TransWilts CRP, CIC and Melksham RUG
Public and sustainable transport in Wiltshire

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For 2023 (and 2024 ...) - we are now fully retired from IT training.
We have made many, many friends over 25 years of teaching about Python, Tcl, Perl, PHP, Lua, Java, C and C++ - and MySQL, Linux and Solaris/SunOS too. Our training notes are now very much out of date, but due to upward compatability most of our examples remain operational and even relevant ad you are welcome to make us if them "as seen" and at your own risk.

Lisa and I (Graham) now live in what was our training centre in Melksham - happy to meet with former delegates here - but do check ahead before coming round. We are far from inactive - rather, enjoying the times that we are retired but still healthy enough in mind and body to be active!

I am also active in many other area and still look after a lot of web sites - you can find an index ((here))
TransWilts Link - meeting notes from 19th October

A very successful TransWilts Link meeting yesterday in Westbury. What we lacked in numbers of delegates we made up in quality of people and knowledge, and the discussions were really useful, forward thinking and brought together people from Bedwyn in the east to Westbury in the west, and from Royal Wootton Bassett in the north to Warminster to the south. The intent for this meeting is not to measure by attendee count, but rather to act as an over-arching. Full notes to be provided in due course (thank you for standing in to take minutes, Kevin from Corsham) but here is some personal feedback and diary updates. Please bear in mind these are personal recollections - I'm relying on Kevin's notes when they come through as I was far too busy to write much up.

No "big name" speakers ... but plenty of big names in the room, who updated from their viewpoint and spoke informally to a knowledgable group. A keynote / starting point [from a TransWilts community speaker]:

"When we held this meeting a year ago, we stood amongst the still-smouldering ashes of a burnt-out franchise system, with the fires dampened down by the dead hand of "nothing changes until we've sorted this out". An expectation / warning that the sort out was going to take a while and there would NOT be a fifteen year franchise, but rather an interim arrangement, and a knowledge that options such as the TransWilts that were in the bid (and 100% funded) were lost from the ongoing plans. And a sad knowledge that the funding via LSTF has a three year clock attached to it, which couldn't simply be delayed.

At that meeting, we came up with three issues that we felt were key issues that should not be simply put on hold for the period of the day - that the steady state would lead to a loss of opportunity or indeed stagnation.
1. That a mechanism should be found and implemented to allow TransWilts to go ahead
2. That further steps should be taken to maximise revenue protection - both to protect income, and also to ensure ongoing accurate data for future developments
3. That fare updates and changes should look to correcting complexities and inconsistencies, and in particular to ensuring that certain historic bargains are moved up to a viable level.

On No. 1... after a very great deal of hard work by many people behind the scenes, we look set for an appropriate TransWilts service to commence in December. On No. 2... we are pleased to observe the end of "cap and collar" in the new 2 year franchise, and we understand this means that revenue protection initiatives by the train operator will generate 100% extra income for the train operator rather than 20%. On No. 3... less good news; the reduction of the leeway give to train companies from the "inflation + 1% rises" has made great headline news for the government, but it's reduced what could be done on certain fares in our neck of the woods

Overall, it's quite remarkable and positive how far we've moved forward on our three key points over the year. Let's now look forward, working with all the bodies that have helped with this..."

And the subjects that came up included:

Signoff TransWilts service improvement / FGW contract signoff is in published cabinet papers and will be discussed / should be agreed on 22nd. We had a cabinet member present, and although not the sponsor, it was indicated that it's almost unthinkable for it to not go through. The public cabinet papers look at elements of risk, in particular to the funding / handing of the time from the end of the 2 year franchise to the end of the 3 year service sponsorship, and also from the end of the three year LSTF funding to the end of the service sponsorship. These issues have been resolved. Another issue in the risk list is a formal objection by Go-op to the granting of train paths - however, as they are not in a position to run services from December, and indeed it would be tight timing for them to do so during the current franchise, this becomes something for a next agreement consideration. Personally (NOT discussed with others yet) I would be happy for the TransWilts train when it arrives in Swindon to carry on to Birmingham, or Bedford... and I would be happy with an hourly service too, as envisages by that report picked up by the Swindon Advertiser. I would be unhappy for a service that's built up over 3 years to be subject to the commercial vagaries of a service provide mainly or solely by an open access operator beyond that point; that could be cured by alternate services or by a guarantee of service / safety net.

When the signoff happens (presuming it does) on Tuesday, I understand there is a technical cooling off period of 5 days to allow minds to be changed - "has never happened" followed by a few final contract things to be agreed; I'm very much aware just how little time there was between the recent announcement of the new FGW franchise and it starting, and we may end up being pretty close again. HOWEVER...

Marketing WITH ... There's an awful lot of work gone in (and that means money spent) by Wiltshire Council and by First Great Western into making the new service work. Staff, stock, marketing preparations, and so forth. And it's being done in a very positive and committed way from both sides. "Let's make this work" and "this can and WILL work" is the ethos, but also "We have to MAKE it work". I stand back slightly - in wonder and delight - at some of the things that over the years we have had to work so hard at moving towards are coming true, and indeed further than that - there are some very enlightened people out there who are now empowered to go beyond what we would have dreamed / thought of. I was walking round a day or two with a smile from ear to ear - "wow" - on something that will come out in time.

