Along the corridor - Swindon to Bath - seeking inputs

[whole diary]

[grahame]

A request for updates - I'm taking a look at the state of public transport along the Swindon to Bath corridor and in particular where it could be improved and/or there are elements that are outdated and no longer fit for purposes

West Swindon

Royal Wootton Bassett

Lyneham

Christian Malford

Calne

Chippenham

Thingley

Corsham

Box

Batheaston

Bathampton

Bath

It's just 22 minutes by train from Swindon to Bath ... and at present just one intermediate station.  You have substantial intermediate communities that are not rail served, some of which are substantial enough to have their own in-town local buses too, and you have services that take people to and from  the corridor in which rail - to Chippenham especially - acts as an artery to supply people to the veins to other places not yet mentioned such as Malmesbury, Lacock, Castle Combe, Melksham, Devizes, Avebury etc

Seeking inputs from members (and public readers) on the current status.

[Bob_Blakey]

.....elements that are outdated and no longer fit for purpose.....

I guess this is not exactly what you had in mind but I think the lack of OHLE^▸ (Over-Head Line Equipment (electrification via catenary)) between Thingley Junction & Bath (and obviously onward to BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains)) is something that should be rectified ASAP.

Also change the track layout / signalling at Thingley Junction so that trains running NE off the Melksham branch don't need to run 'wrong line' at all.

Definitely a new station, with platform loops, at Royal Wootton Bassett (population c.15,000).

[Mark A]

Not so much the buses and trains: world + dog took it into their heads to drive into central Bath on Saturday, arriving at silly times**, which impacted the bus timetables as the buses were bitten by the congestion. The railway land opposite Thingley Junction now has good access...  park and ride site, right there, though where to magic up the capacity on the railway is another matter.

Mark

** Traffic fairly stuffed at 2pm. What's that about?

[TaplowGreen]

Not so much the buses and trains: world + dog took it into their heads to drive into central Bath on Saturday, arriving at silly times**, which impacted the bus timetables as the buses were bitten by the congestion. The railway land opposite Thingley Junction now has good access...  park and ride site, right there, though where to magic up the capacity on the railway is another matter.

Mark

** Traffic fairly stuffed at 2pm. What's that about?

Bath v Bristol at the Rec.

[Mark A]

Good point, it started at 13:00. Perhaps the people arriving into the city after two had thought that it would be a good idea to time their arrival after the game was under way.

Mark

[Sulis John]

Or, knowing Bath traffic, were still trying to get there for the match!