A year on - looking forward

I have corrected typos, clarified a couple of points, and shared the above on the public board this morning.

Below is an email that follows up - from Paul Johnson, chair of the CIC^▸ . Lots of interesting stuff; as said in the earlier note, all this planned with elected local specialists and also the move brings us much more in line with the standard way it's done and widens out the support and work. Been chatting with First with regard to best way to continue to move forward, and sorted out the admin there. Also with ACoRP^▸ .

I will stress that the supporting umbrella of the CIC doesn't greatly effect the day to day CRP^▸ division operation, apart from taking most of the workload that's been less do-able off people such as Lee - still very very much involved on the ground and research (though less available for personal reasons for the last 6 week - welcome back, Lee) - and myself and other volunteers.

Quote

Dear Graham

The success of the first year of the TransWilts Line and the increased work load falling on our Community Rail Officer Graham Ellis has given impetus to adopting a more formal organisation with access to a wider resource group.

I am pleased to advise you that we have adopted a Community Interest Company structure for TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. I have accepted the invitation to Chair the CIC. At the same time we have taken the opportunity to widen our objectives to include Wiltshire-wide train services, their connectivity with TransWilts Line and essential bus-rail links. This enables us to consider future station campaigns, such as Corsham, which potentially connect with, or would be on, the TransWilts line. The CIC strap line, ^Connecting Wiltshire^s Communities^, embodies the new structure and a wider aspiration. Revised CIC objectives allow us to consider coordination of both bus and rail issues in Wiltshire, providing support and impetus to the priorities in Wiltshire^s Council Local Transport Plan 2011-2026 and the Swindon and Wiltshire LEP^» Transport Vision.

The TransWilts Community Rail Partnership will continue to operate under its constitution as a sub committee inside the new organisation. Graham Ellis is providing continuity on our Board as the TransWilts Community Rail Officer. The spectacular growth of TransWilts passenger journeys, from a target of 40,000 to more than 160,000 in the first year, is a tribute to the enthusiasm, dedication and commitment that Graham and his volunteers have provided.

Our service timetables are essentially routes ^through Wiltshire^ rather than ^to Wiltshire^. There is a need to improve coordination of two Network Rail regions, Western and Wessex, and two franchise operators, FGW^▸ and SWT^▸ , operating seven route timetables. The non-car owning community rely on public transport for access to services, such as hospitals (located in Salisbury, Bath and Swindon), education and life style access to leisure activities for the young, elderly and mobility impaired.

The challenge of often mismatched bus and rail services is made worse with the revision of rail timetables in December and May. At a local level our publications and volunteers are helping make sense of the seven rail service route timetables to simplify local community journey decisions.

Our new CIC organisation enables us to take a Wiltshire-wide view as well as continuing the TransWilts Rail Line community support. The north-south TransWilts line is the coordinating link joining Wiltshire^s train routes and communities. Expansion of the through service from Swindon beyond Westbury to Salisbury is a priority for us in the next FGW franchise. Recommendation of small changes in timetables of the through services of both FGW and SWT can substantially improve the overall frequency and connectivity of rail services in Wiltshire.

Three new stations are central to our 2019 service campaign:

Corsham serving the growing digital economy in the town.
The extension of TransWilts to Salisbury facilitates the opening of Wilton Park and Ride to serve Stonehenge's international and national visitor growth. The Wilton station would be just 7 miles from the visitor centre and a dedicated shuttle bus service would also serve the new Royal Artillery attraction opening in 2019.
Royal Wootton Bassett station will serve the MOD training centre at Lyneham, whilst providing a ^park and ride^ access to Swindon at M4 junction 16.
We will be encouraging the various rail user groups and community bus groups in Wiltshire to join our CIC as corporate members. They can inform us of their local community issues, bus and rail, and in time we hope to provide a coordinated view from Wiltshire.

I look forward to an early opportunity to discuss the above or clarify any questions you may have arising from the formation of the CIC. Our launch meeting will be held on 21 March in Chippenham Town Hall, a short walk from the station. You will receive an invitation - I do hope you will be able to attend.

Yours sincerely

Paul Johnson