So - "Marketing WITH" - let the experts do their job. And the community to help fill in, inform, work with. Truely now a partnership rather than a discussion and co-ordination forum. AT THIS STAGE... I see the marketing being things like (a) assistance with community invite list for launch [we've done this already], (b) sourcing of local talent for ditto, (c) providing support for newcomers to rail use, (d) getting the message out around local businesses and groups, (e) Station travel plans including identification of new flows and looking at things immediately away from the tracks, (f) program of events and day out opportunities - on which we are encouraged to ask for "values added". (g) Potentially "hole filling" timetables as were once produced for Dilton Marsh, and has been produced in Wiltshire for Bradford-on-Avon. There is one specific flow, and one station, where the excellent work done already (and seen in draft) by FGW needs a filling - but it's a tiny filling compared to what we might have expected if we were "just being given a train service"

Pewsey / Bedwyn / Westbury ... A really interesting and ongoing discussion of the requirements, worries and aspirations of three places on the same (Berks and Hants) line and yet with very different current services, and to some extent different Metrics. It's interesting to note that Bedwyn and Pewsey are perhaps the Wiltshire stations with the highest percentage of their passengers driving to the station (Chippenham is probably third), both have parking that's full (!) at the station and surrounding issues, and how services between the two are - err - not good. Making Westbury meetings from Bedwyn isn't easy (to put it mildly!) and whilst the same applies from Swindon, that changes / should change on 9.12. Connecting Wiltshire's travel planner also came up on these discussions, with no "drive to station then catch a train" suggestions being made. It was noted that "taxi to station" might provide a good way of implementing this, but the option has only been seen to be offered for Blaneavon and Llandyssul, neither of which is ;-) yet ;-) in Wiltshire.

On Pewsey / Bedwyn / Westbury, the very serious concerns and issues relate to post-electrification of the main lines from Paddington, pattern of services, etc; the semi-fast to Taunton / Exeter and express to Plymouth / Penzance (one proposal) looks goodish. Other options look less palletable, and the London traffic is key at these stations. TransWilts actually helps London to Westbury on current service by plugging the huge daytime gap for business men who currently drive to Chippenham. It also provides additional justification (as if that was needed!) for far west expresses to call at Westbury, in order to handle Swindon / Chippenham / Trowbridge to Taunton / Exeter / Plymouth / Torbay / Cornwall traffic

Zigzag and Station buses This turned into two VERY interesting discussions. I'm writing up these issues separately - Station buses for our station group, and the Zigzag business as an example of the issues of looking at individual services rather than a network, and of how to interface commercial and subsidised services to the best benefit of the community of users.

Area Boards The TransWilts CRP introduced itself to the Westbury Area Board last week, and in particular looks for local feedback for an via stations groups. See separate bullet point. The Trowbridge Area Board is on 14th November, and I understand we're on the agenda (no doubt we'll see when that comes out). For Chippenham on 4th November, and Melksham on 11th December, we wait to hear / see the agenda to see if we've been permitted a five minute slot.

Station Groups ... to be the individual location eyes and ears and advocates of the CRP for each station. Actually to go a little further, in terms of things like station plans, which merit their own section. Where the CRP can, it will build on existing groups / organisations that are already undertaking the role and / or can take on the extras. In Melksham, that's the Melksham Railway Development Group. In Westbury, it's Westbury TrainWatch. In Trowbridge, Horrace Prickett was volunteered (! ;-) ) to assist at least with the initial meeting, in Chippenham we have a venue set up at the Bridge Brasserie, and in Swindon we're coming up with a date time and place with one of the Coffee Shop Forum admins. 25th October, Melksham. 6th November, Swindon. 7th November, Trowbridge. 12th November, Chippenham. 15th November, Westbury.

Royal Wootton Bassett Delighted to have two gentlemen from "RWB" along, and to air difficult subjects which are so much better talked through than by email or other exchanges. We're all very much in agreement of aims, and can find ways that facilitate all those aims. A Transwilts service WOULD call at a station at RWB if there was one there - little question of that, unless it was on the South Wales only line. Whether it lies on both lines (nearer Swindon) or near the Skew Bridges (west of the junction) potentially has a major operational and cost set of consequences, and also consequences as to its usefulness and accessibility. With just a train every couple of hours (or every hour in the future), the TransWilts CRP recongnise and fully appreciate that a TransWilts service alone calling at RWB is likely at best to be a stop-gap; it will certainly not meet longterm aspirations. A train every 2 hours for a 10 minute journey to Swindon (for example) is unattractive,and if it did load well for that flow you've then got lots of seats all the way from Westbury (or Salisbury by that time?) to RWB which aren't very well filled just for a splurge of passengers for the final few minutes.

East of the junction - loops needed for capacity. West of the junction - wrong trains for the future, and not well sited for park and ride. Potential future traffic huge. Potential local electrics service west from Swindon and even some long distance trains calling. Input to be made to LEP / NR to at least ensure potential sites are known about as electrification happens.

Re-opening in 1985 Good to meet, at yesterday's meeting, someone who attended the official reopening of Melksham station in 1985; I hope that he can make it along to the launch of a new service in December too.

7th February 2014 TransWilts CRP AGM, At County Hall, Trowbridge, with kind permission / facilitated by Wiltshire Council. The room will have limited capacity; any CRP member will be welcome but we'll ask people to register ahead of time and it will be much more of a systems and admin meeting than a volunteer's get together. We can do far better with that on the line and just off the trains.

This Franchise and beyond Here's a conundrum. We mustn't take our eyes off the ball for 2013 and 2014 - indeed, we need to have the service success in 2014 - in that ONE year. Yet we also need to look forward; come early 2014, we'll be talking about what happened beyond September 2015 when the current First franchise expires. There's already talk of a further 2 year extension prior to a full let beyond, but our key requests and cases need to be in there, and meshing. So this requires modestness in current requests, yet blue sky thinking and articulation of those blue sky request - thus talk such as the RWB, East-West rail, post electrification services, updating services south from Westbury, and even increased line capacity without being unrealistic in the shorter term. In "Control period 5" and 6 and so on, one's looking at better capacity at Westbury - an extra track at the station, and other things that came up - we need to talk of and prepare for these strategic issues - and yet also not overlook the short term, small tweaks etc, that also require full attention. "Move the 08:49 Swindon to Westbury back to 08:35, run it in the same timings within the hour as the new 17:35... and you'll satisfy many more flows" type of thing. With that example... you may end up making a platforming robustness issue at Westbury; something for us to keep an eye on.

