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Q: Where does the TransWilts run?
It links Wiltshire's largest towns Swindon - Chippenham - Melksham - Trowbridge - Westbury - Warminster - Salisbury Populations 155,000 - 28,000 - 22,000 - 28,000 - 11,500 - 17,500 - 45,000 And these are growing (Regional Spatial Strategy) up to 50% in the next 15 years Q: What is the current service?
From Swindon it Salisbury - through trains at 06:15 and 18:45. From Salisbury at 06:04 and 18:12, changing at Westbury. Other trains run from Swindon to Chippenham and from Trowbridge to Salisbury But there are no trains on the Chippenham - Trowbridge section from 07:27 to 19:01 Q: Is this appropriate for the line / passenger flows?
No - West Wilts to Swindon is a major flow, but there are no practical return journey schedules No - with 22000 and growing, Melksham is being held back by lack of trains from 07:17 to 19:11 An Appropriate service is between 6 and 15 well time trains each way daily. Q: What are the alternatives?
Example journey time in minutes - Melksham to Swindon - one x represents one minute: train: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx car, off peak: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx car, peak: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx----- train and then bus (change Chippenham): xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx bus [via Chippenham] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx bus [via Devizes] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx For journeys such as Swindon - Trowbridge, a 'dogleg' train journey via Bath is possible - approx 1 hour Q: Could the service be improved, and if so how?
Yes - First Great Western, Department for Transport and Wiltshire Council have done a lot of work. Each confirms that the current service is inappopriate for passenger needs and should be improved. Each indicates that the other parties in this grouping need to provide further assistance towards the solution. Q: What realistic options are available?
1. Initially, a dedicated train on the line running a round trip every 3 hours OR 2. Initially, an extra train into Swindon at 09:45 amd extra round trips at lunchtime, afternoon peak and late evening - the "low cost" option Q: Can we achieve this
Yes we can! Q: How?
The "Save the Train" Campaign is working with Wiltshire Council, First Great Western and the Department for Transport with a view to providing the "low cost" option from May 2010. Very Recent changes, such as the move to a Unitary authority and the result of the Westbury Bypass planning application (the parallel road) have improved the prospects dramatically. Q: How can I help
if you have not already done so, please add your name to the 700 who have pledged support via http://www.transwilts.org.uk/pledge.html Q: If we regain an appropriate service, how do we retain it?
By using it By helping Market it By integrating other transport, such as bus / rail interchange and park and ride at Melksham By setting up an active Community Rail Partnership By keeping our "eye on the ball" and our politicians informed For West Wilts Show, July, 2009 http://www.transwilts.org.uk |