| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by grahame at 15:43, 16th July 2025 |     |
I would appreciate some clarification of what the MP means by "two trains per hour through Melksham station"
a) We already get two trains an hour through Melksham station, sometimes more. The vast majority of them are however freight trains, the remainder mostly being IETs on diversion.
b) Did the MP's script writer actually mean him to say two trains an hour STOPPING at Melksham station? Because that would be very welcome indeed.
c) Of these theoretical two passenger trains an hour that we have now established not only pass through Melksham but may actually stop, do they stop to pick up AND put down passengers?
Disclaimer: I don't trust ANY MPs, so I'm not attempting to score political points here
a) We already get two trains an hour through Melksham station, sometimes more. The vast majority of them are however freight trains, the remainder mostly being IETs on diversion.
b) Did the MP's script writer actually mean him to say two trains an hour STOPPING at Melksham station? Because that would be very welcome indeed.
c) Of these theoretical two passenger trains an hour that we have now established not only pass through Melksham but may actually stop, do they stop to pick up AND put down passengers?
Disclaimer: I don't trust ANY MPs, so I'm not attempting to score political points here
See https://www.passenger.chat/t30027.html and https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/mirror/04-NathanSealey_Amey.pdf - next to last slide
* Frome to Chippenham (local):
2tph Frome-Westbury-Trowbridge-Melksham-Chippenham
2tph Frome-Westbury-Trowbridge-Melksham-Chippenham
Which is two trains calling at Melksham to both pick up and to drop off passengers in each direction - a service every 30 minutes. It's what's needed for a true metro 'turn up and go' service.
| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by Phil at 15:19, 16th July 2025 | |
I would appreciate some clarification of what the MP means by "two trains per hour through Melksham station"
a) We already get two trains an hour through Melksham station, sometimes more. The vast majority of them are however freight trains, the remainder mostly being IETs on diversion.
b) Did the MP's script writer actually mean him to say two trains an hour STOPPING at Melksham station? Because that would be very welcome indeed.
c) Of these theoretical two passenger trains an hour that we have now established not only pass through Melksham but may actually stop, do they stop to pick up AND put down passengers?
Disclaimer: I don't trust ANY MPs, so I'm not attempting to score political points here
| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by Clan Line at 10:38, 16th July 2025 | |
"A new platform at Westbury" (my highlighting)
I assume this actually means reinstating the old Platform 1. An article in Rail magazine in 2015 quoted a cost of £10.5 million to do this at that time. How much nowadays ? I suppose we could claim that we are getting our own Wiltshire version of HS2.............at least as far as costings go !
| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by matth1j at 10:04, 16th July 2025 | |
* Two trains per hour through Melksham Station
| Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by grahame at 21:49, 15th July 2025 | |
From our MP (Brian Mathew), posted 15th July 2025 on Facebook
Exciting project for local rail!
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of chairing the very first stakeholder meeting for the Bath & Wiltshire Metro at Melksham Assembly Hall. Joined by representatives from Network Rail, Wiltshire & B&NES councils, local town councils, and the Western Gateway Transport Board, we mapped out an ambitious vision for our region’s rail future:
* Two trains per hour through Melksham Station
* New stations at Corsham and Devizes Gateway
* Better links between housing, public transport, and active travel routes — making it easier to leave the car at home!
The good news? Plans are already moving forward. Western Gateway and Network Rail are working on key infrastructure upgrades, including:
* A new platform at Westbury
* Increased rail capacity through Melksham
This is about much more than trains. It’s about cutting congestion, opening up opportunities, and tackling the climate emergency.
* I’ll keep campaigning hard to make sure our communities get the modern, reliable transport links we need — now and for the future.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of chairing the very first stakeholder meeting for the Bath & Wiltshire Metro at Melksham Assembly Hall. Joined by representatives from Network Rail, Wiltshire & B&NES councils, local town councils, and the Western Gateway Transport Board, we mapped out an ambitious vision for our region’s rail future:
* Two trains per hour through Melksham Station
* New stations at Corsham and Devizes Gateway
* Better links between housing, public transport, and active travel routes — making it easier to leave the car at home!
The good news? Plans are already moving forward. Western Gateway and Network Rail are working on key infrastructure upgrades, including:
* A new platform at Westbury
* Increased rail capacity through Melksham
This is about much more than trains. It’s about cutting congestion, opening up opportunities, and tackling the climate emergency.
* I’ll keep campaigning hard to make sure our communities get the modern, reliable transport links we need — now and for the future.
