Wiltshire Travel Times - Chippenham, Trowbridge, Salisbury and other places too

The three major largest urban areas in Wiltshire are Salisbury (a city in the south of the county), Trowbridge (the county town, in the west of the county) and Chippenham (in the north of the county). All are part of the Wiltshire Unitary Authority area, with many facilities (public and private) available in some but not others. So there are strong, and growing, flows between the three towns.

The natural route from Chippenham to Salisbury takes you via Melksham (the fourth town in population) to Trowbridge, after 14 miles. You then carry on via the substantial towns of Westbury and Warminster to Salisbury, 33 miles from Trowbridge and 47 miles from Chippenham.

Alas, major roads and public transport in Wiltshire predominantly run east - west, and journeys between the north and south can be relatively slow even by car, and if you take public transport (which senior, disabled, unemployed and educational traffic often has to do) it can be painful. Here's a comparison of journey times - examples for an 07:00 departure on a weekday, heading south, with the nearest practical train or bus times quoted.

Chippenham to Salisbury
64 mins - 07:00 -> 08:04 Private Car (*) (#)
69 mins - 06:28 -> 07:36 Direct Train (06:28 and 19:01 only) (*) (#)
92 mins - 06:39 -> 08:02 Trains, change at Bath (1 or 2 per hour) (#)
112 mins - 07:40 -> 09:32 Bus to Trowbridge then train (most hours) (*) (#)
160 mins - 07:24 -> 10:04 Buses, change at Devizes (most hours)

Chippenham to Trowbridge
19 mins - 06:28 -> 06:47 Direct Train (06:28 and 19:01 only) (*)
24 mins - 07:00 -> 07:24 Private Car (*)
35 mins - 06:55 -> 07:30 Bus, fastest service (*)
49 mins - 06:39 -> 07:28 Trains, change at Bath (1 or 2 per hour)
50 mins - 07:28 -> 08:18 Bus, peak hour timings (*)

Trowbridge to Salisbury
49 mins - 06:47 -> 07:36 Direct Train (and at least once an hour) (#)
51 mins - 07:00 -> 07:51 Private Car (#)
99 mins - 08:21 -> 10:00 Bus, change at Warminster (first practical bus of day) (#)

Services marked (*) also serve Melksham
Services marked (#) also serve Westbury and Warminster

Data sources:
http://www.travelinesw.com/
http://www.theaa.com/route-planner/index.jsp

It's such a shame that the direct trains from Chippenham are so infrequent - just twice a day. There's been a great deal of work done on checking the viabiity of the case for an improved service, as there's plenty of capacity available on the line, and lots of other traffic (such as Trowbridge to Swindon) which would be served. But the question is asked "would people actually use a more frequent service?" All the logic says "yes", and the evidence says "yes" too.

There are already many commuters by rail from Warminster, Westbury and Trowbridge to Chippenham and Swindon - on certain peak trains, dozens of people change at Bath to "dogleg" from Trowbridge to Chippenham in 49 minutes ... simply because there's no train doing the direct 19 minute journey. And when First ran some extra trial services last summer that gave people day return trip opportunities (on a Sunday), they were crowded out. A Chamber of Commerce survey elicited responses from no fewer that 664 individual saying that, yes, they would regularly commute using such a better service.

And - when you take a further look - there are other reasons than purely speed to take the direct train. For a start, you save on having to find somewhere to park at your destination town. And you save on the cost of parking there. You'll probably end up being less stressed at the end of a train journey than one you have driven. And you'll have saved time (sometimes a lot of time) over the bus.

The potential traffic I've mentioned so far is, though "abstraction". That's traffic which already travels, and would simply be switching from one mode to another - so what is the advantage for the local authority / HM Government in helping to improve the train service?

Firstly, the Trowbridge -> Bath trains that dogleg commuters use are full to the extent of overcrowding; people are sometimes unable to board for journeys like Bradford-on-Avon to Bristol, and taking dozens of people off that service onto the direct line will help those trains to cope where they don't at the moment. Secondly, one of the reasons that buses and cars are relatively slow is the congestion at places such as Beanacre and Yarnbrook; an improved rail service will cause some element of relief there - not a huge element, but then road improvements would be a huge expense. Third, the town centres in places like Salisbury can run out of parking spaces.

