Melksham station - facilities, services, improvements and incidents - merged posts

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

Here is Google Bard's take, for what it's worth:

"Cooper Tires has not announced any specific plans for the site of its former factory in Melksham, England, after it closes at the end of 2023. The company has said that it is in discussions with potential buyers for the site, but no deals have been finalized.

Some local residents have expressed hope that the site could be redeveloped for housing or other uses. However, it is also possible that the site could be left vacant for some time. The future of the site will likely depend on a number of factors, including the state of the local economy and the interest of potential developers.

Here are some possible plans for the Cooper Tire site at Melksham after closure:

• Redevelopment for housing: The site could be redeveloped for housing, either by Cooper Tires itself or by another developer. This would be a popular option with local residents, as it would provide much-needed housing in the area.
• Redevelopment for commercial uses: The site could also be redeveloped for commercial uses, such as offices, retail space, or light industry. This would be a more profitable option for Cooper Tires, but it would be less popular with local residents.
• Redevelopment for a mix of uses: The site could also be redeveloped for a mix of uses, including housing, commercial space, and green space. This would be a more complex option, but it would be the most likely to meet the needs of all stakeholders.

It is still too early to say what the future holds for the Cooper Tire site at Melksham. However, the site is a valuable asset and it is likely to be redeveloped in some way in the future."

[grahame]

The link through in the Scotland Street direction can't come soon enough. Set down from the bus outside Aldi - for the station - I innocently walked the pavement in its direction and reached the bit where, with no notice "No pavement: cross here" the pavement slowly pares itself down to a few inches wide - by the time I realised what it had done, there was a barrier the opposite side of the road so I couldn't cross to that side, then met a series of sweary vehicle drivers who objected to me walking facing oncoming traffic. A singular piece of road layout...

Yep ... you took the red route from where you got off the bus outside Aldi (yellow push pin) to the station (purple push pin at the station gate).  You should have been psychic and known to start on the yellow route - opposite direction to use the pedestrian crossing, along the other side of the road which does have a pavement, then wriggle round under the subway rejoining the red route down station approach.   The road past Aldi is the A350 trunk road / Melksham Bypass, all the more heavies on it now that Bath have "temporarily" disabled the link from the trunk A36 to the trunk A46 and our suggesting traffic comes our way.



My suggestion no. 2 - the cyan line is basically blocked just by a fence.  It has been on the TransWilts / Melksham station master plan since I was there, but there are complexities with who owns a narrow strip of land between Station Approach and Foundry Close (both of which are with Wiltshire Council), with the cleaning up of the land at end of the goods shed, and a rise of about a metre from the station into Foundry Close; half a dozen steps really should not be a problem, but there's now a requirement to put in a longer (zig zag?) slope so that it's accessible to all.  With all the lot going on, a cheap and cheerful project has extra zeros popping onto the end of it, and we're then asked "Ooze gonna pay4 it?".  Watch this space.

The green line is my suggestion no 1 - much longer term.

The distance as the crow flies from the bus stop to the train door in the direction of Chippenham is 150 metres to give you an idea of scale.

My understanding is that the Cooper Tire (sic) & Rubber Co plan to close at the end of 2023. What plans are there for that site? Just imagine the impact on Melksham Station of a transit-oriented mixed use development there...

Very much aware of that and your follow up.

Also very much aware of the proposed "Melksham Bypass" which would bypass the current A350 bypass and leave that road somewhat quieter.    As it stands, a pedestrian crossing at the top of Scotland Road would stop traffic in the narrowest part of the road, limit capacity, generate traffic jams and degrade air quality.

[Mark A]

Yes, the HGVs, the freight. In a sane world, if heading for Southampton, they'd be required to run via the A34.

Mark

[grahame]

Melksham Station closed in 1966, and re-opened on 13th May 1985 - 38 years ago today.  For most of the early years, there were two trains a day during the week - to Swindon in the morning and back in the late afternoon, with a number of short-lived experimental extras.

