Another decent week last week for Melksham, with one cancellation each way on the Saturday and Sunday giving a 96.6% reliability score from the Monday to Sunday.  100% of weekday services ran.

 
Video link says it is private, so can't view it!

 

Current headlines concern a government plan to ban under 16s from Social Media.  Whether the Coffee Shop is, or is not, social media is an interesting question.  I have seeded a discussion in our moderator's area so that we are aware of what's going on; it may be peripheral to us, but we should be aware.  I cannot recall any young age related issues for at least a decade, but never the less it needs to be on our radar even if the conclusion is that we're good as we are.

 
In the case of Exeter and Oxford it's easy.

Evensong starts at 6.05pm* at Oxford's cathedral, and 5.30pm at Exeter's. Allow half an hour to walk from station to cathedral. So the Exeter evening returns should begin with the latest service that gets you in for 5pm, and the Oxford ones for 5.35pm.

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0YO9ZzSpZA

First 175 into Paignton

 
The first locomotive was built in 1941 prior to the electrification of the Woodhead Route which was put on hold due to WWII. The prototype was lent to the Dutch Railways from 1947 until the completion of the electrification in 1952. The Dutch railwaymen gave it the name of "Tommy" after the British soldiers that served in the Netherlands during the war.

 
"At the coal face" - on Saturday (13.6.2026) I took the train for a short journey - Melksham to Chippenham and back - and observed so much that tells me that my mind - and our local thoughts on what we are doing and should be doing - are headed in the right direction.  Reminders noted:
1. Line capacity
2. Station/railway information in the event of delay
3. Service frequency
4. People needing travel support
5. Onward public road transport from the station
6. Regional Campaign group priorities

I will detail each then step to conclusions (7.)

1. Line Capacity ...

West Country expresses were diverted through Melksham.  As I travelled at lunch time, a late running London bound express passed through at 11:55, a Penzance bound express at 12:10, and then the northbound TransWilts train due at 12:10 called at 12:23.  On my return in the afternoon, the Newquay to Paddington train passed at 15:40, the Paddington to Penzance train at 15:55 (I was at Chippenham which it had passed slowly, waiting for the single line) and the local Swindon to Westbury service that had left Chippenham on time at 15:51 had to wait for the single line at Thingley and reached Melksham at 16:18 - that's 14 minutes late.

On current infrastructure, I have no complaint that the scheduled times had been adjusted very well ahead of time, nor that there were delays of up to 15 minutes.

An intermediate signal or two, allowing a second train to follow from Chippenham towards Trowbridge, would have allowed the local train to Westbury to arrive at Melksham closer to the 16:04 time scheduled, and would have meant it did not have to wait on the main line where it blocked a Bristol bound express for four minutes. It would also have allowed the local train to clear Bradford Junction quicker and allow train in the other direction though there were none waiting - a "recovery" gap in the timetable?

Intermediate signals would not have helped at lunch time, as trains were running in alternate directions. To increase the capacity in alternating train scenarios, you need a loop (or two) where trains can pass each other, and / or double junctions at the ends where trains can wait for the single line - to enter it promptly and to be clear of blocking the main line.  Since these extra track elements require signalling, it becomes a "given" that intermediate signals would be provided too. 

2. Information on the day

I got to Melksham station at 11:50 and the information board told me the 12:10 was "on time". I didn't believe it, having seen from public information that two expresses were running late at due first.  The information board should really use this information and not give people false re-assurance.  My own guess was that the train would call between 12:20 and 12:25 based on available information to me.

At 11:58, the display changed to tell us the 12:10 was "delayed". And that's without any indication of how long the delay might be; past experience of "delayed" has been that it sometimes becomes "cancelled", but I was fairly sure that in this case it was simply that the train hadn't left Westbury.   The rather vague / untimed message does nothing to re-assure passengers - rather it promoted a concern and panic which could be mitigated using the information available online to both the reporting system and to the human reader.  The RealTimeTrains site can come up with a better solution automatically - so why can't the national system that feeds the public displays?

At 12:07, the display came up with an estimated time of 12:21 which then fluctuated by a few minutes - as late as 12:24, settling back and the train arrived at 12:23.   All totally reasonable.

