Great Western Coffee Shop

Wiltshire (County) Council are the Local Transport Authority for the area, and as such are one of the two most important elements in specifying what train services should be run in the area.   In a nutshell, the Department for Transport specifies country wide policies and services and it's the duty of the Local Transport Authority to make inputs and recommendations to that process, and also to oil the wheels financially where a local adjustment is needed to the typically minimal specification of services from the Department for Transport.  You'll see such adjustments on various lines in Deven and Cornwall, and in the Bristol area - and those are just examples.

Alan Feist - a very senior member of staff at Wiltshire Council - will be speaking at the West Wilts Rail Users's group ...
* Tuesday, 25th November, 19:00 for 19:30
* Bridge House, Trowbridge (right by the station)
* Guests welcome

My understanding is that Wiltshire Council, unlike the others I have mentioned above, have chosen not to make any financial contribution to help the Train Operating Companies provide a more appropriate service - they choose to spend their public transport budget elsewhere, and that this stance has lead in part to some of the things we've seen cut back in the last few years.

It'll be very interesting to listen to Alan, and there may be a good opportunity to ask questions too.   Can I encourage you to come along?