From 2013, a train was allocated to the line all day and run up and down, giving a service about every 2 hours. At first, it was a single carriage train but that got so busy it could not cope. These days the train is two or three carriages long, and it needs to be.  Our line is no longer the "lemon" of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and the flow of passengers to and from the station for almost every train is a sight for the sore eyes of those of us who have promoted it for many years.  At the same time, the service remains sparse / poor.  A huge THANK YOU is due to the people who have helped us get this far, but it's still very much a project in progress ...

We have moved up from 2 trains each way per day to 8, and in passenger journeys to / from Melksham from around 3,000 per annum to around 75,000 - but that's 75,000 journeys where people have to make a significant adjustment to their travel plans to co-inside with a train.  Move the frequency to a train each way every hour, so that there's always a train within 30 minutes of your ideal travel time, and passenger journeys will grow in three years to over 300,000 per annum. Add to that through journeys from Westbury and Trowbridge to Chippenham and Swindon (Melksham has the benefit of sharing its trains with those other towns), and you've got around a million journeys a year, and a service key to the economic life of the whole area.  With added freight traffic, there is no longer reliable capacity on the line for this extra service, and with the long single line section, it would require a step up from one train shuttling up and down to three, with a layover in Swindon (or a useful extension to Oxford with a fourth train) for it to work, or the addition of a loop of double track to the north of Melksham Station.

From 21st May (2023), we have some service changes. A significant extra new service in the late evening is added - 21:15 from Westbury and 22:30 from Swindon - meaning that for the first time in many years, Melksham will have an almost "all day, every day" service.  That service runs every day in the summer, but sadly not - yet - on Saturdays in winter.  Daytime Saturday and Sunday services are evened out; slightly fewer trains but that should aid reliability.  We loose the early morning train (at 05:33) to Swindon, but since it was introduced in 2019 that's really been more run to get an empty train up to Swindon that to be a mass transit conveyance.

New timetable sheet available for download at http://www.mtug.org.uk/summer23sheet1.pdf

The early work to re-open the station and then support keeping it open and was undertaken by the Melksham Railway Development Group (MRDG^» (Melksham Railway Development Group - about)) - predecessor of the Melksham Transport User Group, aided by the Save the Train campaign for a number of years from 2005. As that campaign bore fruit, we formed the TransWilts Community Rail partnership to work with local government, central government and the train operating companies to regain and retain an appropriate service.  I am proud to have been a founder of "TransWilts" and their Community Rail Officer for the period up to the summer of 2018 as we regained the service and grew it until we had full (and over-full) single carriage trains.

Over the last five years since my departure, TransWilts has moved on from being a local support group to being an organisation accredited to the Department for Transport and concerned with future rail development across Wiltshire, and with engaging with groups in the community who need extra support when interfacing with the railway. Both excellent pieces of work, but in my view leaving a gap in day to day promotion and supporting passenger use, and loosing the independence that they used to enjoy; I was given the choice of staying in my Community Rail Officer role (as in effect a civil servant), or retaining the independence to express my views and act as the passenger community wanted. And I chose to retain my independence.  In practise, that's usually in line with the Department for Transport - though I noted without surprise that when the Department for Transport decided to cull the popular through trains from Bradford-on-Avon and Trowbridge to London, TransWilts was unique amongst local and regional passenger and community groups we approached in not even offering words of support.

The current chair (who moved me on) has done a very great deal of excellent longer term planning and engagement, setting up reports and potential schemes - getting them on the table - for the future. He retires this month - THANK YOU for all your hard work, Paul. Perhaps we can look forward to new stations at Wilton, Corsham and Devizes from his legacy over coming years, and an extra platform at Westbury and a passing loop near Beanacre to help as we move from the current poor service at Melksham up to the appropriate one I describe above, with four times the passenger numbers on two times the number of trains.

We have other work to do in Melksham. 