On the return journey, I rather knew / suspected we would be held at Thingley for the single line, but no indication n the board that "the train may be delayed after ..." which I have seen and heard for main line trains.  That's an observation and not much more.   The train manager was good in making announcements as we were help up, telling people that we were awaiting the train ahead to clear at Bradford (yes, I agree) and that was being delayed by a signal issue / engineering at Bradford. I saw no evidence that was the case; more like just late running congestion because engineering works had the line through Pewsey closed. I suspect the commentary / explanation was simplified for the customers to the extent it was misleading / inaccurate / wrong.

A report later - "Chaos later on Saturday.. signalling fault apparently, arrived back at Chippenham station at about 19:50 having cycled to Calne and back and swung by the Chippenham pride event.. to be told 'no trains'. Checked RTT and open train times and could see the 20.00 to Westbury sitting in P2 at Swindon. Crossed fingers and yes, it ran, quite busy too.". More incorrect / perhaps oversimplified information?

3. Service Frequency

Joining my friend on the train (he came from Trowbridge), with it being 15 minutes late he commented "at least we have plenty of time" and indeed we had so much time that we were able to walk down to the Revo Lounge and get ourselves an all day breakfast (each) before walking back up to the Rotary Hall for the meeting we were attending.

On our return, the 15:51 train was just about perfect for me after a 15:30 meeting end.  My friend was tempted to join me, but fancied a look around on a lovely afternoon in Chippenham - next train normally at 17:59, 18:05 yesterday, was imperfect but he chose it. I see it was cancelled and as far as I can see the next train that ran was at 20:18.   It could be that an intermediate express made extra stops (good if it did) but the online history gives no suggestion of that happening.   The express that went through Chippenham at 17:59 would have been ideal - but I suspect that GWR short term planning staff were already stretched in dealing with an issue at Bath.

In both directions, a train that ran every hour - and at the same times in each hour - would have made a very big difference. Perhaps such a difference that doubling the number of trains would double the number of passengers, or even more. But that does require some work to be done on reliable capacity provision - as seen in element no. 1 of this report. A further big changed would be seen if the service ran every 30 minutes each way; issues with connections and non-quite-right times would melt away too.

4. People needing travel support

On return, standing at Chippenham Station at the base of the stairs on the disused platform, a group approached the barriers on their way to catch a train.  They were directed around the to the front of the station by the chap on the barriers because this is an "exit only" set.  Let me explain - there are 4 sets of barriers at Chippenham - 2 are for both arrivals and departures and one each for just departures (and closed late at night) and this one on the disused platform for arrivals only, except it's both ways when the departures-only is closed.  They - and their luggage - did the circuit of half the staton building, and appeared beside us.  I and a different friend was chatting with the GWR bloke, and observed them then discussing where their train was; clearly visitors. They could see a big "1" over the bridge, but no indication of platform 2.   I broke away, proactively asked if they needed help, and they did.  Explained that there's a single operational island platform at Chippenham - with tracks on both sides, known as platform 1 and platform 2 which is on the far side of it.  Really a single platform and the trains call on "track 1" and "track 2" but we don't describe it like that in the UK. My mind turned to Poland where they DO use track numbers, but these passengers had a north American accent, so I didn't use that comparitor.

And then I got to Melksham - off the train, crowd thinned out leaving a couple "looking lost" outside the station gate. I asked if they were OK.  "Yes - but where's the bus or taxi for Devizes?"   Not sure if it was from the sign or from other research, but they (or did I first?) mention the 272 or 273. They were happy to be advised - indeed I walked with them down to the bus stop on Broughton Road, learned more about where they were headed, and left them at the stop for (!) the 271 which - at that time of the afternoon only - carries on beyond Bowerhill to Devizes.  Warned them to stick a hand out as the bus approached to have it stop.  Couple from London and Belgium, boat hire next week from Foxhangers, spending a couple of days based at the TravelLodge first. Asking what to see / where to go from Devizes on a Sunday and which is the best stop for the travel lodge. And amazed that stations have friends in the community that help them.

