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

Southampton to Melksham, Chippenham and Swindon

Travelling to Chippenham or Swindon? There's a direct train service that runs 7 days a week via Salisbury, Warminster, 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 WITHDRAWL of this through train, and the reduction of part of the line it serves to a commuter-only link.

The train takes about 90 minutes from Southampton to Chippenham. This is the ONLY direct public transport between these two towns; by bus with at least two changes, it takes three and a quarter hours.

The train takes an hour and three quarters from Southampton to Swindon. The bus service, with a change in Salisbury, takes between 3 and a quarter and 3 and three quarter hours.

I understand that patients who live in the Melksham and Chippenham area are often referred to the excellent specialist hospital in Southampton, and the train service is of great value to them.

Please use the train. Please tell others about the train. If you live in Southampton, please tell your councillor. Please visit our support and petition pages and tell us of your support - we're fighting to save the train up at this end of the line!
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