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March 31, 2007
Reply to Petition
I have to confess - I'm disappointed, but not suprised. You can't teach an old dog new tricks, even if the old dog is bright enough to realise that it really out to learn a few.
We raised 1700 signatures (the biggest domestic public transport petition) over the issue of an inappropriate new train service (or rather lack of train service) from last December from Swindon to Westbury and on other routes. It was worded - VERY carefully - to offer practical routes forward to providing a service fit for the future throught the region, whilst at the same time not backing any of the players into a corner that forced them to admit to past mistakes.
Alas - the answer given (local copy here) repeats the old outdated tricks. They may well have been the right tricks in 2004 at the time the reports / specificatiosn were drawn up, but time has proven that they're utterly wrong for now, and for the coming years.
Posted by gje at 08:02 AM | Comments (0)
March 18, 2007
What is happening?
It's nearly two weeks now since we hosted the "Save the Train" meeting here in Melksham. And, alas, for much of the time since then I've been layed low - working with halved energy - with a bout of the flu from which I'm only just recoverimg. With training courses to give and a business to run, that's taken up the energy I have and I've been having late starts (for me) and even earlier evenings than is my norm. Here I am at 4 p.m. on Sunday feeling like I could just curl up and go to sleep ....
But ... we DID move forward at the meeting. Formed an action group that involves some more bodies, and since then we've got a press release out somewhat wider than I could have reached alone. And we should have a high proportion of that core group at least at the District Council's emergency meeting on Tuesday next.
An experts / officers group is also to be set up. That's to allow the rail industry, national and local government experts, perhaps with representatives of other groups, to come together. A prospecive chairman / organiser has been approached and, with my impatient nature, I'm disappointed to have not yet heard back / heard what's happening on this. Of course, I should not be surprised as, really, there's no reason that I should be involved in this group and it can probably do its best by flying a whole range of kites between its members rather than asking for public consultation type inputs at each stage.
More evidence / information keeps building up concerning the need to improve public transport in the corridor, to improve the pubclicity and information about that public transport so that people who need it can find it, and about the unsuitability of the current service. Even with just 2 trains a day, and even with the current SLC limits unaltered, I recon they could do a ruddy site better. I conjecture that around 93% of the buisness has been lost ... yet with a compliant service arriving in Swindon at 08:30 and leaving at 08:45, and another arriving in Swindon at 17:30 and leaving at 17:45, that loss could have been limited to around 45%.
The DfT tell me that the service isn't working as they had intended. Travellers on the train tell me that surveys are being done because the service is "under review". We need to shout more than ever before to ensure that reviewers look at the complete picture and come up with a positive solution rather than just looking at current train usage and suggesting that (say) only the Sunday trains remain ...
Posted by gje at 03:30 PM | Comments (0)
March 07, 2007
Report - Monday night's meeting - press brief
A packed special meeting in Melksham on Monday night, called by the "Save the Train" Campaign, learnt that there's now a realistic change of the return of an approprriate train service from Swindon to and through West Wiltshire (Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Warminster) and on to Salisbury, Frome, Somerset and Dorset.
All the major player are now talking "Turkey" - the First Group, who operate nearly all the train services in this area, and the Department for Transport, acknowledge that there is a strong case for the service. The 1700 signature petitoin recently completed, the packed meeting in Melksham, and continued inputs to all parties and representatives show that there is a public demand too.
The meeting resolved to continue to press for the return of a regular service connecting the largest 5 population centes of Wiltshire, and Frome in Somerset, from December 2007.
A successful meeting. Resolved:
1. A "Save the train" action committee was formed with representatives from along the route of the service to campaign further for the return of an appropriate train service. Our target date is December, to take over the train that is scheduled to be WITHDRAWN from the Westbury to Southampton service with the potential loss of many services at Warminster and Dilton Marsh.
2. County, District, rail partnership, Train operator and other bodies to meet in a group to co-ordinate their actions with a view to getting the appropriate service running again.
3. A major lobby to be held on March 20th at West Wilts District Council's executive meeting (19:00, Bradley Road council chamber, Trowbridge). All welcome. Please see http://www.savethetrain.org.uk for details or call 01225 708225.
Editorial Note -
Passenger usage of the Swindon to Westbury, Salisbuy and Southampton train service grew between 8% and 35% per annum in the five years to 2006, but last December's timetable changes withdrew all but two trains (06:19 and 18:42 off Swindon) off part of the route.
This new service level is inappropriate for the route and is causing real hardship - commuters from Frome and Trowbridge into Swindon have their day extended by 90 minutes, to travel from Swidon to Salisbury by train ican now take over 2 hours with an awkward change and long wait in Bath, and Melksham (population 24,000 and growing) has no trains at all between 07:17 and 19:08. The new service level was specified in a single line in an 80 page document produced by the Strategic Rail Authority in Spring 2005, relating to all rail services West of London which based future service provision on a 0.8% growth forecast.
In order for an appropriate service to return, the local transport authority (Wiltshire County Council) needs to work with the Department for Transport and a Train Operator (First Great Western). We congratulate the Friends of Bristol Suburban Railways for their recent completion of such an agreement which will bring services back to the Severn Beach line, and we note smilar success in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.
Save the Train
Graham Ellis - Chair
graham@wellho.net
01225 708225
404, The Spa, Melksham, SN12 6QL
Posted by gje at 09:56 AM | Comments (0)
March 04, 2007
The traveller, not the train!
On the railways, I've seen so many people interested in the trains and not the travellers - they're often known as the "Gricer"s and "Anorak"s - and I've attended many meetings / seen many pictures they've taken and read many discussions. But the modern day railway is there very much for the passenger, and I was delighted to travel in busy trains yesterday (I don't really mind what class of unit, but f.y.i 3 x HST and 1 x TPE 158) that ran virtually to time.
Actually, passengers make for some lovely pictures just like the trains do!
Passenger at Taunton Station
Passengers at Bristol Temple Meads
Posted by gje at 09:14 AM | Comments (0)
March 02, 2007
A fast-moving story?
It looks like we do have a good chance of getting an appropriate service "TransWilts" from December.
Please come along to the big meeting, 7 for 7:30 on Monday 5th March for details and / or I'll fill you in on line. Seriously - we need to demonstrate support at this one. Taxi available from the station off the 19:08 arrival from Swinin, and we'll get you home / onwards after.
Did I say "fast moving". Important letters in the post this a.m., meetings tonight (Friday) and Saturday, so Monday looks - to us - very much in the future.
Posted by gje at 02:36 PM | Comments (0)