5. Onward public road transport from the station

I have touched / commented, somewhat, on that just above, but be it noted.  Lots of people walking and a couple cycling to the station - over 20 people for the 12:10 train.  No-one parking and riding, perhaps half a dozen dropped off there. Perhaps a dozen off the train coming back. A mea-lay of people around the station entrance and a handful of car pick ups; no obvious hired car-and-driver (taxi, Uber, etc) at either observation.  On my way out, I walked to the station - with heavy luggage these days I take the bus and cut my walk these days from 25 minutes to a third of that, but then have what is typically a substantial wait at the station.  On the way back - that 271 does a loop around that avoids my local bus stop, and in any case a nice day to walk through the Town Centre.

6. Regional Campaign group priorities

The meeting in Chippenham was of the local branch of Railfuture, looking to revitalise what has been a rather null branch since the passing of Nigel Bray.  It has always - and remains - difficult but (IMHO) important to have community and passenger groups that take a regional interest (i.e. beyond individual line of station) and this is a vacuum that Railfuture looks to fill. However, activists are focussed on their own line / station / group, or on the national picture, and the regional stuff is hard to motivate.

About ten of us at the meeting - 90% men, and I would classify most of us - myself included - as being there to support but not actively, being of an age where we have to be winding down.  For a 13:30 meeting, we were all waiting outside at the time the meeting was due to start; the key-holding member had nipped off to pick up the key he had forgotten and we got it and started at 13:45.  Noting that the venue was wheelchair accessible, and that there were trains running to a nearby station - both unlike the previous meeting (good points learned). But also noting that no-one came who needed the wheelchair access, and neither was there anyone there from the town's Station Friends group, the local CRP, the local train operator.  Anyway - first "A"GM in a number of years - very informal, with Bruce now confirmed in the chair, Wendy as his vice, and John as secretary - the three of them forming the complete ongoing committee, and looking to hold a further meeting in the Autumn, perhaps toward the west of "Severnside", send out quarterly newsletters, and looking to continue (as Bruce has done) press engagement in campaigning and (as John has being doing) membership encouragement.  We had talks from Wendy updating us on Portishead, and Richard from WWRUG giving a Wiltshire update.

A key outcome - though - was a "top 5" hit list around the room of campaigns that are practical for the foreseeable future for the RailFuture branch to notably and usefully support.  They are:
* Electrification to Temple Meads
* Resolving the bottleneck at Westerleigh Junction
* Capacity in Wiltshire - platform 0 at Westbury and associated works
* New station at Stonehouse (Bristol Road)
* Lengthening of Cross Country services to routinely 8 carriages

7. Conclusions

Here in Melksham - at MTUG - we are basically right and joined up in our thinking.  We have a (rail and bus) system that is basically joined up in parts, but very thin or lacking in others, and it is not friendly to the newcomer.  Goals that include:
* Better information, including manned at the station
* An improved train service
* Bus improvements, including to and from the station to connect with trains
* Better station access
are all confirmed by these real live examples from just a single short journey.  Lisa suggests logging all of the things that come up that would / will benefit from us working for these goals.  Really I try, but there are so many incidents just like the above six that I would spend all day writing them up.  The snapshot from Saturday is appropriate, and is such a valuable confirmation to me that we are thinking in the right direction.  The big question is are we being as effective as we could be, and can we help better achieve those goals?

 

Time was that drinking water was a health risk - and the drinking of beer was less problematic.

 

At 06:03 (that's the update time) JourneyCheck is telling us


Good information - and everyone can travel if a bit delayed, congested, and perhaps with an extra change ...  What a pity that this feels so routine!   

 
......another week begins.....

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between London Paddington and Reading the line towards London Paddington bound local stopping is closed.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or revised. Disruption is expected until 13:00 15/06.

 

That's a darned good excuse explanation for me to offer my wife when I get home. Thanks! 

 
Thanks for that rather nostalgic - and informative - post, II. 

 
There were only a small number of those Class 77s (EM2's) built, which were sent to the Netherlands long before that farewell tour and were used on passenger trains for only a few years until the late 1960s with the passenger service stopping very shortly after. 

The real purpose of the line was freight, which was in the hands of a much larger batch of Class 76s (EM1's), largely successfully, for several decades until the turn of the 1980s when dwindling traffic led to the line closure.

