Anyone know if BTP have a Twitter account?

[whole diary]

[Phil]

Can't stop, just spotted this on Twitter though and it alarmed me....

James Chandler @chandie_mx
Ffs I gotta walk along the railway track again to get to melksham today 😤 mile long 👎

[JayMac]

@btp_uk.  Although this isn't for reporting crime.

Instead, call 0800 40 50 40 or #TextBTP on 6101.

I've replied to the tweet pointing out the idiocy. Probably going to get some abuse now.

According to his Facebook profile, this silly person works in Waitrose Melksham. I always thought they only employed people with common sense.

[grahame]

I've posted onto the TransWilts Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/TransWilts - in the hope of reaching some more of the audience we are reaching there too. "Don't get yourself killed" is a more important than the "use our service" message ...

[Phil]

Thanks for sorting that out for me, people - sorry I had to rush off!

Interestingly, our customers have just arrived here in Melksham by train so obviously there are in fact services running today despite the floods - even more reasons why idiots shouldn't be trespassing on the tracks

[grahame]

Thanks for sorting that out for me, people - sorry I had to rush off!

Interestingly, our customers have just arrived here in Melksham by train so obviously there are in fact services running today despite the floods - even more reasons why idiots shouldn't be trespassing on the tracks

Floods between Pewsey and Westbury ... West of England services being diverted through Melksham. Network Rail on site at Melksham, speed limit was down to 5 mph at one time but put back up to regular line speed through the station now.

So there will be a number of high speed surprises for anyone on the tracks ...

[Chris from Nailsea]

Can't stop, just spotted this on Twitter though and it alarmed me....

James Chandler @chandie_mx
Ffs I gotta walk along the railway track again to get to melksham today 😤 mile long 👎

From my own safety briefing, from a very experienced member of Network Rail staff: "If there is someone on the track, use 999".  It is then logged, and the professional emergency services will deal with it, as appropriate. 

According to his Facebook profile, this silly person works in Waitrose Melksham. I always thought they only employed people with common sense.

I shall be taking up that particular aspect through the appropriate channel.  Lips particularly  .

Thanks for raising, and contributing to, this topic, everyone. 

[JayMac]

What really concerned me was the 'again' in the tweet. Seems this isn't the first time young Mr Chandler has done this.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I noted that, too. 

Leave it with me. 

[thetrout]

What made me nervous was the amount of HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))'s diverted via Melksham today...! Infact I bumped into a member of this forum in the Buffet Car of a HST that was diverted at short notice via Melksham on Saturday Evening.

Here is a Video of a HST passing Melksham. I filmed this on the 29th December 2013 when the 14:28 was booked to run via MKM^» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains) due to Engineering works at Newbury.

http://youtu.be/IvT4spuysbU

Needless to say... the HST is not hanging about!! Very foolish thing to consider let alone even do; walking along that line!!

Just to give the stats on the journey from my GPS. The branch line is 9.3 Miles long. It took the HST exactly 10 minutes to clear the branch making the average speed along the branch 55.06mph! For over 400 tonnes of train that is quite some speed. The maximum speed the HST reached on the branch at any single point was before Melksham Station at 65.24mph After the station the maximum speed reached was 55.86mph

So to reiterated everything said... Don't walk on the tracks!!!

[Super Guard]

I think said tweet has been deleted.

[grahame]

I think said tweet has been deleted.

Yes, I believe so; good.  But also glad that it came up and brought to attention an issue that we have locally. 

[grahame]

http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/10941754.Keep_off_the_tracks/?ref=la

I was alarmed to read someone Tweeting that they ^gotta walk along the railway track again to get to Melksham today^ last Saturday.

Trains weigh up to 400 tons and travel on the line from Trowbridge to Chippenham at more than 60mph. They can^t steer out of the way, they can^t stop if they see you on the track, and they can coast near-silent for miles ^ you may not hear them coming. If one hits you, you^re unlikely to survive.

On weekend days in 2013, there were usually only three or four trains passing along the single track. But with the improved TransWilts service, and diversions caused by engineering works and flooding elsewhere, that has risen over the last few weeks to more than 30 trains a day, some not shown in any public timetable or running very late.

Please keep off the railway. It^s a dangerous place. Better to miss work for the day than to never work again.