Extra trains to Chippenham and Swindon from December?

[grahame]

I've been campaining for an improved TransWilts train service (Salisbury to Swindon via Westbury) since First withdrew most of the trains when they took over from National Express / Wessex.  Now First have prepared a draft timetable for next December and 2009, and had it validated by Network rail, and even found the train for most of the runs .... looks like there's a strong chance of three or 4 more trains a day AND AT GOOD TIMES TOO!

Current service - 07:00 and 19:35 from Westbury to Swindon (yes, just 2 a day)
Proposed service - 07:02, 08:09, 11:02, 14:02, 16:53 and 19:32 (6 a day)

Returning leave Swindon at 06:18, 09:02 (new), 12:02 (new), 15:02 (new), 17:55 (new) and 18:45

The new services would mostly run to Salisbury in the other direction, calling at Dilton Marsh (big improvement from there  to Salisbury) and Warminster.

The "Save the Train" group is asking for YOUR support - if you can sign up to indicate your support [here], that would be great. You'll find links from that age to a lot more information and places you can contact if you want to learn even more than we've published here

[grahame]

I see that I started this thread on 1st April last year ... what an interesting choice of day!

How did we get on?   There are four major players.   First Great Western found a train and crew. Network Rail found timetable paths. The Department for Transport indicated support in principle and that they could find some matching funding. And Wiltshire (county) Council studied the case, decided that a service that ran more frequently that we had requested would be appropriate ... and in May set about doing another study to different methodology.  So we missed the boat (or should I say 'missed the train'  )

This year, we have unitary elections on 4th June and our local government has a lot on its plate - so it would be very easy for service that's all worked out to get lost again in amongst everyting else that's going on ... so I'm renewing my request for people to sign up and support.   It would mean that a Westbury to Chippenham journey would take 25 minutes by train (v 45 minutes by bus, or change at Bath), and that Westbury to Swindon would be just 45 minutes.

If you think this would be a good (sustainable, sensible for the economy, traffic cutting) idea, please have a look at http://www.transwilts.org.uk/pledge.html

Thanks.


P.S.  I understand there's a wilshire public transport husting on 22nd April in West Wilts - I'll come back with details!

[grahame]

A further update ... over 600 people have signed up for an improved service, including the parliamentary candidates for all three major parties and all three major party unitary election candidates for my ward.   Thanks, though to everyone who has added their name - ALL signups are important - and it seems to be opening doors to explore options. 

We would really welcome more names 
http://www.transwilts.org.uk/pledge.html

and if you want to see whether your Unitary Candidate or prospective MEP has added their name, see
http://www.transwilts.org.uk/sf.html

We'll be running a Santa Special in December ... Westbury to Swindon ... and lets hope it becomes a train that runs every day!


Santa Claus on last year's trip to Swindon

[sclarkson]

How did this campaign get on?   

[grahame]

How did this campaign get on?   

It's ongoing ... and we're now on something of a "timescale".   There's been a shortage of suitable trains, but new ones are coming onto the tracks this summer, and as a result more stock may be available for the most overcrowded of local services, and also to run a TransWilts service.  And the camapign has widened - the local chambers of commerce, Wiltshire Council, our MPs, and the rail industry are now very much backing the idea and working to see if they can make it happen - looking to a service from 11th December 2011, running about 10 times a day, each way, from Salisbury to Swindon.

In fact ... over the next 2 weeks, there's a questionairre open where we would very much like your inputs - to help us ask for / specify the right service.
http://www.transwiltsrail.org.uk