TransWilts line - improvements from December?

[grahame]

The TransWilts line links Swindon and Chippenham to Trowbridge, Westbury, Dilton Marsh, Warminster and Salisbury via Melksham. Until December 2006, there were five trains each was a day, and traffic was growing (Office of the Rail regulator's figures) at 35% per annum compound. However, the FGW franchise states "two trains a day" which leave Swindon at 06:18 and 18:45. Nor suprsingly, the 120000 journey per year has dropped - in my estimate - to around 9000. That's over 90%.

All the towns along the line are growing rapidly - at Dilton Marsh, the surrounding green fields are now muddy brown housing developments, and the bus services that provide the alternative to the trains are very slow. From Trowbridge to Swindon, the Express bus takes 95 minutes whereas the train (but at 07:07 and 19:41 only!) does in in 35.

Give credit where it's due ... First Great Western, the Department for Transport and Wiltshire County Council all appreciate that the current service is daft. Even the County Council, who are not renowned for being pro-rail, have suggested that a service as frequently as hourly would be appropriate. And there's a draft timetable now in place - to run (we hope) from this coming December, of 6 services a day. Timings look good, Network Rail has approved, a train has been located (and, no, it does NOT come off another line in the Bristol area ) ... but we have been asked to show support for the proposal.

Can I ask readers to have a look at further information at:
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/pabout.html
and if they support the service improvement, let us know via
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/pledge.html

Thanks

P.S. Two effects there WILL be for Bristol commuters:

a) The Trowbridge to Bath section will be less overcrowded as Chippenham and Swindon Passengers will no longer need to dogleg via Bath and

b) A positive side effect is two extra trips from Frome to Bath, Bristol and beyond each day, breaking up long gaps from the Somerset station.

I'll be on the "Minehead Marauder" on Saturday ... hope to meet some of you there.

[AndyK]

I wish you the very best of luck with this, Grahame. I'm sure that the Swindon-Chippenham-Trowbridge section would flourish if it had a decent service.

However, I'm not sure if it would be appropriate for me to formally register as supporter, since I live in Glasgow and am unlikely to actually use the service.

Cheers

[grahame]

However, I'm not sure if it would be appropriate for me to formally register as supporter, since I live in Glasgow and am unlikely to actually use the service.

Cheers

Hi, Andy ... thank you for your concern / asking as to whether it would be appropriate for you to sign up.

Basically it's your call. We DO ask people if they live in the area or in "farfaraway" as they sign up, and whether they would use the service. Some 75% are in Wiltshire, and less that 10% are from a long distance - figures I willingly quote on the site alongside the total number. Supporters are welcome from all over - it's not your bums on the seats that can help - it's also you telling your Bristol friends about us, and perhaps providing a voice or commnet from north of the Border so we can learn from hoe things are done differently up there.