A major subject for...

22nd March 2014 Date of next TransWilts Link meeting. We very much hope to have a more formalised mailing list, agenda and separate support for this series in place by then - expect to learn more about this in the next few weeks.

Draft Agenda: - How are we doing so far / what do we do within current franchise? - Linkages in, summer program, station plans. - Inputs for next rail franchise.

How good is our data An observation really - the folks within the room held between them such a detailed know of past, present and future from so many different angles, and that makes for really joined up thinking between us all. And by sharing this information, each of the areas knows what it's interfacing to, and where a choice has to be made, helps it to be made in the direction that will help the whole. I learned a lot and I know that I imparted some data that was news to others.

Connecting Wiltshire A look and a review of the web site. I'm afraid we identified a few issues in the journey planner, but we're heartened by the responsiveness already to inputs, and we look forward to it developing further. We celebrate the other aspect of the site, and the personal travel planning, etc; not only does this help inform people of what's available, but it also helps inform the teams about flows and travel requirements - not a formal at-station survey (those are important) but something which reaches everyone!

The LEP. Funding. Feedback. Planning. I find forward looking a long way very difficult. And in order to look forward schemes have to be developed, strategies planned, funding identified for, applied for. We talked about the issues of getting projects "shovel ready" for short-lead major funding which seems to crop up from time to time... there's more LSTF funding coming up in December for example. Also goes discussions about working cross-LEP boundary, and applying for funding via the LEP. Much of the cross-boundary stuff in our neck of the woods relates to Bath / Bristol, where the logic of Metro services taking in Wiltshire via Avoncliff and Corsham. Extra platform at Westbury come very high up the LEP list, and really that could do so much for the economy of the area. An excellent "who would fund that" discussion, looking at who gets the benefits. TransWilts CRP to co-ordinate LEP inputs as we have the wider coverage, and our constitution allows us to look at TransWilks linked issues too... and as the line is the backbone of Wiltshire's transport, that's quite wide.

Quiet train, but there for a reason Do you run a service with few passengers? YES, you might do so... an interesting discussion about return commuter train times. We're set on TransWilts from December for a 17:35 and an 18:50... but even at that latest time, some people may be put off by the absence of a later train just in case they have to work late. So that's why the 20:12 is so important. Oh - AND it connects off London, and we need to stress the 22:22 bus too as part of the total service.

• Actions:
- Station groups and action plans
- supportive marketing
- bus information / commercial to subsidised interface -> PJ
- Look ahead to strategy as well as tactics; NEXT franchise and next steps
- List value added (HoW rover extra, Bus interchange)
(written 2013-10-20)

