Great Western Coffee Shop

Today is the formal launch of our "pledge page" - we have been challenged to show support for the return of a more appropriate TransWilts train service, and to keep the topic in the public eye and in the eyes of the train operator(FGW), the local transport authority (WCC), and the central government department (DfT) who decide on these things.

Can you put YOUR name to the following?

I support the return of a more appropriate train service linking the five largest population centres in Wiltshire, as shown in (or similar to) draft timetables from December 2008 ?

If so, please sign up here:
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/pledge.html (http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/pledge.html)

If you want to know more, please visit the same page which has extra information and links.

Current service - 2 poorly timed trains a day.  The prize - six a day with decent timing too!

Is this important?  Yes - I'll quote from my inbox this morning: "I used to use this service. Then it was cut so I had to leave my job in Swindon as I couldn't get there by train.  I am certainly willing to help on that one it used to be a really busy service  - sadly they got basically rid of it."

Note - there is an option that lets you sign up as "anon" meaning that your support is registered in our counts, and I and the admins know who you are, but your name is NEVER published.   This is intended for staff of the organisations we're lobbying, newspaper staff who should be reporting rather than making the news, and so one ...

Officially open for 3 days now ... and we have 100 signed up already (http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/sf.html).  If you haven't signed up, please do ... if you have, Thank You and please tell a friend!

Grahame, what about mixed trains?

When Melksham becomes W10 (see other post) you could have a couple of surplus Mark 2s attached to the container trains, to provide a stopping service Romsey to Swindon.

Or is that too radicle!

5 days too late for that suggestion.  :D

A number of people have received very similar answers to their emails to the Department for Transport as a part of the pledge campaign, and some of them have passed comments on to me.  With permission, some are reproduced here:

http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=7207.0

We have nearly 300 names signed up now, three quarters of them living in the immediate area of the TransWilts line. And I have emails / correspondence from other parties to which confirm that we are indeed bring this ongoing matter to the notice of all parties, and having them consider it further.  Please sign up ... there's still time

http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/pledge.html