* It was pointless running a bus to the station prior to 2013.  But in 2023, a town bus dropping people off at the station prior to each train call, then carrying people back to the Town Centre, residential areas to the East of Melksham, and business areas of Bowerhill, makes sense. The temporary "rail link bus" while the car park was extended in 2014 rapidly grew, but wasn't properly funded and council priorities moved what little funding was available.

* TransWilts are seeking a new chair - I have copied the advert and linked to the job description at http://www.passenger.chat/27474 . It is unclear to me whether this is just a "form" advert and they already have a successor in mind, or a genuine casting out for a successor looking for an outsider to come in and guide them forward.  I have taken a look and won't be applying - although I believe I'm much better qualified than most, there is no way I could achieve all that's asked of their new lead in the 7 to 10 hours per month that has been specified, nor would I be happy to be a puppet of local and central government.

* The station remains unstaffed. Not an issue for regular users, but for occasional users and enquirers, and at times that the service is not running "clockwork", this would make a huge difference. The cafe across the road from the station opened at a very unfortunate time early in covid and has never really taken off for the benefit of rail passengers; it closes this month.  As a volunteer staffed enquiry desk, with simple and quick catering (drinks, packeted cakes and biscuits) in could make a huge difference.

* Access to the station is limited to Station Approach. Plans that have been in the offing for YEARS need to be brought to fruition to provide a walkway and cycleway via Foundry Close allowing shorter, safer and more pleasant "green" connection both to north Melksham, and across the river via Scotland Road to the whole of Melksham Forest.  Re-instatement of the steps to the Bath Road would substantiality reduce the walk to Scholar's Way, Southbrook Road, and the new up yard development which has gone through planning and will bring 112 new home close to the station.

[grahame]

Yesterday morning - 18th May 2023 - final midweek day of the current timetable; opportunity taken of a new timetable for next week to take new timetables down to the station, and tell old friends there the headlines of the changes. Download it at http://www.mtug.org.uk/summer23sheet1.pdf

I am delighted to report that most people didn't want the printed sheet; we have reached many of them locally already through social media and through the pages of the local press who covered the story with an eyecatching picture in their recent issue.  Many people I spoke with confirmed that they always check their train times online anyway, but were happy with a confirmatory few words telling them how things were changing.  And in chatting, I was learning about the journeys people were making which helps inform on which connections and trains are important.

Some stats - from the first seven (out of 17 trains scheduled, 16 ran) - 65 passengers arriving and departing and an estimated additional 130 travelling through between Chippenham (and beyond) and Trowbridge (and beyond). I noted 33 rail destinations - 14 different stations - Chippenham, Westbury, Paddington, Filton Abbey Wood, Southampton, Swindon, Bath, Salisbury, Bristol, Reading, Bradford-on-Avon, Trowbridge, Aberdeen and Rowley Regis (and, yes, some seriously long distance). 8 journeys to Paddington included.  Most people walked to / from the station, second choice of onward travel was pick up / drop off, some cycles. 3 passenger parked in the station car park and caught the train.

The quietest train of the day was the 05:33 to Swindon (thank goodness - today is the last day it runs) but even there, there was a passenger joining the train and a passenger leaving it, and a handful of people could be seen passing through the windows as it passed through.  I have also spoken to a couple of other folks who have used it from time to time and will have to change their occasional routines; "disappointed but understanding".   The overall "sales pitch" has been telling people that the loss of the 05:33 is balanced by new trains from Westbury at 21:15 and (a real winner with people) the 22:30 from Swindon.  Lots of people delighted at that, with I would expect a number of them to make occasional use of it - lots of users, each from time to time, rather than daily commuters at least at first.

In other train time "wants", the message that kept coming up was "frequency" with a number mentioning that at times they have to use Chippenham as their railhead, or get picked up in Westbury.  Generally an hourly service would work; the big gaps that keep coming up are the one from 07:53 to 10:02 in departures to Swindon, and 15:39 and 18:03 between arrivals from there.

To note - the 07:53 becomes 08:02 from Monday.  Sensible for most people as it helps to even out services. However a couple of concerns from users - a missed connection into the super fast from Chippenham to London, and a missed connection into a bus to college at Swindon Station; that latter may mean students having to leave home half an hour earlier.