 
Associated topics are indexed as below, or enter http://melksh.am/nnnn for individual articles
Z511 - Public Transport - Road
  [119] PHP course. Come by train. - (2004-11-15)
  [187] a popular bus number - (2005-01-23)
  [459] Kiss and Ride - (2005-10-09)
  [474] Vintage Bus Day - (2005-10-23)
  [764] Journey planning - Xephos v Transport Direct - (2006-06-16)
  [818] Heard, yes. Considered, no. The case for the train. - (2006-07-30)
  [1085] Lawrence Webb's Melksham Taxi service - (2007-02-18)
  [1125] Train service - petititon reply - (2007-03-31)
  [1254] Comparing bus stops - (2007-07-01)
  [1315] Two years of campaigning for a train service - (2007-08-22)
  [1428] Travel Across Wiltshire - the game - (2007-11-11)
  [1511] Buses from Well House Manor, Melksham, to Bath - (2008-01-18)
  [1560] HST Power Car TravelWatch SouthWest - (2008-03-01)
  [1567] Melksham - Swindon. Train v Bus v Car - (2008-03-07)
  [1668] Talk on TransWilts train service to Green Party - (2008-06-07)
  [1723] Bath - Melksham - Devizes. Bus route changes, new timetable - (2008-07-26)
  [1777] The Rise and Rise of First Bus Fares - (2008-08-29)
  [2075] Supporting Parkinsons and Trains - (2009-03-11)
  [2083] Do you support a decent train service? Please sign up! - (2009-03-15)
  [2268] Westbury Bypass Refused - looking forward - (2009-07-04)
  [2328] Melksham - no trains, no southbound buses through the town - (2009-08-08)
  [2372] Public Transport from (and to) Melksham on Sundays - (2009-08-23)
  [2431] Moving busstop! - (2009-09-30)
  [2515] Why we have two buses an hour - but not a half hourly service - (2009-11-28)
  [2522] Integrated public Transport - what could be done for Melksham - (2009-12-01)
  [2533] Five guests, three groups, one car - (2009-12-11)
  [2662] Is Melksham public transport actually used? - (2010-03-05)
  [2672] Dear Planners, please provide viable alternatives - (2010-03-11)
  [2771] Melksham to Calne by public transport - (2010-05-20)
  [2789] Melksham to London (Heathrow, and Central London) - (2010-06-02)
  [2791] Bath to Melksham buses - times - (2010-06-03)
  [2857] Park and Ride at Batheaston - will it solve Wiltshires Ills? - (2010-07-06)
  [2903] Bath to Devizes bus via Melksham - changing again in September - (2010-08-04)
  [2919] London to Calne, Corsham, Melksham, Bradford-on-Avon, Chippenham by public Transport - (2010-08-13)
  [2933] Bath - Melksham - Devizes buses from September - (2010-08-23)
  [2958] What do these road markings mean? Could Confusion Kill? - (2010-09-17)
  [2982] Travel, Transport and Tourism - A vision for Melksham, 2026 - (2010-10-03)
  [2983] Strong arm tactics in the bus industry? Poor result for the customer! - (2010-10-03)
  [3126] Car Parking in Melksham - thoughts on the proposed scheme, and wider thoughts too - (2011-01-09)
  [3194] Buses - what they cost and their future direction in the SW and in Wiltshire - (2011-03-06)
  [3290] Changes (and no changes) at Melksham bus stops - (2011-05-15)
  [3301] Using public transport - USA style - (2011-05-25)
  [3404] Buses on the Cambridge Guided Busway - (2011-08-24)
  [3471] Vintage Bus Running Day in Warminster. An example of good bus practise. - (2011-10-09)
  [3486] How important is public transport to people in the Melksham area? - (2011-10-19)
  [3487] Public transport - road and rail - (2011-10-19)
  [3504] Coaches from Trowbridge and Melksham to London - (2011-11-01)
  [3523] When competition is not a good idea - Melksham Bus Absurdity - (2011-11-16)
  [3564] I wish I was not a special case - (2011-12-29)
  [3579] Transport in Cambridgeshire - seen by an outside observer. What can Wiltshire learn? - (2012-01-15)
  [3580] Melksham Area - buses, trains, cycles, and roads. Meeting, 17.1.2012 - (2012-01-15)
  [3631] Getting around Dublin by public transport - some observations - (2012-03-01)
  [3699] Bristol 50? Bristol 25? - (2012-04-17)
  [3849] New bus times - Melksham to Bath - (2012-08-25)
  [3850] Bus times - Chippenham Station to Melksham, with London connections - (2012-08-25)
  [3866] Celebrate! Buses from Meksham to Bath - (2012-09-18)
  [3877] Public Transport Services - from and to Melksham - (2012-10-01)
  [3879] Mixed mode travel - Information systems - (2012-10-03)
  [3893] Public Transport across Wiltshire - a new map - (2012-10-13)
  [3904] Want to help us improve transport in Wiltshire? Here is how! - (2012-10-26)
  [3929] Melksham Bus Issues - to be raised at First Bus Customer Panel - (2012-11-21)
  [3937] Agenda for Wiltshire Link Travel groups meeting, Saturday 1st December 2012 - (2012-11-27)
  [3938] A long overdue meeting - a steeping stone towards coordinate transport user inputs - (2012-12-02)
  [3951] Christmas Bus Schedule for Melksham - First Bus - (2012-12-14)
  [4022] A request for all of Melksham transport groups to work integrated - (2013-03-01)
  [4023] Melksham to Chippenham (Station) bus services - times and routes - (2013-03-01)
  [4032] Easier public transport from Melksham to Bristol Airport - (2013-03-06)
  [4108] The painful cost of local travel to Melksham - (2013-06-01)
  [4111] Zigzag bus - forward for the future, or decaying service? - (2013-06-09)
  [4113] Wiltshire and Melksham Transport - what is going on? - (2013-06-09)
  [4123] New timetables from 28th July - bus routes 271 and 272 - (2013-06-24)
  [4124] Chippenham - Melksham - Trowbridge bus changes next month - (2013-06-26)
  [4143] Bus times - Melksham to Bath from 28th July 2013 - (2013-07-25)
  [4149] Bus changes to Bath - good idea, but I despair at information available - (2013-08-08)
  [4150] Melksham Regular Public Transport Map - as at August 2013 - (2013-08-09)
  [4152] Why are bus fares so high? - (2013-08-18)
  [4171] Mapping road accidents in Melksham and elsewhere too - (2013-09-12)
  [4179] Changing transport and destinations - looking forward to a good future - (2013-09-19)
  [4181] Grumbling about trains? Buses can be far worse! - (2013-09-29)
  [4186] Melksham to Bath and Zigzag buses - at a turning point? - (2013-10-06)
  [4190] A radical proposal - a cheap and effective way to provide home to city commuter transport - (2013-10-11)
  [4191] Getting people to and from Melksham Station - not 20 but 700 times a day - (2013-10-12)
  [4192] A positive progress behind the scenes - (2013-10-14)
  [4228] Mallory Place, The Spa, Wellington Drive, Melksham - a Christmas present for you - (2013-12-26)
  [4240] Melksham Rail Link - (2014-01-27)
  [4247] You wait a long time - then buses come in threes. It's timetabled that way! - (2014-03-09)
  [4257] Over a pound a kilometre - my bus in Weston-super-mare - (2014-04-06)
  [4263] Chippenham - Melksham - Trowbridge, public transport over Easter (2014) - (2014-04-12)
  [4286] Reaction in Radstock to new First bus prices - (2014-07-12)
  [4290] National Express replaced by train and by Megabus from Chippenham to London - (2014-07-16)
  [4425] A Welsh valley - what the transport looks like in 2015 - (2015-02-14)
  [4500] The TransWilts Community Intergrated Transport Corridor - (2015-05-29)
  [4546] Is the RUH hopper a limited, duplicate service running unnecessarily and at high cost? - (2015-10-18)
  [4547] RUH Hopper - experience and thoughts forward - (2015-10-20)
  [4592] A comparison of the public transport alternatives to the Royal United Hospital, Bath - from Melksham. - (2015-12-06)
  [4615] Questions for First (West of England) - (2016-01-05)
  [4619] Buses - not about the buses, but about the people who use the buses - (2016-01-10)
  [4624] Campaigning for a sensible bus solution and not against anyone! - (2016-01-17)
  [4629] Making travel time useful time on public transport - (2016-01-22)
  [4631] What would the Wiltshire Council bus cuts mean for Melksham? - (2016-01-25)
  [4636] Rail user groups worried about what is happening on the buses - (2016-01-31)
  [4639] Working out the costs of running a bus service through the day - (2016-02-06)
  [4648] Why is bus funding a much hotter topic than a new set of traffic lights? - (2016-02-16)
  [4654] Getting to the Royal United Hospital - the Hopper and the alternatives - (2016-02-24)
  [4660] What is happening on the 231 bus? What are you going to do about it? - (2016-03-04)
  [4664] Mallory Place bus stop - services to Bath - (2016-03-25)
  [4667] Wiltshire Supported Bus consultation - final few days - (2016-03-30)
  [4670] The end, or the start? - (2016-04-05)
  [4683] Saudi Arabia or Weymouth? - (2016-05-22)
  [4690] Buses in Wiltshire - potential changes and where we stand at the moment - (2016-05-30)
  [4692] How are bus support payments currently calculated? - (2016-06-07)
  [4703] What do people use the bus for in Wiltshire - survey interim results. - (2016-07-11)