But this isn't just looking at abstraction - it's looking to the future too. All three towns are designated as high growth, in terms of both business and residence, but with imbalance - and that also involves the other towns I have mentioned. So there will be more people, and people wanting to travel - from Melksham, where there are 2000 new homes but just 4 hectares of new employment land, to Salisbury where the new employment opportunities will outstrip the new population for example. And it's about bringing business visitors and tourists into the area where they simply don't come at the moment. And as a corollary, you end up helping the economy of all the places linked, you cut down on the cost and problems of deprivation and you get people into a public transport habit. Better to invest a little in appropriate public transport than to have to invest a lot in private transport, just at a point that fuel costs rocket again and we worry about oil running out.
(written 2012-03-07, updated 2012-03-10) 7990

Associated topics are indexed under

Z501 - Public Transport - Rail
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  [3938] A long overdue meeting - a steeping stone towards coordinate transport user inputs - (2012-12-02)
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  [3904] Want to help us improve transport in Wiltshire? Here is how! - (2012-10-26)
  [3899] Father Christmas to be on train in Melksham - (2012-10-19)
  [3893] Public Transport across Wiltshire - a new map - (2012-10-13)
  [3890] Here comes Santa - on the train from Melksham to Swindon on 2nd December 2012 - (2012-10-13)
  [3882] Community Transport - Pewsey, Taunton, and the whole picture too - (2012-10-06)
  [3881] Wiltshire Public Transport User Group co-ordination - (2012-10-05)
  [3879] Mixed mode travel - Information systems - (2012-10-03)
  [3873] Henbury loop, Bristol - a freight railway line with passenger potential? - (2012-09-29)
  [3872] Trains across Wiltshire - an update on the TransWilts - (2012-09-28)
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  [3826] TransWilts trains - what the next franchise period will bring - (2012-08-04)
  [3815] The Melksham News - July 2012 - Part 2, TransWilts Rail, Wilts and Berks Canal - (2012-07-23)
  [3804] Scenes from commuting by train - (2012-07-14)
  [3802] What a difference a year makes - (2012-07-10)
  [3795] Like a bathroom company with no plumbers - (2012-07-04)
  [3793] Excellent Rail News - what it really means - (2012-07-01)
  [3786] Improving Wiltshire Rail Offer - it WILL be happening - (2012-06-28)
  [3784] Steam train calls at Melksham - Pictures - (2012-06-26)
  [3765] Christmas in June? Melksham hotel bookings and Santa train - (2012-06-15)
  [3761] Melksham - placed 2254 out of 2255. What can be done about it? - (2012-06-11)
  [3736] Abstraction - (2012-05-19)
  [3728] The future needs for rail services to Melksham - change needed; current service an insult - (2012-05-11)
  [3699] Bristol 50? Bristol 25? - (2012-04-17)
  [3671] Future train services in Wiltshire - please write in to support a better service - (2012-03-24)
  [3668] Kings Cross - new concourse - between Python in Cambridge and Objective C in London - (2012-03-22)
  [3631] Getting around Dublin by public transport - some observations - (2012-03-01)
  [3626] There is so much to see travelling by train - (2012-02-26)
  [3601] Rail Travel - has it become more unreliable? - (2012-02-02)
  [3579] Transport in Cambridgeshire - seen by an outside observer. What can Wiltshire learn? - (2012-01-15)
  [3565] What would an appropriate train service on the TransWilts line mean - (2011-12-31)
  [3564] I wish I was not a special case - (2011-12-29)
  [3550] Provide a useable train service, and people will use it! - (2011-12-11)
  [3538] Santa Train - another successful trip - 4th December 2011 - (2011-12-04)
  [3501] Santa Claus - on the train from Melksham on 4th December 2011 - (2011-10-30)
  [3493] West Wilts Rail User Group - Walk yesterday from Bradford-on-Avon to Trowbridge - (2011-10-23)
  [3487] Public transport - road and rail - (2011-10-19)
  [3486] How important is public transport to people in the Melksham area? - (2011-10-19)
  [3452] Which or ATOC - who reads train fares right? - (2011-09-22)
  [3434] Sundays - and over eating - (2011-09-11)
  [3410] A review of the Summer Sunday extra trains on the TransWilts line - (2011-08-29)
  [3408] Journey home by public transport for a Bank Holiday - (2011-08-27)
  [3403] Last chance this summer - Swindon and North Wiltshire to Weymouth by through train - (2011-08-22)
  [3392] What costs 8.20 from Melksham, or 22.30 via Chippenham? - (2011-08-14)
