Supported by a Community Rail Partnership
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* Line links five largest population centres in Wiltshire (Swindon, Salisbury, Chippenham, Trowbridge and Melksham) and Warminster, Westbury and Dilton Marsh too.
* There are major travel / commuter flows along the route of the line, and the parallel road has congestion and goes through towns and villages. There's a next outward commute of around 6000 to work from West Wilts (Trowbridge, Westbury, Warminster, Melksham, Dilton Marsh) with Swindon being the 2nd most popular destination for those commuters.
* Current service on the middle part of the line is just 2 trains each way each day, with a gap of approx 12 hours between them which means they are unsuitable for most day return traffic.
* Saturday service is potentially useful for day and half day trips, Sunday service is evening only and useful for long distance journeys ready for working week.
* Towns along the line are growing faster than anywhere else in the South West
* There are major travel / commuter flows along the route of the line, and the parallel road has congestion and goes through towns and villages. There's a next outward commute of around 6000 to work from West Wilts (Trowbridge, Westbury, Warminster, Melksham, Dilton Marsh) with Swindon being the 2nd most popular destination for those commuters.* Current service on the middle part of the line is just 2 trains each way each day, with a gap of approx 12 hours between them which means they are unsuitable for most day return traffic.
* Saturday service is potentially useful for day and half day trips, Sunday service is evening only and useful for long distance journeys ready for working week.
* Towns along the line are growing faster than anywhere else in the South West
Five years ago, this line was considered to be a "basket case" by the railway professionals at a high level. Wiltshire County Council would not provide any financial support at all "on principle", First Great Western elected to run a bare minimum of trains, and all in "marginal time" so they could save themselves the cost of hiring a train, and the Department for Transport were unwilling to provide any support if the local council wouldn't do so.
By this year, much has changed. Wiltshire's new Unitary Council has evaluated the traffic potential and has concluded that a service rising to hourly in the next few years would be appropriate. The GWRUS looks at the cost case for an hourly service and has concluded that there's a benefit / cost ratio strongly in favour of such a service, far more so than other improvements in the South West. And First Great Western have taken a further detailed look at the line and traffic and have put proposals to Wiltshire Council who, whilst they have a tight budget, are no longer saying "no" on principle - indeed, they have purchased land at Melksham station to safeguard it for public transport use. Which in turn opens a more flexible position to the DfT.
By this year, much has changed. Wiltshire's new Unitary Council has evaluated the traffic potential and has concluded that a service rising to hourly in the next few years would be appropriate. The GWRUS looks at the cost case for an hourly service and has concluded that there's a benefit / cost ratio strongly in favour of such a service, far more so than other improvements in the South West. And First Great Western have taken a further detailed look at the line and traffic and have put proposals to Wiltshire Council who, whilst they have a tight budget, are no longer saying "no" on principle - indeed, they have purchased land at Melksham station to safeguard it for public transport use. Which in turn opens a more flexible position to the DfT.
The "Save the Train" Campaign has fought to retain a train service on the TransWilts line through the lean times, and now wishes to work with others to encourage the return of an appropriate service, and the promotion of that service so that it will be a success. Some 750 people have signed a pledge of support within the last year, 76% of them living in Wiltshire. Nearly 300 of them are commuters, travelling in Wiltshire most days, and a further 360 are regular travellers in the county. They include the representatives of many organisations, and are spread between all the towns / stations along the line.
But the line remains something of a secret. And although the service is now many times more reliable that it was three years ago, it has a reputation to be rebuilt with those "in the know".
This is a line that can really benefit from community support - to market the current limited services, to catalyse the improvement of the services and stations along the way, and to spearhead and promote the additional services once they have been achieved
Preliminary talks [very positive responses so far] are underway in the 6 weeks up to the launch with key rail industry and community groups. See early draft presentation at http://www.transwilts.org.uk/early/draft.php
But the line remains something of a secret. And although the service is now many times more reliable that it was three years ago, it has a reputation to be rebuilt with those "in the know".
This is a line that can really benefit from community support - to market the current limited services, to catalyse the improvement of the services and stations along the way, and to spearhead and promote the additional services once they have been achieved
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PUBLIC LAUNCH - Please come along
[more travel details]
Friday, 26th March 2010, at Bridge House Trowbridge, 19:30 If you are unable to come - please visit our website to add your name as a supporter. http://www.transwilts.org.uk/ |
Preliminary talks [very positive responses so far] are underway in the 6 weeks up to the launch with key rail industry and community groups. See early draft presentation at http://www.transwilts.org.uk/early/draft.php
* Timetable sheet and through routes. * Regular days out and suggestion programs
* Assist with research and business case for amended service level
* Station sheets for stations served. * Information services and points.
* Jazz Train and other special trips. * Conducted and self directed walks
* Community Noticeboards, artwork and floral displays
* Station improvements especially at Melksham
* User and area feed back to train sponsors and operators. * Help find match funding.
* Facilitate Integration with other transport means
* Support local amendents to fare structures and performance targets
* Assist with research and business case for amended service level
* Station sheets for stations served. * Information services and points.
* Jazz Train and other special trips. * Conducted and self directed walks
* Community Noticeboards, artwork and floral displays
* Station improvements especially at Melksham
* User and area feed back to train sponsors and operators. * Help find match funding.
* Facilitate Integration with other transport means
* Support local amendents to fare structures and performance targets
The campaign for an appropriate service is supported by many groups
including
West Wiltshire Rail Users Group,
Melksham Railway Development Group,
Campaign Against New Beeching Report,
TravelWatch SouthWest,
More Train Less Strain,
Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways,
Railfuture,
Severn Tunnel Action Group,
Campaign for Better Transport,
Save the Train,
The First Great Western Coffeeshop and others.
Over 1700 people signed a prime minister's petition
on the subject in 2007 for us. We are in good contact with First Great
Western, Wiltshire County Council, the Department for Transport, Network Rail,
local MPs and candidates, Local District, Town and Parish Councils, Chambers of
Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, and many others
to ensure that this practical option is adopted with everyone's agreement
This page was built by the Save the Train Campaign. For further information ... email info@transwilts.org.uk or see http://www.transwilts.org.uk. Phone number (initially) - 01225 708225. Post to 404, The Spa, Melksham, SN12 6QL. [March 2010]
This page was built by the Save the Train Campaign. For further information ... email info@transwilts.org.uk or see http://www.transwilts.org.uk. Phone number (initially) - 01225 708225. Post to 404, The Spa, Melksham, SN12 6QL. [March 2010]