 people a day from Melksham drive to Chippenham and park there to go on the train. That probably makes more money in car parking charges than they would get from having everyone on the train! The platforms at Chippenham are signalled for two way working and trains can be / have been reversed there. With a single 153 running an hourly shuttle from Chippenham to Westbury, I estimate that traffic levels would increase a further 3 fold. I encourage research to prove (or otherwise) this estimate In other words ... if only the mandrins actually LOOKED at the service and situation and allowed the provision of something appropriate, it would really work out logistically, environmentally and even financially. On 13th November, I invited Roger Jones, divisional manager from franchies at the department for transport, to visit the line for himself. I've yet to receive a reply. Written 2005-12-06 07:13:09 Available entries ... Spring 2009 Campaign update Preserved Railways - a look forward Campaign update - news for December 08 / 09 / 10 / 11 ... One long journey ends and another begins Road - busy ... railway - no trains, so no users Population growth, but congested roads Loss of train - loss of job Terminal 5 - a portent for the Olympics? Senseless service - could become sensible Not a Swiss clock railway this morning The heart says "public transport", the head forces car Meeting Season Milk producers An unusual journey for me - some observations Want to comment? You're welcome on the forum Where has our train gone? Comparing a different part of the country Fare Strike Day On truthfully advertising the case Another slap in the face from First Great Western Asda - an opportunity that can be used or squandered How have trains being doing in the last 48 hours? Happy Christmas everyone! Trains to and from Melksham - Timetable from Dec07 to May08 TransWilts trains ceased a year ago. Lets look forward Santa Claus spotted at Swindon Station A pile of 160 train tickets for tomorrow First Great Western's Melksham service branded "a disgrace" Cancellations, Changes and Crass Christmas Rail user groups do NOT represent rail users? Staffing-go-round - but the campaigners carry on 30 late, and a bus not a train .... Campaigning Mantra - Philosophy behind the case Commutes are longer, and in the west we may know why Comparing a Wiltshire town with a Norfolk one And the week ends with two more cancellations! Does the new man want to play hard? A First to Stagecoach comparison Comment on December timetables Front page update Frustrated but not depairing FSB - North and West Wilts Commitee - Federation of Small Businesses How to fill platforms, and railway company coffers too! The Ghost Train, Purton A Comparison - travel in the USA by train Weymouth, Poor Provisional, and Sunday Radio - tomorrow morning? We have another hill to climb New faces - mayors and chairs. Diary notes News Roundup - a LOT is happening Update being updated! A roundup from a MELKSHAM perspective The way forward - improved service and improved station An update Gordon Dodge, Rest in Peace Helsinki and Heathrow to Melksham - Saturday Asking for the political and part views Government pressure to shut up. But let us look forward. Petition Response - detail, opinion, context Reply to Petition What is happening? Report - Monday night's meeting - press brief The traveller, not the train! A fast-moving story? Passengers or Customers? IMPROVED PUBLIC TRANSPORT LINKS ACROSS WILTSHIRE? Invite letter - 5th March 2007 meeting Save the Train v More Train, Less Strain End game? Keeping the diary rolling Key players PLEASE LOBBY - First, Dft, County Council, your MP Welcome to 2007 Christmas, 2006 "Told you so" New service - first impressions They're gone ... but ... Fizzle Last Week - Press Release Coming to a course in Melksham Fading away? 2 weeks to go Current and future summary End of term - don't care Returning from their UK course Is this fare? Behind the new timetable Passenger or lemmings More cancellations Taunton meeting From Ystrad Mynach Consultant's reports recommended a modest INCREASE A difficult choice for voters 20% service cut = 40% traffic cut? If its working well, change it so it doesnt. Is this train used? Bus connections to Melksham from Chippenham A year on - an empty bank holiday One year on Has our publicity reached the right people? Flowers for Melksham. Flowers at Melksham. A desire for honesty Open Access case strengthened Press Release - Open Access operator negotiations In praise of estate agents Bad news coming? Pivotal decison - to grow or to strangle? Rail future - the First Alternative Friday, 