Santa Special - rather more special than usual

Headline

Crowd boarding Melksham Railway Development Group Santa Special to Swindon

First Great Western provided an intercity 125 train last Sunday on the 17:05 from Westbury to Swindon. This train formed the Santa Special trip organised by the Melksham Railway Development Group - with 80 adults and children joining the train at Melksham for the ride to Swindon and back. Santa Claus, and the Melksham Town Crier, both found time in their busy schedules to join us on the train, and a great time was had by all.

Santa Claus with Peter Blackburn, chair of MRDG

Santa Claus with Peter Blackburn, chair of MRDG

On the way back from Swindon, we all got to ride in First Class, and Santa came through the train with presents for all of the young people in the party - lots of smiling faces, and a great time had by all. We left the train at Melksham; Santa stayed on through to Westbury, where he had parked his sleigh.

What was special?

Santa had presents for all the young people on the train, and they were thrilled to meet him

Santa had presents for all the young people on the train, and they were thrilled to meet him

This was the very first time (to our knowledge) that an intercity 125 (also known as an HST) has stopped at Melksham, certainly to pick up or drop off passengers. It's something that wasn't possible prior to the provision of "selective door opening" on these trains a couple of years ago, but since then it is something we have asked FGW to consider for special trips. There have still been technical concerns, at it's great to confirm they have been overcome.

First Great Western provided First Class accommodation - the first time at HST 125 has stopped at Melksham to our knowlegde

First Great Western provided First Class accommodation - the first time at HST 125 has stopped at Melksham to our knowlegde

This is more significant that just special train / events, though - it means that when there are engineering works that cause the HSTs to be diverted via Melksham, there's no longer any need to cancel the local services (and this will be more important if and when we get the local service improved) - just stop one of the expresses, which have to go slowly round the curve here anyway.

Leaving the train after a great trip

Note that the 18:19 (Sunday) from Swindon, on which we travelled back, is a service that's provided by First Great Western in excess of the government's minimum level specification - it was added to the timetable after requests from the Melksham Railway Development Group and the Save the Train Campaign - our thanks to First Great Western for their continued provision of this service; it's quite a success - we've had to reduce the number of Santa tickets sold this year due to fears of overcrowding.

Background

Peter Blackburn of MRDG with Peter Dauncey, Melksham town crier, who came with us

Peter Blackburn of MRDG with Peter Dauncey, Melksham town crier, who came with us

See newsletter handed out on train - http://www.transwilts.org.uk/twnews_01_mkm.pdf

(written 2010-12-07)

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