  [3378] New product - ensuring that supply matches demand - (2011-08-03)
  [3371] From Wiltshire to Weymouth on Sundays - (2011-07-27)
  [3370] Standing Challenge - (2011-07-26)
  [3364] Dogs Legs on the Dogleg - (2011-07-20)
  [3362] Swindon, Chippenham and Melksham to Weymouth - Sunday Train Service Starts - (2011-07-19)
  [3336] Efficient travel - from Melsksham to Edinburgh by Sleeper Train - (2011-06-26)
  [3331] Comparing Alloa and Melksham - stations and services - (2011-06-23)
  [3328] Summer Sundays - days out by train from Swindon on the TransWilts - (2011-06-18)
  [3318] Summer Sunday Trains - outings from Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge and Westbury - (2011-06-05)
  [3274] Small scale improvement - big scale gain. And they CAN be done with local knowledge - (2011-05-02)
  [3273] Wanted - a look to the future - (2011-05-02)
  [3198] TransWilts rail - coming together, wanted and needed - (2011-03-10)
  [3187] Past and Present - Melksham Station - (2011-02-27)
  [3178] The cost of roadworks on the economy of our town - 1800 pounds per hour? - (2011-02-20)
  [3176] Comparing German, Dutch and British Railways - (2011-02-19)
  [3171] Train and boat journey - the passenger accommodation - (2011-02-15)
  [3167] Can I take my dog by train? And other questions - (2011-02-12)
  [3161] TransWilts rail - what picture represents us - (2011-02-08)
  [3141] Wiltshire Rail services - a golden opportunity - (2011-01-21)
  [3135] A time to be brave? We should ask for what is best for our area. - (2011-01-16)
  [3119] TransWilts - some things to see and do - (2011-01-03)
  [3114] Transwilts Link - both Wiltshire and beyond - (2010-12-30)
  [3113] Trowbridge and Melksham to Chippenham - more roadworks, even slower journey over the winter - (2010-12-30)
  [3111] TransWilts Link - Days out from Swindon to Weymouth? - (2010-12-28)
  [3080] Santa Special - rather more special than usual - December 2010 - (2010-12-07)
  [3079] TransWilts Rail News ... Melksham (Santa Special) Edition ... 5th December 2010 - (2010-12-04)
  [3033] Rail services back to Radstock? - (2010-11-07)
  [3031] Get all your ducks in a row ... and they may turn into swans - (2010-11-06)
  [3017] Seventh day traveller on the six day railway - (2010-10-27)
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  [2955] Melksham Railway Station - new information point - (2010-09-13)
  [2954] Railway meetings, trips and meetups this autumn - (2010-09-12)
  [2931] Syncronise - software, trains, and buses. Please! - (2010-08-22)
  [2930] Walk - Tilehurst to Pangborne - (2010-08-21)
  [2919] London to Calne, Corsham, Melksham, Bradford-on-Avon, Chippenham by public Transport - (2010-08-13)
  [2908] How Green is my train? - (2010-08-07)
  [2901] Ambassador or Anorak? - (2010-08-03)
  [2855] Train Services - Melksham to Bath and Bristol (and airport) - (2010-07-05)
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  [2696] Garlic bread without garlic - (2010-03-27)
  [2678] Reaching out to the community - a good case for support - (2010-03-15)
  [2664] Oliver Cromwell at Bristol Temple Meads - (2010-03-06)
  [2662] Is Melksham public transport actually used? - (2010-03-05)
  [2658] Save the Train - a significant change in approach - (2010-03-03)
  [2634] London to and from Melksham by public transport - (2010-02-13)
  [2627] Saturdays out from Melksham - to Oxford, to Didcot or to Swindon - (2010-02-07)
  [2626] On Malachite Green - (2010-02-06)
  [2568] Forums for your Melksham and open source discussions - (2010-01-09)
  [2557] Rail Campaign - response to core consultation - (2009-12-31)
  [2556] Railway Station Survey - please complete today or tomorrow - (2009-12-30)
  [2533] Five guests, three groups, one car - (2009-12-11)
  [2529] Santa Special, 2009 - (2009-12-06)
  [2522] Integrated public Transport - what could be done for Melksham - (2009-12-01)
  [2513] Wiltshire Council purchases Melksham Station Land - (2009-11-26)
  [2511] The story of the railway land at Melksham Station - (2009-11-24)
  [2486] Santa Special - Trowbridge and Melksham to Swindon - (2009-10-31)
  [2477] By train ... - (2009-10-25)
  [2473] Exploring Old Railways - (2009-10-24)
  [2457] Railway Arithmetic - (2009-10-16)
  [2438] Listening to The Minister - (2009-10-05)
  [2395] From Lymington by train - last of the slammers - (2009-09-05)
  [2391] Great Western Route Utilisation Strategy - Draft for Consultation - (2009-09-02)
  [2372] Public Transport from (and to) Melksham on Sundays - (2009-08-23)
  [2328] Melksham - no trains, no southbound buses through the town - (2009-08-08)
