Rail Tickets Now Accepted On Late Evening 234 Bus Journey From Chippenham

[whole diary]

[Lee]

With the final southbound direct TransWilts Rail service departing Swindon at 2012 and Chippenham at 2029 on Mondays-Fridays (around an hour later from both stations on Saturdays) and the provision of a later direct rail service not yet on the horizon, it has been an aspiration of the Community Rail Partnership for rail tickets to be accepted on the FirstBus 234 service that departs Chippenham Railway Station on Mondays-Saturdays at 2226, arriving Melksham Market Place at 2247 and terminating at Trowbridge Town Hall at 2306.

Following agreement being reached between First and Wiltshire Council (who subsidise the bus service) valid rail tickets are now being accepted all the way through to Melksham and Trowbridge on the above FirstBus service 234 journey.

A notice has gone up on the bus drivers noticeboard to this effect so they should all be aware of the new arrangement. However, please do let the CRP^▸ (Community Rail Partnership) team know if you encounter any issues regarding this.

[grahame]

This is really good news.

It shows a sensible link up between buses and trains, overcoming the ticketing hurdle and for the common good of both.   Truly a small step towards integrating public transport:

* The 22:26 bus usually has plenty (  ) of spare seats and could do with extra custom.

* One of the resistances to people using the train from Melksham and Trowbridge has been "but what if I miss the 20:12 back?" or "I need to come back later".   So,ironically, the 22:26 bus availability will help loadings on the 18:50 and 20:12

* Customers are saved the need to drive to Chippenham / pay to park there etc - have better, lower cost, greener, more comfortable journeys.

Of course it's the customer who's king .. how great that looking after the customer like this does good things for the train operator, the bus operator and is a good news story for Wiltshire Council who have arranged it.  THANK YOU ... now we need to tell people about it, far and wide (or at least in Melksham and Trowbridge!)

See https://www.facebook.com/TransWilts - where I have posted a story.   Yes, I know the bus pictured is not the 22:26 service as it's dark by that time!

[bobm]

It is excellent news.

As an aside it would be good if the 21:54 FROM Melksham to Chippenham also had that facility (I assume it is the same driver and vehicle as the 22:26).  A smaller flow in that direction, but if you have an evening meeting in Melksham (not unheard of  ) It would connect into the 23:00 from Chippenham to Swindon - particulary if you were allowed to circulate via the bus station as the inbound journey does not serve the railway station.

However let's not take the gloss off the initial annoucement.

[grahame]

It is excellent news.

I like that bit

As an aside it would be good if the 21:54 FROM Melksham to Chippenham also had that facility (I assume it is the same driver and vehicle as the 22:26) ...

See the 'plusbus' thread about how on earth tickets would be issues, especially as the ticket office at Chippenham will be closed by the time the bus gets there.

However let's not take the gloss off the initial annoucement.

Indeed ... and I expect there will be other significant integrated bus announcements in the near future.

[bobm]

As an aside it would be good if the 21:54 FROM Melksham to Chippenham also had that facility (I assume it is the same driver and vehicle as the 22:26) ...

See the 'plusbus' thread about how on earth tickets would be issues, especially as the ticket office at Chippenham will be closed by the time the bus gets there.

My thinking was more the acceptance of the return ticket for travel, rather than customers starting a fresh journey. 

[John R]

That's very good news. Will it be possible to put it into journey planners, as that would encourage more use (not only of that service, but for the other leg).

[trainer]

Another outbreak of common sense for the benefit of the good folk of Wiltshire.  Rural services with no large centre to make commercial services viable and with fewer transport options are in need of the local authority's helping hand encouraging integration even more than urban areas.

[Chris from Nailsea]

North Somerset Council could take a learning point from that, too. 

[trainer]

North Somerset Council could take a learning point from that, too. 

You caught my drift 

[Lee]

That's very good news. Will it be possible to put it into journey planners, as that would encourage more use (not only of that service, but for the other leg).

I have passed this suggestion on to FGW^▸ (First Great Western), and they are currently looking into it.

[grahame]

I used this service last night.   ACE!   

A full day's work in Salford. Tram to Piccadilly, Pendelino to Euston, meal at Paddington, HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to Chippenham, and the bus.  Arrived home spot on time.

Only ticket check all the way? Getting on the bus;  driver took a carful look and happily accepted it.  Like I say, Ace!

[Lee]

Excellent, I'm really pleased to hear that 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Only ticket check all the way? Getting on the bus; driver took a carful look ...

Oh, the irony of that typo! 

[Lee]

First have published their new Service 234 timetable leaflet, effective from 13 April 2014.

Interesting to see that some of the evening departures have been retimed so that they form a more evenly spaced pattern with the trains between Chippenham-Melksham-Trowbridge. However this has resulted in the new 1944 departure from Chippenham Railway Station leaving just 1 minute after the 1830 service from London Paddington is due to arrive, which is unfortunate to say the least.

No mention in the leaflet of valid rail tickets being accepted through to Melksham and Trowbridge on the 2226 departure from Chippenham Railway Station either, which is a shame.