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| New to the Melksham / TransWilts train issue?
See our old home page for the background Recent running information: (shows 4 most recent trains and cancellations/no shows in last week) 19:47 train on 16/05/2008 shows as No report 19:11 train on 16/05/2008 shows as Cancelled 07:17 train on 16/05/2008 was on time 06:43 train on 16/05/2008 was on time 19:47 train on 15/05/2008 shows as No report more train records ... Update - August 2006 First published their Monday through Friday "final" timetable on Friday, 28th July, and it shows just two trains each day running a round trip from Swindon to Westbury and back - at 06:20 and 18:42 from Swindon. (details) This means: • Commuters from Frome, Westbury, Trowbridge and Melksham who continue to use the train would face a 90 minute LONGER day, 5 days a week. • There would only be ONE practical London to Melksham train service each day - at 17:30 from London Paddington, where now there are seven. • Many other regular journeys and all longer distance traffic will be lost - the morning train is so early that nothing of significance connects into it. If this service goes ahead, there would be a severe loss of revenue from the line for First group. Currently, around 109,000 passengers a year travel on the line and that would drop to a tiny fraction of that figure. On the other hand, with a service provided by a single dedicated train which ran every 2 hours would provide: • A service to users, community and environment • A better financial prognosis - short and longer term - when compared to First's proposed service • A foundation for further growth and also for other longer distance opportunities In August, there's background political pressure going on. And now that it's very clear that First are not intending to provide an appropriate service, we've approached other Train Operating Companies with a detailed proposal under Open Access arrangements - the courts cleared such services a few days ago in a landmark decision effecting GNER and Great Central. At the end of August, Melksham station is CLOSED for 10 days while engineering works proceed near Swindon. Six expresses a day will pass through on diversion, but the operator has decided to cut the TransWilts service back to Westbury and provide buses over the whole route from Westbury to Swindon, rather than running a Westbury to Chippenham shuttle. On 4th September, trains return and we would like YOU to join us at the station and catch the first train. Update - June 2006 The outcome of the March consultation was a BACKWARD step for the TransWilts services through Melksham. We continued to press for 5 or 8 trains per day, but have been left with just two. We asked that IF there were just two services left, that the peak train should arrive in Swindon a little later than in the draft and leave a little earlier in the evening. We've been "rewarded" with the reverse - who's going to want to be in Swindon well before 8 a.m. then have to hang around until quarter past six to START the journey home? On 25th April, all four MPs who cover the line spoke in a debatei on our behalf in parliament. My own MP sent me (and others) an email even before the debate had concluded that warned By definition these debates are short and more about putting things on the record rather than getting answers.. I thank them all for speaking on our behalf, but wish they had chosen a way to support us that was more appropriate to getting something done that for them to be seen to be in support of us 'on the record'. On 12th May, Andrew Griffiths who's the new Area Manager for First Group and covers our service spokei at the Melksham Rail Development Group meeting. Good turnout (bringing chairs in from all over the place), but he had no crumbs of comfort to offer - just kind words. It seems that the economics of running a train are such that a "153" unit as used on our line makes a loss even if it's uncomfortably full on every trip - I hope I read Andrew right on that. Update - March 2006 My Consultation input ... and if you want to add yours Consultation deadline passed ... BUT ...they're working on the inputs and it's work keeping up the interest with a) Your MP and The Department for Transport and First Group and the media and the country and regional councils. More links to these to follow. Update - February 2006 Draft timetable issued - just 2 trains per day. I've also drawn up a table of common connections off the few remaining trains. There are full timetables on the First site too if you want to look further afield.
Issues that are as yet unclear to me include: • What arrangements are being made for users of withdrawn trains Update from FGW - it may be that the 231 and 234 buses in Chippenham run to the station from April Further update - buses to Chippenham station "too expensive" even though they were in the First GW bid • Whether any cheap day opportunities to London will remain Update from FGW - There will be NO cheap day return opportunities for tickets bought on the day from Melksham. The fare option of 38 pounds on the 09:12 has gone. The fare on the 07:37 will be 108 pounds until January 2007, when it will rise by about 1% above inflation. • Whether connections at Westbury will be made to other trains that are timetabled just one minute after the Swindon arrival Update from FGW - trains will not usually be held. There is an excpetions where a connection is made into the last service of the day. • At what time Saturday and Sunday services will be provided (the DfT HAS confirmed there will be two trains on each day). Update from FGW - As the timetable is currently in the proposal and consultation stages, I am sure that you can appreciate that definite details are as yet unconfirmed. I regret that I am unable to answer you enquiry directly at the present moment, but I will investigate the matter further and contact the relevant sources in order to obtain the information that you require. I have written to First on all of these matters, and thank them for the answers added above (22nd February). I will post on the web site if and when I get further answers. If you believe that the level of service to be offered is about right, but the actual timing is wrong, please write to: Timetable Consultation, First Great Western, Milford House, Swindon SN1 1HL, If you feel the level of service is inappropriate, please write to: Peter West, Great Western Franchise Manager, Zone 31 Floor 3 Department for Transport, Great Minster House 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR In either case, please copy Lesley Colman at First Great Western, Milford House, 1, Milford Street, Swindon SN1 1HL and as appropriate ... your MP, your Wiltshire County Councillor, and your district councillor and ask for their assistance. Link - Further background and my personal optinion ... Update - January 2006 The Franchise to run train services through Melksham, along with all other services in a wedge west from London covering Berkshire, Wessex, Bristol, Gloucester and South Wales for the next 7 to 10 years was awared to the First Group on 13th December. Initial Press Releases made no reference to Melksham although they included a great deal of good (enhancement) news for other services. But we learnt within a few days that First were going to slash our services by 68% even though they had repreived the Penzance sleeper and the Bicester services and others that were under threat. Links to the press releases, etc Recent Correspondence. On 13th December, Alice Broadhurst wrote: First Great Western is committed to maintaining and improving the service we provide. We very much appreciate the support from our customer and we will be looking at the faculties provided at all station including Melksham. I hope that we will continue to provide the level of service you would expect and I have passed your comments to the relevant managers. On 20th December, Gary Badcoe wrote: First Great Western is determine to improve the quality of service throughout Greater Western franchise when it comes into operation. This will mean that some services may be withdrawn, however this will only be done with careful consideration and after evaluating the needs of customers in effected areas. Final decisions have not yet been made and I will certainly make sure that your valuable comments are passed on to the relevant mangers. On 10th January, Alison Forster wrote: We must not run any less trains than specified but, contrary to the arrangements made when bringing in other franchises, we are unable to operate any more services than specified. This means that even if we believed a route deserved more trains than specified, we would not be able to increase the service level. Unfortunately, Melksham is one of those stations where the DfT has specified that we run less services than currently provided. Full Text In light of Gary's comments on 20th December, I spent some time over my Christmas break researching options and the cost of providing services and came to the startling conclusion that a regular two-hourly service using a single train would generate a profit, whereas a "parliamentary" service that's so infrequent that it drives everyone away would make a bigger loss than the current service. This report was posted to my contacts, including Alison Forster, at First earlier this week. It crossed her letter back (quoted above) in the post. Full Text Link to front page (Dec '05) Link to front page (Aug '05 to Nov '05) |
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