Z501 - Public Transport - Rail
  [154] Railway train service, Melksham station - (2004-12-17)
  [428] Swindon - Chippenham - Melksham - Trowbridge - Westbury train service - (2005-08-29)
  [434] Through public transport connection, Chippenham to Salisbury, to cease - (2005-09-02)
  [447] Tomorrow's meeting. - (2005-09-19)
  [486] Rail services under threat - Swindon, Melksham ... and Newquay and Bicester too - (2005-11-05)
  [488] Looking for railway groups and users - Swindon, Salisbury, Southampton - (2005-11-06)
  [521] Proof needed? Please just use common sense! - (2005-12-08)
  [524] Santa comes to Melksham - (2005-12-11)
  [527] Greater Western Franchise Awarded - (2005-12-13)
  [632] Moral dilemma - (2006-03-04)
  [634] Real chance to make a difference - (2006-03-05)
  [648] West Wilts Railway Users Group and trains to Lacock - (2006-03-16)
  [688] Are you free on Friday evening? - (2006-04-18)
  [697] For any North and West Wilts and Swindon Readers - (2006-04-23)
  [790] Shadow Transport Minister to visit Melksham - (2006-07-02)
  [803] Not shouting - (2006-07-16)
  [814] Melksham Railway Calendar 2007 - (2006-07-25)
  [877] Yes, but what do we do now?? - (2006-09-24)
  [952] Coming from London to Melksham by train for a course - (2006-11-28)
  [974] The last commuter train through Melksham - (2006-12-09)
  [976] Santa at the station - (2006-12-09)
  [1033] Empty at Easleigh, Missing at Melksham, Overflowing at Oldfield - (2007-01-14)
  [1044] Call for appropriate train services - Swindon, Bristol, Bath, West Wilts, Severn Beach etc - (2007-01-18)
  [1045] Bang! Train campaign hits home - (2007-01-19)
  [1063] Bradford-on-Avon - 150 years of passenger trains - (2007-02-03)
  [1069] Rail trouble forced me to buy hotel - (2007-02-07)
  [1076] Save the Train - an update - (2007-02-12)
  [1093] Wiltshire Train - can YOU come on 5th March? - (2007-02-25)
  [1097] Train and business balls all in the air! - (2007-03-02)
  [1139] Overcrowded trains around Bristol - (2007-04-08)
  [1228] Some progress on the train campaign - (2007-06-10)
  [1273] Melksham or Weymouth? Meal or day out? - (2007-07-23)
  [1274] Radio coverage for railway issues - (2007-07-23)
  [1291] Day trip to Weymouth - (2007-08-05)
  [1303] Heading Upstate New York - (2007-08-14)
  [1314] Business travel by train in the USA - (2007-08-22)
  [1358] Look forward with a new broom - Wiltshire Train Service - (2007-09-19)
  [1382] First Great Western - information for customers - (2007-10-07)
  [1424] Closer than you think - the next step - (2007-11-08)
  [1452] Santa on the train to Melksham - (2007-12-01)
  [1530] Railway Acronyms and Abbreviations - (2008-02-03)
  [1558] Getting somewhere with the train service - (2008-02-28)
  [1616] Not daring to be an anorak - (2008-04-19)
  [1708] A Train Service Update for Melksham Party in the Park - (2008-07-13)
  [1729] Back from the future - (2008-07-30)
  [1757] Preserved railways - struggling to the future? - (2008-08-17)
  [1848] 30th November - Santa Trip from Melksham - (2008-10-19)
  [1858] Camera with night vision, youth with no vision - (2008-10-28)
  [1905] A Gold Star for First Great Western Customer Service - (2008-11-24)
  [1964] Why hasnt the fiasco been put right - (2008-12-29)
  [1965] How much does a train service actually cost - (2008-12-29)
  [1966] Background to the TransWilts Train Fiasco - (2008-12-29)
  [1999] How low can you sink? - (2009-01-17)
  [2024] Carry on Training - in spite of the weather - (2009-02-03)
  [2026] Melksham Climate Friendly Group - (2009-02-05)
  [2042] Wiltshire Rail Service Update - (2009-02-15)
  [2057] Train and Coach fares from London (and airports) to Melksham - (2009-02-26)
  [2133] Bigger and better this year! - (2009-04-20)
  [2318] For Lua Programmers AND for Town Planners - (2009-08-02)
  [2391] Great Western Route Utilisation Strategy - Draft for Consultation - (2009-09-02)
  [2395] From Lymington by train - last of the slammers - (2009-09-05)
  [2438] Listening to The Minister - (2009-10-05)
  [2457] Railway Arithmetic - (2009-10-16)
  [2473] Exploring Old Railways - (2009-10-24)
  [2477] By train ... - (2009-10-25)
  [2486] Santa Special - Trowbridge and Melksham to Swindon - (2009-10-31)
  [2511] The story of the railway land at Melksham Station - (2009-11-24)
  [2513] Wiltshire Council purchases Melksham Station Land - (2009-11-26)
  [2529] Santa Special, 2009 - (2009-12-06)
  [2556] Railway Station Survey - please complete today or tomorrow - (2009-12-30)
  [2557] Rail Campaign - response to core consultation - (2009-12-31)
  [2568] Forums for your Melksham and open source discussions - (2010-01-09)
  [2626] On Malachite Green - (2010-02-06)
  [2627] Saturdays out from Melksham - to Oxford, to Didcot or to Swindon - (2010-02-07)
  [2634] London to and from Melksham by public transport - (2010-02-13)
  [2658] Save the Train - a significant change in approach - (2010-03-03)
  [2664] Oliver Cromwell at Bristol Temple Meads - (2010-03-06)
  [2678] Reaching out to the community - a good case for support - (2010-03-15)
  [2696] Garlic bread without garlic - (2010-03-27)
  [2808] From home to Nurnberg - journey pictures - (2010-06-13)
  [2855] Train Services - Melksham to Bath and Bristol (and airport) - (2010-07-05)
  [2901] Ambassador or Anorak? - (2010-08-03)
  [2908] How Green is my train? - (2010-08-07)
  [2930] Walk - Tilehurst to Pangborne - (2010-08-21)
  [2931] Syncronise - software, trains, and buses. Please! - (2010-08-22)
  [2954] Railway meetings, trips and meetups this autumn - (2010-09-12)
  [2955] Melksham Railway Station - new information point - (2010-09-13)
  [3006] Santa announcement, 5th December 2010, Melksham - (2010-10-20)
  [3017] Seventh day traveller on the six day railway - (2010-10-27)
  [3031] Get all your ducks in a row ... and they may turn into swans - (2010-11-06)
