Third year lucky?
G**d - let's hope so.
First took over a service of 10 trains a day to our town of 23,000 people and cut it back to just 4 the following December (06:48, 07:17, 19:11 and 19:50). They have - after a great deal of fuss - prepared a draft 2009 timetable showing 12 trains a day, well spread at 06:48, 07:17, 08:24, 09:28, 11:17, 12:28, 14:17, 15:28, 17:08, 18:21, 19:11 and 19:50. But I understand that its provision is not certain as we still need to provide more local support!
I expect they would expect a lot of plaudits for doing litlle more than putting back a service that should never have been trimmed but
I for one WILL give them my heartfelt thanks if they run 12 trains on Wednesday, 1st April 2009 as a standard part of the daily service.
In case you wonder
* The town in question is Melksham
The changes would also have the following effect:
* Salisbury to Swindon - up from NO direct trains to 4 per day
* Trowbridge to Swindon - Journey times cut from over 60 minutes to 35 minutes
* Frome - 3 hour gaps during day reduced to 2 hours
* Overcrowding relief from Trowbridge to Bath
* Extra Salisbury - Westbury services to reduce overcrowdinf there
* Chippenham to Salisbury - reduced from 85 minutes to less that 60.
And YOU CAN SIGN UP AS A SUPPORTER (
please! at
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/pledge.htmland there are links to more information there too
(Campaign opens properly on Wednesday but the site is already operation and collecting a few early names)