  [2318] For Lua Programmers AND for Town Planners - (2009-08-02)
  [2268] Westbury Bypass Refused - looking forward - (2009-07-04)
  [2133] Bigger and better this year! - (2009-04-20)
  [2057] Train and Coach fares from London (and airports) to Melksham - (2009-02-26)
  [2042] Wiltshire Rail Service Update - (2009-02-15)
  [2026] Melksham Climate Friendly Group - (2009-02-05)
  [2024] Carry on Training - in spite of the weather - (2009-02-03)
  [1999] How low can you sink? - (2009-01-17)
  [1966] Background to the TransWilts Train Fiasco - (2008-12-29)
  [1965] How much does a train service actually cost - (2008-12-29)
  [1964] Why hasnt the fiasco been put right - (2008-12-29)
  [1905] A Gold Star for First Great Western Customer Service - (2008-11-24)
  [1858] Camera with night vision, youth with no vision - (2008-10-28)
  [1848] 30th November - Santa Trip from Melksham - (2008-10-19)
  [1757] Preserved railways - struggling to the future? - (2008-08-17)
  [1729] Back from the future - (2008-07-30)
  [1708] A Train Service Update for Melksham Party in the Park - (2008-07-13)
  [1616] Not daring to be an anorak - (2008-04-19)
  [1567] Melksham - Swindon. Train v Bus v Car - (2008-03-07)
  [1558] Getting somewhere with the train service - (2008-02-28)
  [1530] Railway Acronyms and Abbreviations - (2008-02-03)
  [1452] Santa on the train to Melksham - (2007-12-01)
  [1428] Travel Across Wiltshire - the game - (2007-11-11)
  [1424] Closer than you think - the next step - (2007-11-08)
  [1382] First Great Western - information for customers - (2007-10-07)
  [1358] Look forward with a new broom - Wiltshire Train Service - (2007-09-19)
  [1314] Business travel by train in the USA - (2007-08-22)
  [1303] Heading Upstate New York - (2007-08-14)
  [1291] Day trip to Weymouth - (2007-08-05)
  [1274] Radio coverage for railway issues - (2007-07-23)
  [1273] Melksham or Weymouth? Meal or day out? - (2007-07-23)
  [1228] Some progress on the train campaign - (2007-06-10)
  [1139] Overcrowded trains around Bristol - (2007-04-08)
  [1097] Train and business balls all in the air! - (2007-03-02)
  [1093] Wiltshire Train - can YOU come on 5th March? - (2007-02-25)
  [1076] Save the Train - an update - (2007-02-12)
  [1069] Rail trouble forced me to buy hotel - (2007-02-07)
  [1063] Bradford-on-Avon - 150 years of passenger trains - (2007-02-03)
  [1045] Bang! Train campaign hits home - (2007-01-19)
  [1044] Call for appropriate train services - Swindon, Bristol, Bath, West Wilts, Severn Beach etc - (2007-01-18)
  [1033] Empty at Easleigh, Missing at Melksham, Overflowing at Oldfield - (2007-01-14)
  [976] Santa at the station - (2006-12-09)
  [974] The last commuter train through Melksham - (2006-12-09)
  [952] Coming from London to Melksham by train for a course - (2006-11-28)
  [877] Yes, but what do we do now?? - (2006-09-24)
  [814] Melksham Railway Calendar 2007 - (2006-07-25)
  [803] Not shouting - (2006-07-16)
  [790] Shadow Transport Minister to visit Melksham - (2006-07-02)
  [697] For any North and West Wilts and Swindon Readers - (2006-04-23)
  [688] Are you free on Friday evening? - (2006-04-18)
  [648] West Wilts Railway Users Group and trains to Lacock - (2006-03-16)
  [634] Real chance to make a difference - (2006-03-05)
  [632] Moral dilemma - (2006-03-04)
  [527] Greater Western Franchise Awarded - (2005-12-13)
  [524] Santa comes to Melksham - (2005-12-11)
  [521] Proof needed? Please just use common sense! - (2005-12-08)
  [488] Looking for railway groups and users - Swindon, Salisbury, Southampton - (2005-11-06)
  [486] Rail services under threat - Swindon, Melksham ... and Newquay and Bicester too - (2005-11-05)
  [447] Tomorrow's meeting. - (2005-09-19)
  [434] Through public transport connection, Chippenham to Salisbury, to cease - (2005-09-02)
  [428] Swindon - Chippenham - Melksham - Trowbridge - Westbury train service - (2005-08-29)
  [154] Railway train service, Melksham station - (2004-12-17)

M204 - Well House Manor - Salisbury District
  [3723] Bank Holiday Monday, so it was pouring with rain. - (2012-05-07)
  [3709] Queen to visit eight Wiltshire areas - will she know what she misses in the other 13 areas? - (2012-04-26)
  [2453] Dark to dark - (2009-10-13)
  [1652] Old Sarum airfield brings back fond memories - (2008-05-24)
  [1398] Someone else's wedding - (2007-10-21)
  [1128] Avon Vale hunt at the Point to Point - (2007-04-01)
  [1127] A day at the races - (2007-04-01)
  [880] Celebration circles - (2006-09-27)
  [833] Old Wardour Castle - (2006-08-14)
  [325] Gone Racing - Larkhill, Wiltshire - (2005-05-26)

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