Save the Melksham Train
STOP PRESS - we have heard from First Great Western in the last few days, as follows:

"We had hoped that we could organise an additional service through Wiltshire serving Melksham in particular. We looked very carefully at all the options, but whilst the plan received good support, and remains something we want to do, the cost of the new service is considerable. It will not be covered by the revenue that the service will generate, and as a commercial organisation we can only therefore proceed if we can find some joint funding to offset the costs. Despite our efforts this has to not proved possible to date, and we will not be able to offer any extra services in the next timetable due out in December.

"We will continue to discuss the plans with stakeholders and will keep looking for a partner to help finance the service, but this will not be possible before the December 2009 timetable (at the earliest)."

See who has signed up to pledge support, more details of the validated service that has just had the plug pulled and some personal comment
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The train service described on this page are under threat

Salisbury to Melksham, Chippenham and Swindon

Travelling across Wiltshire? There's a direct train service that runs 7 days a week via Warminster, Westbury and Trowbridge to Chippenham and Swindon. It's currently operated by Wessex trains, but next year the franchise comes up for renewal and the three bidders have been asked to quote for the COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL of this through train, leaving part of the route with just a single one way journey in each rushhour, and (curiously) a return evening service.

The train takes almost exactly an hour from Salisbury to Chippenham. This is the ONLY direct public transport between these two towns; by bus with a change, usually in Devizes, it takes 2 hours.

The train takes 75 minutes from Salisbury to Swindon. The direct bus service (probably the most practical alternative) takes a full 2 hours (120 minutes).

Please use the train. Please tell others about the train. If you live in Salisbury, please tell your local councillor. Please visit our support and petition pages and tell us of your support.
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