If I could go back in time 50 years and visit one railway line as it was then, it would be The Woodhead Line.  It was so unique.

 
Well done to those pragmatic on-train staff.  They are a credit to GWR.   

 
To be fair the staff on board were excellent and made the best of a bad situation. The 1st steward apologised profusely whenever she made one of her many trips in the two carriages before Oxford. The standard class trolley was static in a vestibule before Oxford. That moved back to the kitchen as we approached the station because an already full 5 car train was about to get very busy.

The train manager was also on the tannoy telling people to keep bags off seats and that they’d be charged a child fare for that seat if they didn’t. When we reached Oxford he pointed out to the boarding passengers that there was a 9 car train starting from there empty in 20mins time. Nobody seemed to take any notice of this and we were apparently full to capacity. At which point he declassified 1st so it was less crowded in standard.

 

Tidal times are important in timetabling, though perhaps not for fares. From WikiPedia on the Staplehurst accident, 9 June 1865:

and

 
Next, we will be able to learn moon rise, set and possibly latest phase here and the times of high tide at Dawlish.   

 
From the BBC:

 

Really ?? 

 
The “catering updates” on Journeycheck is rarely used it seems.  However I have seen over the last few weeks a number of times that Great Malvern services have been listed as having no catering at all. 

 
There’s no water, hot or cold on the 1658 Great Malvern to London Paddington therefore no hot drinks. There isn’t a full catering loaded either so no soft drinks only alcoholic.

 
Some good photos taken outside the perimeter fencing of Okehampton Interchange have been posted today on the Railways of Devon and Cornwall facebook group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/384010423010289

 
There used to be an electric railway between Manchester and Sheffield. Then railways were rationalised and modernised and the redundant electric locomotives were shipped off to the Netherlands where they were used for a further number of years.

On 14th June 1986 - that's 40 years ago - a final tour was run to bid them farewell. That tour is recorded at https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/860614em.htm

 
From the BBC:

 

Not really - the data is easily to hand and accessible to the general public - and so to the booking engines too

Try (for PNZ and FFD):
https://www.passenger.chat/sunset.html?where=FFD&day=70
https://www.passenger.chat/sunset.html?where=PNZ&day=70

Change to any 3 letter code. ... "day" is the number of days forward.  Leave off the parameters and it defaults to today and (of course) to Melksham.

But my suggestion that this should be the standard was made tongue in cheek!

 
I can offer a few observations on this topic from my own town, Nailsea, and the next village, Backwell - separated really by the railway main line from Bristol to Exeter.

Nailsea and Backwell both have excellent comprehensive schools, which feature prominently in local estate agents particulars, for example.  Nailsea School currently has around 1,150 students (including the sixth form) and Backwell School has around 1,600 (likewise).  Nailsea School is apparently noted particularly for academic subjects and Backwell School is noted for sports.  The schools are about two miles apart, and are both situated fairly centrally in the town and village respectively.

From my own experience of driving a delivery van along Station Road, I found it remarkable how many students walk between Nailsea and Backwell at school opening and closing times - where they are effectively funnelled through the bridge under the main line railway.  Some are on bikes, scooters or skateboards, but most of them walk.  It's a fairly flat geography, with pavements all the way, and a cycle lane on the only gradient at Bucklands Batch.

I have never counted them, but they must represent a fair percentage of those ministers' aim.

CfN. 

 
Hopefully any such increase will be accompanied - or preceded - by tuition on how to ride bikes safely and considerately.  I live a mile from a large school, which I avoid during school runs because of the general mayhem, of which manic cycling is only one factor. Nevertheless I still see wild antics some way away. My road has a narrow footpath and grass verge, and some time ago I had to take evasive action when a neighbour's two sons careered towards me on their bikes.

I've also seen small groups of schoolboys cycling at speed towards a steep path so narrow that most pedestrians  wait at one end or the other for a fellow walker heading their way. Ironically for historic reasons it's designated a bridleway, so cycling along it is legal.  Even more ironically, there are other paths that lead into the same main street that have "No cycling"  signs at either end but could accommodate a car if the central hand rail was removed.