National ‘best campaign’ award is won by Rail User Group

MELKSHAM Rail User Group is celebrating after winning the “Best Campaign” award at the RailFuture annual national conference at Leicester on 4th November.

In front of a packed house at The Curve theatre, the Melksham group took the top prize with lesser awards going to groups from as far afield as Devon, the London suburbs and the far north of Scotland.

The award follows an increase in passenger journey numbers from 3,000 a year to 60,000 over the 20 years of Peter Blackburn’s chairmanship of the group.

Peter said, “We expect numbers to reach a quarter of a million journeys in the future, with trains now running all day, every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.”

The service runs up to 9 times a day, taking 10 minutes to Chippenham and less than half an hour to Swindon.  The day return fare is £9.60 if you leave on the 07:20 or 07:49 train on Monday to Friday (peak) or £7.10 starting on any other train.

The Melksham Rail User Group welcomes new members – the next meeting is at Whitley Methodist Church Hall on 29th November at 7.30pm and all are welcome.

Graham Ellis from the group said, “Come along and help us prepare for Santa – and learn about longer trains and station development for early next year. Help us as we ask for even more trains (because we’re now almost filling the current ones) and later services for following years.

“Note the different venue for the November meeting; please get in touch via info@mrug.org.uk or www.mrug.org.uk if you would like help getting there from the station – lifts available off the 19:14 arrival, and back into town afterwards.”