Daytime Traffic on the TransWilts

[whole diary]

[thetrout]

Two singles is fair enough - but can I buy my return Bristol Airport to Melksham ticket when I get back to the airport?

There is an FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Ticket Machine in the arrivals section of Bristol Airport. So yes you can

I agree it makes little sense to only have day fares to an airport, but that's the way the fares system is set up.

I slightly disagree with that for a couple of reasons. Mainly some work at the airport where a Day Return is cheaper than a season ticket because of the shift patterns so travelling off peak. There is also those who travel with someone to the airport to see them off or meet and greet on their return. Then of course there are the Aviation Enthusiasts who go to the airport for the day.

I recall an article in Rail Magazine where National Express East Anglia where criticised for their lack of Day Return and Off Peak fares on Stansted Express Services. I think there was something mentioned about buying a ticket to Clapham Junction which gave a Day Return fare for significantly less than the SOR and FOR's offered.

That article was around 6 years ago so I apologise if I got that slightly wrong.

[John R]

It's a month since any weekday service figures were posted here, so the spreadsheet I've been keeping is looking somewhat empty of late. If anyone does travel the line then it would help me, and those I provide the stats to, to note as best you can the number on each of the legs between Trowbridge and Chippenham and the numbers boarding/alighting at Melksham.  Appreciate that people might want to avoid drawing too much attention to themselves walking up and down the train, and with some of the services much more busy than a year ago then it's not as easy to be accurate, particularly in terms of Melksham stats.  But any information you can provide would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[TeaStew]

That is a fairly strong reminder to upload my counts now I have my phone back! But by way of compensation - this morning:

07.20 at MKM^» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains) -6 +9 with 48 then onwards to CPM^» (Chippenham - next trains).

[John R]

Teastew - if it had been a personal dig then I would have PM's you, but I'm aware of at least one other journey which hasn't been recorded here. But yes please, please do dig them out, and I'm very pleased to hear that you've got your phone back!

[TeaStew]

Not to worry, I had not taken it personally, it was a self-dig as it were.

Not so many this time I am afraid though.

04/11   30          -8+4
on the 19.09-19.19(?) CPM^» (Chippenham - next trains)-MKM^» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains) train.

10/11    9          -3+0 [need to check this one]
17/11    9          -9+0
02/12    9          -5+0
on the 18.38-18.48 TRO^» (Trowbridge - next trains)-MKM section.

[I did try posting this last night but had trouble getting on the site]

[grahame]

18:52 off Swindon  ... arrived into Melksham with 37 on. 7 got off, 3 got on.  40/10

[grahame]

New timetable starts on Sunday, and I have just received a print run of TransWilts timetables, so got them out to the regulars in tonight's peak.  Here are the numbers

16:31 ex Melksham @ 16:42. 2 off, 6 on became 21 23/8
4 off and 9 on at Chippenham

17:36 ex Swindon left with 69. -10 +19 @ CPM^» (Chippenham - next trains) -> 78, -25 +5 @ MKM^» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains) -> 58 83/30
-36 +7 TRO^» (Trowbridge - next trains) -> 29 @ WSB^» (Westbury - next trains)

18:32 ex Westbury left with 13 -2 +9 @ TRO -> 20 -6 +4 @MKM -> 18 24/10
-6 +15 CPM

18:52 ex SWI^» (Swindon - next trains) -4 +3 @ CPM -> 10, -3 +0 @MKM -> 7 10/3

[grahame]

Wednesday, 17th ... 20:12 off Swindon.  10 on, -1 +5@ CPM^» (Chippenham - next trains), -5 +1 @MKM^» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains) = 15/6

[TeaStew]

I completed my final (intended) TransWilts journey of the year on Wednesday, so here are my final figures and some notes on them...

09/12     0720 at MKM^» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains)     -6+9    -> 48

10/12     0720 at MKM     -4+11  -> 50
             1848 at MKM     -13+0   -> 8      [of the -13 8 seemed to be one family group heavily laden with shopping]

16/12    0720 at MKM      -2+11  ->56
            1848 at MKM       -9+1   -> 7

17/12    0720at MKM      -2+20  -> 63  [many turned up at the last moment,the 0749 was cancelled that morning... maybe coincidence]
            1848 at MKM      -9+1    -> 8   [one of the -9 was a "merry" fellow who, unable to drive, had been told to get to his partners house on "the free bus". He had no idea where he was going and refused to believe that such a bus existed but seemed pretty grateful that it did. While maybe not an exemplary passenger it seems knowledge of the train and bus is definitely getting out to people who may not normally use it!]

[grahame]

Many thanks for those figures, Teastew ... the railway services is especially useful for those who cannot drive (for any reason) and when using / justifying a train service they are very much VIPs.  They're also to be respected for their decision not to even attempt to drive, but rather to appreciate their limits.


I had deliveries to drop off in the centres of Chippenham and Trowbridge this morning, and took the trains

09:48 from Melksham.  -2 +28 at Melksham, and I then counted 63 on the train - 65/30

10:40 from Chippenham (engineering change / usually 10:53). 25 on from Chippenham. -4 +11 at MKM^» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains)  - 36/15

11:38 from Trowbridge. 63 from Trowbridge -5 +32 at Melksham - 95/37

[John R]

Many thanks for those figures, Teastew ... the railway services is especially useful for those who cannot drive (for any reason) and when using / justifying a train service they are very much VIPs.  They're also to be respected for their decision not to even attempt to drive, but rather to appreciate their limits.


I had deliveries to drop off in the centres of Chippenham and Trowbridge this morning, and took the trains

09:48 from Melksham.  -2 +28 at Melksham, and I then counted 63 on the train - 65/30

10:40 from Chippenham (engineering change / usually 10:53). 25 on from Chippenham. -4 +11 at MKM^» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains)  - 36/15

11:38 from Trowbridge. 63 from Trowbridge -5 +32 at Melksham - 95/37

And many thanks from me to Teastew.

Graham, was it a 153 today, as 90 is a very healthy load north of Melksham.

[grahame]

Graham, was it a 153 today, as 90 is a very healthy load north of Melksham.

Indeed it was a 153.   I got off at Melksham - already busy into there.  Yep, it would have been comfy beyond, but they did all fit.   Conductor was commenting that he expected the 17:36(isn? today) to be rather well filled on the way back from Swindon.

[grahame]

13:13 at Melksham today .. 6 off from Swindon, 5 joined, 5 through passengers - 17/11

[grahame]

14:33 at Melksham today.  26 on from Trowbridge, 4 off and 5 on so 27 continuing to Chippenham. 31/9

A very interesting day's metrics.    Town centre / most small shops closed and yet many people walking about.  Supermarkets look packed.   Industial Estate leading to Station looked quieter than a Sunday except for activity at the station.   Goodness how things change!

[TeaStew]

I completed my final (intended) TransWilts journey of the year on Wednesday, so here are my final figures and some notes on them...

....

19th December - 19.19 into MKM^» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains) from CPM^» (Chippenham - next trains). -9 +2 with 32 then onwards to TRO^» (Trowbridge - next trains). [an unintended journey after work Christmas lunch ran on a bit...]


05/01/15      18.48 at MKM    -6+1 ->  6 onwards
06/01/15      18.48 at MKM   -6+0 -> 6

My first days of travel [and first post here] this year!