  [3033] Rail services back to Radstock? - (2010-11-07)
  [3079] TransWilts Rail News ... Melksham (Santa Special) Edition ... 5th December 2010 - (2010-12-04)
  [3080] Santa Special - rather more special than usual - December 2010 - (2010-12-07)
  [3111] TransWilts Link - Days out from Swindon to Weymouth? - (2010-12-28)
  [3113] Trowbridge and Melksham to Chippenham - more roadworks, even slower journey over the winter - (2010-12-30)
  [3114] Transwilts Link - both Wiltshire and beyond - (2010-12-30)
  [3119] TransWilts - some things to see and do - (2011-01-03)
  [3135] A time to be brave? We should ask for what is best for our area. - (2011-01-16)
  [3141] Wiltshire Rail services - a golden opportunity - (2011-01-21)
  [3161] TransWilts rail - what picture represents us - (2011-02-08)
  [3167] Can I take my dog by train? And other questions - (2011-02-12)
  [3171] Train and boat journey - the passenger accommodation - (2011-02-15)
  [3176] Comparing German, Dutch and British Railways - (2011-02-19)
  [3178] The cost of roadworks on the economy of our town - 1800 pounds per hour? - (2011-02-20)
  [3187] Past and Present - Melksham Station - (2011-02-27)
  [3198] TransWilts rail - coming together, wanted and needed - (2011-03-10)
  [3273] Wanted - a look to the future - (2011-05-02)
  [3274] Small scale improvement - big scale gain. And they CAN be done with local knowledge - (2011-05-02)
  [3318] Summer Sunday Trains - outings from Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge and Westbury - (2011-06-05)
  [3328] Summer Sundays - days out by train from Swindon on the TransWilts - (2011-06-18)
  [3331] Comparing Alloa and Melksham - stations and services - (2011-06-23)
  [3336] Efficient travel - from Melsksham to Edinburgh by Sleeper Train - (2011-06-26)
  [3362] Swindon, Chippenham and Melksham to Weymouth - Sunday Train Service Starts - (2011-07-19)
  [3364] Dogs Legs on the Dogleg - (2011-07-20)
  [3370] Standing Challenge - (2011-07-26)
  [3371] From Wiltshire to Weymouth on Sundays - (2011-07-27)
  [3378] New product - ensuring that supply matches demand - (2011-08-03)
  [3392] What costs 8.20 from Melksham, or 22.30 via Chippenham? - (2011-08-14)
  [3403] Last chance this summer - Swindon and North Wiltshire to Weymouth by through train - (2011-08-22)
  [3408] Journey home by public transport for a Bank Holiday - (2011-08-27)
  [3410] A review of the Summer Sunday extra trains on the TransWilts line - (2011-08-29)
  [3434] Sundays - and over eating - (2011-09-11)
  [3452] Which or ATOC - who reads train fares right? - (2011-09-22)
  [3493] West Wilts Rail User Group - Walk yesterday from Bradford-on-Avon to Trowbridge - (2011-10-23)
  [3501] Santa Claus - on the train from Melksham on 4th December 2011 - (2011-10-30)
  [3538] Santa Train - another successful trip - 4th December 2011 - (2011-12-04)
  [3550] Provide a useable train service, and people will use it! - (2011-12-11)
  [3565] What would an appropriate train service on the TransWilts line mean - (2011-12-31)
  [3601] Rail Travel - has it become more unreliable? - (2012-02-02)
  [3626] There is so much to see travelling by train - (2012-02-26)
  [3642] Wiltshire Travel Times - Chippenham, Trowbridge, Salisbury and other places too - (2012-03-07)
  [3668] Kings Cross - new concourse - between Python in Cambridge and Objective C in London - (2012-03-22)
  [3671] Future train services in Wiltshire - please write in to support a better service - (2012-03-24)
  [3728] The future needs for rail services to Melksham - change needed; current service an insult - (2012-05-11)
  [3736] Abstraction - (2012-05-19)
  [3761] Melksham - placed 2254 out of 2255. What can be done about it? - (2012-06-11)
  [3765] Christmas in June? Melksham hotel bookings and Santa train - (2012-06-15)
  [3784] Steam train calls at Melksham - Pictures - (2012-06-26)
  [3786] Improving Wiltshire Rail Offer - it WILL be happening - (2012-06-28)
  [3793] Excellent Rail News - what it really means - (2012-07-01)
  [3795] Like a bathroom company with no plumbers - (2012-07-04)
  [3802] What a difference a year makes - (2012-07-10)
  [3804] Scenes from commuting by train - (2012-07-14)
  [3815] The Melksham News - July 2012 - Part 2, TransWilts Rail, Wilts and Berks Canal - (2012-07-23)
  [3826] TransWilts trains - what the next franchise period will bring - (2012-08-04)
  [3860] Melksham to Steam in Swindon, by train - great day out - (2012-09-16)
  [3872] Trains across Wiltshire - an update on the TransWilts - (2012-09-28)
  [3873] Henbury loop, Bristol - a freight railway line with passenger potential? - (2012-09-29)
  [3881] Wiltshire Public Transport User Group co-ordination - (2012-10-05)
  [3882] Community Transport - Pewsey, Taunton, and the whole picture too - (2012-10-06)
  [3890] Here comes Santa - on the train from Melksham to Swindon on 2nd December 2012 - (2012-10-13)
  [3899] Father Christmas to be on train in Melksham - (2012-10-19)
  [3923] 35 minutes is only a slight delay on our railway service - (2012-11-15)
  [3942] Santa Trip - Melksham Railway Development Group, 2012 - (2012-12-03)
  [3986] Rail services in Wiltshire - up in the air? We need to say what is best required. - (2013-01-20)
  [3993] Two trains a day ... how many fares to London? Guess! - (2013-02-04)
  [3994] On board Eurostar - a running commentary - (2013-02-04)
  [3995] Onward from Brussels - (2013-02-04)
  [4040] Report on the last year - Melksham Railway Developement Group for Melksham Without Parish Council - (2013-03-11)
  [4080] Fancy a day at the seaside? Weymouth from Melksham - (2013-05-06)
  [4104] Weymouth vis the TransWilts - the day out today - (2013-05-27)
  [4105] Our day trip by train from Swindon, Chippenham and Melksham to Weymouth - (2013-05-28)
  [4110] TransWilts meeting ... - (2013-06-07)
  [4131] West Coast (of Wales) - railway and stations in pictures - (2013-07-04)
