Hang on a minute, I said that I'm reading that as Horace is wrong, not that I'm reading that as you saying Horace is wrong. There's a big difference.

I'm entitled to an opinion based on my interpretation, just as you and everybody else on here is.

The only part I've quoted you as saying is on the practicalities, which you've clarified for me rather than correcting me, offering in the process an opinion for both Bradford and Melksham.

It's also worth remembering that the article mentions both the Bradford and Melksham town bus services, and that the Horace Prickett quote is not Bradford-specific.

Bloody hell, what do you do as a party piece?!!

Thanks for that, grahame.

So, I'm reading that as Horace Prickett is wrong, that there are no plans for an hourly service connecting with the train station, and that you don't actually think it would be practical if it did on that basis. Fair enough, you have been right so often in the past when the politicians have been wrong, I'm happy to take your word for it, despite Horace apparently being in charge of Wiltshire's transport!

I don't actually live in Melksham, but I have used the Rail Link bus and unfortunately I've never seen more than a handful of people on it. I do desperately want it to succeed though, not just for Melksham but to set a wider example.

The (much) younger Mr James and his companion on a night out once got chased by the stereotypical "gang of youths" all the way from a town centre, through the front entrance of the station, over the footbridge, out the back entrance and some way beyond.

The fact the back entrance was open didn't really help all that much, as we still got our heads kicked in when they caught up with us.

Wiltshire Council are holding a "Free Bus Fortnight" on their Bradford-on-Avon (Service 98) and Melksham (Service 14/15) town bus routes from 4th August to 16 August, which is great news - http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/latestheadlines/11366554.All_aboard_for_free_rides_in_west_Wiltshire/

Even better news from the article is Wiltshire Council Transport Chief Horace Prickett's announcement of an hourly service connecting with the train station. As he says, it's a superb link-up with public transport, not to mention a huge improvement on the current timetable, which only sees a handful of Monday-Friday peak town buses (as welcome as they are) serving Bradford-on-Avon and Melksham stations respectively.

Does anyone know if the start of the new improved timetable will coincide with the launch of Free Bus Fortnight, and also where I can get hold of a printed or online copy of the new improved times?

Town bus passengers should take heed of Prickett's "use it or lose it" message though, with the Melksham Rail Link bus singled out for potential withdrawal otherwise, despite being less than 6 months old - http://www.connectingwiltshire.co.uk/news-events/free-bus-fortnight-melksham-bradford-avon/

I'd have thought they would have given it longer to prove itself, but there you go.