Great Western Coffee Shop

1. The 17:36 from Swindon is regularly "Full and Standing" between Swindon and Melksham
2. There is a gap from 15:14 to 17:36 in Swindon departures, and requests for a train to fill the gap
3. There are no services at Melksham (passenger or freight) between 16:31 and 18:03
4. There is no viable 8-hour-day commute service into Melksham
5. A class 150 unit is parked up in the Bay at Swindon from 16:24 (from Cheltenham Spa) to 17:54 (returning there)
6. Signalling allows a passenger train to reverse at the platform at Melksham Station

1+2+3+4+5+6

Using the 150 unit that's got a 90 minute layover in Swindon, run
- a 16:36 service to Chippenham (16:53) and Melksham at 17:03
- a 17:20 service from Melksham to Chippenham (17:31) and Swindon (17:48).

* Helps provide some relief to the 17:36 / taking earlier passengers
* Provides a service to meet requests that have been made
* Accesses a new market of inward commuters to Melksham (arriving there 09:15)

* Uses paths within the regular hourly pattern already defined and tested
* If the 08:49 from Swindon were also moved to the :36 pattern (08:36) would make significant extra gain

There's a unit with a long layover around this time at Westbury.  However, it's tight on timing to swap units over and for the sake of robustness I understand why that idea may be pushing on a hard-to-open door.  This suggestion here provides a 17 minute turnaround at Melksham - probably 12 minutes more than is needed!

That is an excellent constructive suggestion, grahame!  :)

Has it been brought to the attention of the timetable planners at First Great Western and Network Rail for their due consideration?

There is also the possibility that Traincrew breaks are being taken during the layover period.

Indeed, I'd agree that it's an excellent suggestion...

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=14802.0

Indeed, John ... ;D  ... and now that there are extensions such as the Frome one coming in,  it may be opportune to suggest it forward.