  [4142] Passenger survey at Chippenham - report and pictures - (2013-07-24)
  [4146] A few more trains means a LOT more passengers. Why? - (2013-07-30)
  [4148] Special General Meeting, Adoption of Constitution for TransWilts Community Rail Partnership - (2013-08-01)
  [4154] August Bank Holiday - day out from Melksham to London or Weymouth - (2013-08-20)
  [4159] People WILL walk to the station in Melksham, but they need a path and trains - (2013-08-25)
  [4160] Bank Holiday Monday - pictures of a great train trip to Weymouth - (2013-08-27)
  [4163] TransWilts Community Rail Partnership - formally constituted - (2013-09-01)
  [4173] Train and Rail Travel - who runs it and where do I ask questions? - (2013-09-13)
  [4176] International and off island travel from Melksham - (2013-09-16)
  [4185] TransWilts Trains - running a successful campaign talk - (2013-10-05)
  [4195] Booking for Santa, Melksham Railway Development Group, 8th December 2013 - (2013-10-21)
  [4196] Official - Trowbridge and Melksham to London train improvements - (2013-10-22)
  [4199] Draft Westbury - Melksham - Swindon train times, from December 2014 - (2013-10-24)
  [4202] Excellent Railfuture conference, but some setup lessons - (2013-11-03)
  [4216] Los Angeles - post modern transport system - (2013-11-27)
  [4217] New train service - launch plans and timetable links - (2013-12-03)
  [4218] A THANK YOU to those who have brought the new train service to fruition - (2013-12-06)
  [4219] TransWilts train services - up from 2 to 8 per day - (2013-12-09)
  [4224] TransWilts - first day pictures - (2013-12-18)
  [4226] Saturday train to Swindon - two weeks in - (2013-12-21)
  [4238] A Question series posed to Melksham Tourist information - (2014-01-19)
  [4250] Lacock Halt - former TransWilts Station - (2014-03-23)
  [4251] Broughton Gifford Halt, TransWilts Railway Line - (2014-03-24)
  [4252] Staveton Halt, former station between Trowbridge and Melksham - (2014-03-25)
  [4253] Easter Weeks - Melksham to Weymouth - (2014-04-02)
  [4256] Train fare look expensive? There may be a cheaper option - (2014-04-02)
  [4267] How effective is our publicity? - (2014-04-26)
  [4268] Metrics - historic and current TransWilts train use - (2014-04-27)
  [4269] Survey - Journeys - (2014-04-28)
  [4276] Swindon to Weymouth - by train, the traditional way - 2014 - (2014-05-12)
  [4289] It may be cheaper to buy in bulk - (2014-07-15)
  [4306] Four time target - good news. Four time prediction - poor forecasting. - (2014-09-26)
  [4312] Officially overcrowded in the first year - (2014-11-15)
  [4342] My first official measure - Passenger Entrys and Exits - revisited 9 years later - (2014-12-05)
  [4352] A long day on the trains, but a rewarding one - (2014-12-14)
  [4353] Celebration pictures, year 1 - (2014-12-15)
  [4365] The changing face of Christmas - (2014-12-26)
  [4367] A year of rail memories! - (2014-12-27)
  [4378] What FGW passengers want to talk about / and PHP programming to find out - (2015-01-01)
  [4397] TransWilts / Press and Publicity report for AGM / 30th January 2015 - (2015-01-17)
  [4464] Catching up on a week all in a single post (?) - (2015-03-21)
  [4467] Neighbourhood Plan - travel and transport thoughts - (2015-03-29)
  [4471] Leopardstown to Rosslare by train - (2015-04-23)
  [4473] Fishguard to Melksham - third part of Dublin journey - (2015-04-25)
  [4475] New car park at Melksham Station - ideal for commuters from Seend, Hilperton, Yarnbrook and Holt - (2015-04-26)
  [4478] Home in Melksham to Gatwick Airport - easy by public transport - (2015-04-29)
  [4486] Newark to New York - the PATH suburban railway - (2015-05-05)
  [4495] Swindon to Westbury train services - Saturdays from 23rd May 2015 - (2015-05-17)
  [4496] Sunday train times - 17th May to 6th September 2015 - (2015-05-17)
  [4511] The Royal Albert Bridge as you do not normally see it - (2015-07-12)
  [4512] The Weymouth Wizard - Saturdays in August from Wiltshire - (2015-07-31)
  [4515] Why has the hourly Chippenham to Trowbridge train been withdrawn? - (2015-09-24)
  [4539] TransWilts public transport corridor - (2015-10-15)
  [4578] Rail electrification - far, far too optimistic so over budget and late - (2015-11-20)
  [4596] Call for help counting passengers - TransWilts, 12th to 14th December - (2015-12-10)
  [4598] 21 places to get your train and bus timetables for TransWilts - (2015-12-19)
  [4612] TransWilts - robust these days - no longer the first service to be cancelled - (2016-01-03)
  [4623] Rambling from Westbury - (2016-01-16)
  [4640] Who was Doctor Beeching and what was his axe? - (2016-02-06)
  [4665] Chippenham to Salisbury by public transport - what we have and what we could have - (2016-03-26)
  [4677] Swindon, Chippenham and Melksham - day trips by train to Weymouth start for 2016 - (2016-05-18)
  [4684] Melksham Station - as at May 2016 - Part 1 - (2016-05-28)
  [4685] Melksham Station - as at May 2016 - Part 2 - (2016-05-29)
  [4686] Melksham Station - as at May 2016 - Part 3 - (2016-05-29)
  [4687] Melksham Station - as at May 2016 - Part 4 - (2016-05-30)
  [4688] Melksham Station - as at May 2016 - Part 5 (services and prices) - (2016-05-30)
  [4695] Melksham Rail Development Group becoming Melksham Rail Users Group - (2016-06-21)
  [4699] Melksham Rail Development Group - a celebration of 20 years - (2016-06-25)
  [4706] Melksham trial train service is to be made permanent - (2016-10-02)
  [4726] TransWilts Partner Update for Melksham Area Board - (2016-11-07)
  [4727] Learning from travelling further afield - (2016-11-09)
  [4760] Rotary Talk, 25/7/2017 - (2017-07-25)
  [4764] Some thoughts on the closure proposal for Breich station - (2017-10-11)
  [4765] Breich Station - current pictures, and future options - (2017-10-11)
  [4770] GW franchise - my response - (2018-02-20)