7th July - Melksham Visit by Chris Grayling and Michael Ancram Welcome for Michael Ancram and Chris Grayling Important but not refreshing meeting Letter from Derek Twigg Selling off any possibility of improvement Internet connection issues How to catch the 18:48 from Chippenham - the DfT suggests Political pressure - press release ... is part of a planned war Our battle .... Lies, damned lies and statistics Put yourself in their shoes Home soon. Carrying fresh air around? Bus service costs 25 pounds per passenger to run? Every so often, stop and look It gets worse Friday meeting - invite and details First way to get rid of customers? RailFuture meeting - some gems RailFuture meeting today Waverley Diary Date - 12th May First back down or buses too. Parliamentary Debate, 25th April Meeting, 21st - notes What SWPTUF says Friday's meeting Meeting, tonight Celebrating a closure Meeting, Friday 21st Friday, 21st, Trowbridge Southampton to Westbury RESTORED Constituency Changes First - transforming travel An update - BAD, BAD news for Melksham ... UPDATE - new timetables High emotion Someone can't wait! Real time train monitoring The Waiting Game Service failure looses more customers Not just the TransWilts and Melksham ... On supporting other campaigns ... New pages and information Ploughing back OUR money, not theirs. A whole pile of responses Meetings and Consultation Responses INPUTS NEEDED by 8th March Safer current trains - the 06:56, 07:45 and 18:09 Roger Jones answers 5 months later! A week is a long time Three and a half answers out of 4 Draft timetables (continued) Background and opinion On the 05:52 this morning Out with the old users, in with the new Draft Timetable is here Today or tomorrow Meeting with a local MP Waiting, with baited breath Timetable consultation coming up From my postbag ... Recent Correspondence Keep watching - coming to the boil! Further threats Current status ... Were they purchasing votes? Repeat - PLEASE write in with your aspirations First want to hear your aspirations Winners and losers in the Devizes constituency Railway statistics and Melksham comparisons - how do we stand? What does First pay the government for Greater Western? Wilts County Council could save the Melksham / Transwilts train Reply from MD of First Great Western The Meeting Season New Sign Bustitution - buses for trains on Saturdays and Sundays New year, 2006 Update Christmas service - unrequired, or just unprovided? A comparison across the world Even new stations don't always survive No final decision yet New fares from 2nd January 2006 Every journey has a story Upside Down Melksham rail traffic up 33% in 3 months Should badgers be culled? Virtually no service - or excellent service. Request the latter. First specific Melksham rumour ... First Group - First answer on Melksham Greater Western Franchise awarded Train service fading away too? Santa Claus at Melksham Station A Quandry From the rumour mill At Temple Meads today Latest official answer Driving customers away? Don't drink and drive - drink and train. Keeping the campaign tail up STILL worth writing. To MP, To Dft, to bidders. A bustle before the 17:02 Plus a footnote - Melksham to London Timetable - Melksham to Reading and London What does it cost to run a train? A THOUSAND visitors Forum Archives available Busy train at Melksham Monday morning, Melksham Station Some scenes at Melksham Station A disappointing letter The storm's eye? Warminster Bus Running Day, 2005 The system is overcomplex - no wonder some odd things happen A case of the tail wagging the dog?? Kiss and Ride report Ready for Tuesday Bump from Glasgow New stats prove it - the service IS used Tracking codes for TransWilts stations Try the train on 18th October And more train users ... Six NEW factors why the TransWilts train that serves Melksham should be enhanced and not cut Tuesday, 18th October - Kiss and Ride day Quotes from Government Would this government close a station completely? An easy timetable - Melksham to Chippenham and Swindon Didn't you read page 52 of web document? Core meeting Regularity, Reliability, Realistic connections Swindon to Trowbridge 35% Growth in one year - Melksham ticket statistics Great meeting but just a start. Meeting! Old pictures. Not to be repeated event Don't believe everything you hear Excursion! Official (Government) view ... and I agree Encouraging traffic not just warm words Meeting, 20th September - getting nervous Don't let this become history! Looking slightly wider The story so far Welcome to News and Views Welcome to News and Views |
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