Great Western Coffee Shop

In May 2015 we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the re-opening to regular passenger trains of the Westbury to Swindon line, and of the station at Melksham.

In the last 18 months, the line has grown from strength to strength, and on 17th May we're celebrating an improved Sunday timetable - perhaps the best Sunday service the line has even enjoyed.  We're looking to get in touch with as many people as possible who were at the re-opening of the line in May 1985 so that they can join us on that day and - everyone - put the date in your diary.  Please get in touch!

Photograph courtesy of Roy Nash, official photographer for British Rail (Western Region) at the re-opening.

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/1985train800.jpg)

The TransWilts Community Rail Partnership is the community, the train operators and local councils working together to promote use of the railway from Swindon to Westbury and on to Salisbury.  The current trial service of 8 trains each way per day is exceeding targets and plans are now in place for the continuation of the service beyond 2016, extra capacity in 2017, and additional trains from 2018.

Contact us via secretary@transwilts.org, via the TransWilts Facebook page, by phone on 0845 459 0153, via http://atrebatia.info . This Press Release prepared by Graham Ellis, to whom press enquiries should be addressed - grahamellis@transwilts.org, or call 01225 708225 or the above number.

T'was a different era in those days - you wouldn't, hopefully, have all those people standing off the end of the ramp now!   ;D

Agreed, Bob ... and  you'll note that this picture is from the OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER who was a member of the railway staff (I had the pleasure of speaking with him last night for "permission to use")