Several arrivals at the station looking for onward transport / buses. And that was a noticable proportion of the low arrival numbers (most morning journeys are outbound). The few departing people I spoke with about where they had walked from in Melksam had walked a considerable distance; typically they arrive at the station with more time in hand than the more local people - interesting to note that they would be served by our suggested "route 16" bus.

The cafe opened at about a quarter past seven (just before the third train). Rather sadly, I only saw a couple of passengers go in there, but then as it closes for good on 26th, I am also relieved that it has not become an automatic calling-in point for a significant proportion of passengers.  Speaking with the lady staffing it, I understand that they had good notice and all the staff have already found themselves new positions elsewhere.  She also confirmed that the car parking will continue at least for the rest of the year, and that there is no immediate takeover by another operator. "Thank you" to the staff who have worked at the hub cafe and wishing you well in your new jobs.

History after today:


Departing train - the 07:53 to Swindon

[grahame]

Final day of the old timetable, and I was down at the station in Melksham telling people about the changes coming along.

61 people left Melksham on the 6 trains that called, and 17 arrived. I estimate that a further 85 people passed through Melksham on the train without getting off - from Swindon and Chippenham to Trowbridge or Westbury, or vice versa.

I had an opportunity to speak to many people as they waited for their trains; destinations included Weston-super-mare, Paddington (8 journeys), Cardiff, Bath, Bristol Temple Meads, Swindon, Chippenham, Weymouth, Bournemouth, Salisbury, Trowbridge, Exeter St Davids, Bradford-on-Avon, Westbury and Reading. Most people arrived at the station on foot or were dropped off by private cars (no taxis all morning); just one car parked at the station.

As from next Saturday, we drop from 6 to 4 trains calling at Melksham. Ironically, one of the train that ceases (08:50 to Swindon) was one of the busiest. Most people I spoke to, however, are flexible on a Saturday morning and are pleased with the compromise of an evening service and delighed at the through trains to Weymouth.  The new timetable can be downloaded from http://www.mtug.org.uk/summer23sheet1.pdf

Completing the numbers ... 61+17(+85) is 163 users over 6 trains - 27 passengers per train. Over 4 trains from next Saturday that would rise to 41 passenger per train, and I doubt the train being dropped on a Saturday will loose much business. People are looking forward to the through trains to and from Weymouth. Some of those going to day are staying a few days; others will have poor connections coming back.

As I've seen before, the train operators are already scaling back resources prior to service changes / cuts and I note 3 cancellations this afternoon.  If GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) cana manage consistently an reliably to operate the pruned Saturday service next weekend, I will be delighted.  If the train operators, government and unions can sort out their dispute and run trains the following Saturday, I will be even more delighted.

[bobm]

A low key but effective presence

[TaplowGreen]

"I can assure you Madam I am NOT recruiting for the Melksham chapter of the Jehovah's Witnesses, and this is a timetable, not a WatchTower" 

[grahame]

"I can assure you Madam I am NOT recruiting for the Melksham chapter of the Jehovah's Witnesses, and this is a timetable, not a WatchTower" 

WatchTower is available outside the closed HSBC branch on the corner of High Street, Lowborne and Bank Street on a Saturday and not at the railway station these days ...

Today was a wonderful day - all about helping people and good news.     

This morning at the station with people in our town being grateful for the train service offered and the hard work done to get from the useless service we used to have to the thin but poor one. People describing to me how much greater it is now ... people without knowing how that came to be ... and people looking forward with a vision.

This early afternoon helping to move a guest who's been staying in temporary accommodation into a longer term home and getting a feeling that, in spite of what we've had to overcome, we are moving positively forward in helping the influx who arrived in spring of last year.   They don't know the future, but they have a vision of it improving.

And late afternoon / early evening at the Shambles festival with big top and loud music in KGV park.  There as a Town Council rep - really just observing, but observing what a success it was;  so many coming up and giving the organiser a hug and it's so good to have been there to support.  And to have. vision for the second year of the festival.