Z406 - TransWilts Community Rail Partnership
  [4198] New trains for 2014 - Swindon to Westbury. Meetings Melksham, Swindon, Trowbridge, Chippenham and Westbury - (2013-10-24)
  [4225] Melksham Resident? Commuter? Save yourself 2000 pounds and 100 hours in 2014, and have a better journey! - (2013-12-20)
  [4229] Thin end of the wedge - plan to be thicker in 2014 - (2013-12-26)
  [4243] Taking Greyhounds and Lurchers to London for the day - (2014-02-23)
  [4284] Talk and walk to promote train service - Melksham Carnival - (2014-07-11)
  [4287] TransWilts CRP - walking in Melksham Carnival - (2014-07-13)
  [4288] Some questions on how our Community Rail Partnership works - (2014-07-13)
  [4291] Train Online article - ACoRP / TransWilts introduction - (2014-07-25)
  [4309] Even in the dark of night, the train comes bearing passengers - (2014-09-28)
  [4313] Moving community rail support from amateur to professional - (2014-11-16)
  [4328] Folk music train, Westbury to Swindon round trip, 14th December 2014 - (2014-11-24)
  [4343] Politics and the railway the connects Wiltshire - (2014-12-06)
  [4351] A little thing can make a big difference - (2014-12-13)
  [4362] What a difference a year makes - (2014-12-23)
  [4371] Why are people using the TransWilts? - (2014-12-29)
  [4424] Looking Forward - TransWilts Community Rail Partnership and TransWilts CIC - (2015-02-12)
  [4435] Images of our rail promotion campaign - (2015-02-21)
  [4463] Rail Conference, Nottingham - (2015-03-16)
  [4494] Monday to Friday / TransWilts train times from 18 May to 11th December 2015 - (2015-05-17)
  [4497] Around the world from Melksham - (2015-05-25)
  [4510] Learning from the others - Community Rail - (2015-07-12)
  [4513] Yesterday, Weymouth - (2015-08-02)
  [4568] Moderation - and the tendency to over-moderate - (2015-11-02)
  [4601] Management view - TransWilts and transport at the end of 2015 - (2015-12-25)
  [4638] TransWilts Community Interest Company AGM - 13 Feb 2016, Swindon - (2016-02-05)
  [4647] On the problems of a printed train timetable - (2016-02-15)
  [4704] Three months in community rail pictures - (2016-08-27)
  [4739] A year of changes for Lisa and Graham Ellis, and Well House - (2017-05-27)


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