What!?! ‘and the meeting being held in Taunton’. Please don’t shatter my illusions Chris, that one of the things that makes the TWSW meeting so special for you was that it’s held in Taunton!

Totally get the Voyager bit.

 
The first time I met grahame was some 17 years ago, on board a Voyager train from Bristol to Taunton, for me to attend my first TravelWatch SouthWest meeting there. Despite the Voyager, and the meeting being held in Taunton, we've been friends ever since.

These TWSW meetings are great: they offer excellent speakers, lively debate, enjoyable catering and good company - and all free to attendees!

We hope to see you there!

CfN.

 
TravelWatch SouthWest (TWSW) provides a unique opportunity to engage with operators, politicians, and tiers of government and strategy-makers, from national to local bodies, and to network with transport and specialist group across out patch - Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.

Twice a year, we hold a general meeting, and this message is an invite to sign up and attend - Friday 24th October 2025 (this Friday) at the Firepool Innovation Centre in Taunton, which is just across from the railway station.  The event starts at 11:00 (Coffee from 10:30, timed to allow for good train connctions from across the area) and is free of charge. We (I am on the TWSW board) do need you to sign up ahead of time so that we can cater - yes, there IS such a thing as a free lunch, although we can't stretch to providing free travel to Taunton!




Web site front page - https://travelwatchsouthwest.org
Tickets - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/travelwatch-southwest-autumn-general-meeting-2025-transport-for-growth-tickets-1296764279869

If you are new to TravelWatch, or if you have attended in the past, you will be very welcome on Friday; Graham Parkhurst's keynote sets out how public transport is a driver for growth and enables access, economy, health, and environmental benefits, and the day will go on to introduce you to a whole panel of new faces - the movers and shakers in public tranpsort in these very interesting and changing times.  "Just a minute" brings you a whole series of updates on individual matters and campaigns, and a networking buffet lunch lets you make new connections and helps you plan and co-ordinate forward.  The food is usually pretty good too!




Am I invited? Yes, you are, if you feel this is relevant to you and worth taking the time out to come along.  We welcome people from students through to the retired, and from the tip of Cornwall right up to Bournemouth, Swindon and Cheltenham - beyond if you like; this is all about travel and linking places and not political boundaries.

TravelWatch SouthWest is a membership organisation, with members updated and interacting between these general meetings, and helping to pilot the organisation through the various political, social, economic, organisational and environemental changes that are going on at the moment.  We look to all modes of travel - road and rail (and ferries and flights too), to, from and within the south west of England.  Looking short term and, usefully, medium and long term so that passengers and passenger groups can help influence and partner with the industry and central government for the mutual benefit of all.