This is a town where we can make a difference and it's good to be involved with much of that.  Common factor - the good people of Melksham; not just the mover and shakers. Everyone.

[matth1j]

To note - the 07:53 becomes 08:02 from Monday.  Sensible for most people as it helps to even out services. However a couple of concerns from users - a missed connection into the super fast from Chippenham to London, and a missed connection into a bus to college at Swindon Station; that latter may mean students having to leave home half an hour earlier.

Good to see you working hard at Melksham last Thursday Grahame on my 2 day a week commute to Bristol. I mentioned that the timetable changes weren't going to affect me - the 0721 to Chippenham is unchanged (although it now terminates at Worcester). However...

I only noticed this morning that the 0742 Chippenham-Bristol service that I connect with now departs at 0735, reducing the leeway to only 5 minutes. And sure enough, this morning the Melksham train was delayed due to a late running Bristol-Paddington service, so I missed my connection and had about 35 minutes to kill at Chippenham before the next Bristol service at 0809. In fact that's now the official route if you request a Melksham-Bristol ticket on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) (and others presumably) website.

I guess I just have to suck it up, and celebrate the odd occasion when the fates are with me and I catch the 0735. Could be worse - at least I'm not one of the unfortunate ex-users of the 0533...

[grahame]

Looking at the connection at Chippenham, it looks like you're now due in there at 07:30 and the Bristol train leaves at 07:34 (not sure where you got 07:35 from?) - meaning you are 1 minute short of being able to claim delay-repay each time it misses.  Yep - just checked and that is not an official connection at Chippenham 

[matth1j]

... the Bristol train leaves at 07:34 (not sure where you got 07:35 from?)

Neither am I

[matth1j]

All good this morning.

And if I do miss the (unofficial) connection, but not by much, there's enough time to console myself with a free sausage roll from Greggs in Chippenham. Those are courtesy of the Virgin train tickets app, which gives you 3 (Virgin Red) points per £1 spent, and said rolls are 200 points. So I only need 5 of my £14 Melksham-Bristol commutes per roll - I had enough points for 8 last time I checked

The app doesn't charge a fee, and works better than the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) one (although I haven't used the latter for a while). Other Greggs products are available - see https://www.virgin.com/virgin-red/spend-virgin-points

[matth1j]

Looking at the connection at Chippenham, it looks like you're now due in there at 07:30 and the Bristol train leaves at 07:34 - meaning you are 1 minute short of being able to claim delay-repay each time it misses. 

Didn't see any announcement but the 07:34 (to Weston) is now the 07:36. Probably why the guard held it for a minute yesterday to allow those of us on the late running service from Melksham to leg it across the platform - much appreciated

[grahame]

Looking at the connection at Chippenham, it looks like you're now due in there at 07:30 and the Bristol train leaves at 07:34 - meaning you are 1 minute short of being able to claim delay-repay each time it misses. 

Didn't see any announcement but the 07:34 (to Weston) is now the 07:36. Probably why the guard held it for a minute yesterday to allow those of us on the late running service from Melksham to leg it across the platform - much appreciated

Sadly, it's a "VAR" (varied timetable change) and the "WTT^▸ (Working Time-Table)" - (Working TimeTable) remains at 07:34.

The train leaves Paddington at 06:28 this week and normally. This week it has an extra call at Didcot and is then 2 minutes later as far as Bristol (08:03 arrival normally, 08:05 this week). It carries on at 08:16 to Weston.  I would suspect the extra call at Didcot is in place of a call by a Cheltenham Spa (at 07:10) train while the line via Kemble is closed (06:31 off Paddington)

No harm in asking for a tweaking in December. The line capacity would probably not allow the 06:28 to call at Didcot once the 06:31 is running again. It could probably dwell 2 minutes at Swindon, but I suspect that the powers that be would reluctant to add the time to the express.  Having said which, surely it can't be all that busy from Paddington.