How is it doing? - a couple of passenger counts

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Yesterday (Friday) ... 22 on the 11:47 into Melksham from Westbury ... 2 off and 2 on ... 24/4

This morning ... 09:48 at Melksham.  No fewer that 6 ahead of me in the queue for the ticket machine ; 34 people got on (didn't see any getting off) - guesstimate 30 on into Melksham so that's 64/34. No noticable big parties or lots of people headed to a match - just (?) general traffic.

Come 15th December, the 11:47 from Westbury becomes the 12:16 (and that's the first train after 09:45) (and the following train from Westbury is withdrawn).  On a Saturday, the 09:48 at Melksham doesn't leave until 10:20.  It will be interesting to see what effect this has on both short term and long term passenger numbers.

[Celestial]

Do you think at that time of day people's journeys will be particularly sensitive to the time of departure?  Today I would guess most people are off on retail therapy or leisure activities, so will not be too bothered by half an hour either way.

[grahame]

Do you think at that time of day people's journeys will be particularly sensitive to the time of departure?  Today I would guess most people are off on retail therapy or leisure activities, so will not be too bothered by half an hour either way.

I don't thinks it will make a massive difference on a Saturday at this time in the medium or long term.   in the short term, with large numbers of occasional travellers having got use to it, we have to reach out to the community to let them know.

A bigger Saturday concern is the end of the 13:48 to Swindon which was ideal for when Swindon Town were at home. In future, services are at 12:20 and 14:22.    14:22 is too late for the match, 12:20 means for some that a drink ahead of the match will empty them to change their habits, but others have told me they'll be driving to Chippenham now.    We'll see

The Monday to Friday consultation that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) did was very useful in helping us sort out the majority (though not all) local concerns.   Sadly, no weekend consultations and there are some "if only ....." situations - the one above, and one on Sunday too ...

[Celestial]

A bigger Saturday concern is the end of the 13:48 to Swindon which was ideal for when Swindon Town were at home. In future, services are at 12:20 and 14:22.    14:22 is too late for the match, 12:20 means for some that a drink ahead of the match will empty them to change their habits, but others have told me they'll be driving to Chippenham now.    We'll see

I can see the Daily Mail headline now.  "Scandal as train company forces outraged footie fans to spend an extra hour in the pub before kick off." "Said one fan, It's disgraceful  - we used to arrive just in time for a leisurely half of mild, but now will have  to down three pints of skullcracker before getting to the ground. It's all GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s fault." 

[grahame]

Handing out leaflets as people arrive at Melksham Station gate ... opportunity taken to make a note of numbers off and on, and to listen to comments to help inform for the future.

Many thanks - Peter, Peter, Eddy and Roger for assisting in the handing out of leaflets to departing passengers arriving at  Melksham station on the mornings of 29th and 30th November, and 1st December.  Lots of leaflets handed out to passengers very happy to be updated on the changes to train times from Melksham (and trains returning) on and from 15th December 2019 We took the opportunity to note the numbers of passengers joining and leaving each train and the car park numbers.

Friday 29th November.  Weather fine and calm but cold
06:36 to Southampton via Westbury. 4 on, 2 off
07:19 to Cheltenham Spa via Swindon. 12 on, 5 off
07:49 to Swindon. 36 on, 4 off. Departed at 08:05
09:18 to Westbury. 13 on, 1 off
10:02 to Swindon. 24 on, 0 off.
11:12 to Westbury. 12 on, 5 off
12:03 to Swindon. 4 on, 1 off.
12:36 to Swindon. 5 on, 7 off.
Car park (main + front of main + at station) 5 + 3 + 2 at 09:25 (excludes volunteers)
Most of the rest on foot.
No large "special event" crowds
Noting queues of up to 5 people at the TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) (early morning - it failed later in the morning)
COMMENT - request for additional shelter space (can't get everyone in if it's raining)
COMMENT - request for some seats and a bin on the new platform section where the train stops.

Saturday 30th. Weather overcast and gentle breeze. Very cold
07:49 to Swindon. 33 on, 4 off.
08:38 to Swindon. 16 on, 0 off.
09:02 to Westbury. 6 on, 2 off.
09:48 to Swindon. 20 on, 3 off.
11:02 to Westbury. 17 on, 4 off.
11:48 to Swindon. 18 on, 4 off.
Car part 10 + 2 + 5 at 11:30 (excluding volunteers)
Very large number of people dropping off compared to a weekday.   Guess just 50% on foot
No large groups for any particular "special event".
Surprising number of people there for the first time but they had checken and knew train times.
TVM out of order all morning. Frustrated multiple groups who came to collect tickets for future travel.

Sunday 1st December. Cold and calm
08:36 to Swindon. 13 on, 2 off.
09:47 to Westbury. 2 on, 3 off.
10:47 to Swindon. 8 on, 4 off
11:53 to Westbury. 2 on, 11 off
Noting that 08:36 traffic largely day trips - not daily workers as we used to see. Can't rely on trains?
Much higher proportion of people being dropped off; some lifts wait for the train (don't trust it to come?)
Also noticed 4/13 BAME and it is very common for trains to be much more mixed than local population.
TVM still out of order. Frustrated multiple groups who came to collect tickets (again).

Through the three days, the vast majority of people / groups paused for a brief update.  Perhaps 1 in 10 not interested. Of the remainder, 3 out of 4 groups took at least one timetable, most of the rest saying "I look online".  Noting that a timetable showing BATH and BRISTOL connections would be useful - many people headed in those directions.

[grahame]

Tuesday 10th December 2019

07:19 Melksham to Swindon +21 -6 at Melksham, 79 on to Chippenham 85/27

09:18 at Melksham arrived from Swindon with 27 on. -4 +3 at Melksham 30/7

The 08:53 from Swindon (09:41 at Westbury) - which is the 09:18 at Melksham, runs earlier as from next Monday - leaving Swindon at 08:44, calling at Chippenham at 08:59, Melksham at 09:09, Trowbridge at 09:18 and arriving at Westbury at 09:41. This is really good news - a quarter of an hour's difference at Trowbridge makes it very much more usable by people who work there, and running into Westbury ahead of (rather than behind) services from Bristol to Weymouth, and Bristol to Waterloo, brings in useful new connections.