‘Nine out of 10 trains’ running from Melksham Railway Station

THE town’s transport user group has said that nine out of 10 trains are running from Melksham Railway Station, despite disruption to services caused by strike action, which began in June 2022, and storms.

“The train timetable in Melksham is thin, even though it has been hugely improved over the years,” says chair of the Melksham Rail Transport User Group, Graham Ellis. “But a combination of strikes, overtime bans and other issues with weather, trains and track have conspired to get the service a bit of a poor reliability reputation – though in reality nine out of 10 trains are running.  

“Many people work from home one or two days a week, something they learned during Covid and if industrial action or extreme weather is expected, they’ll plan their home days for the days that services will be impacted. But with strikes now in their second year, there are some people who have made employment and education choices because they can’t rely on the train like they should be able to. And there are some employers who are concerned at employees’ responsibility.”  

According to Graham Ellis, passenger numbers had risen from 3,000 to 75,000 per annum before Covid struck. “That was still a low number,” he said. “The people who are using it are the robust sector and those who have no choice. And so, the knock of cancellations has less effect than you might expect.  

“To some extent, the strikes have changed how I use the trains, but that’s the general reliability and not just strikes. Rather than leaving from Melksham station, I will catch the bus to or from Bath or Trowbridge where the trains are more reliable and where the frequency is such that if a train is cancelled, there will be another one half an hour or an hour later. Furthermore, the buses from the town centre and residential areas run to Bath and Trowbridge stations, and not to Melksham Station, so the total journeys are often much easier that way, though taking significantly longer.  

“Town buses connecting with reliable trains at Melksham, even on the current thin timetable, would make a huge difference. For coming years, a reliable hourly train service each way, links to the station (by bus and on foot via Foundry Close) and a friendly face for passengers at the station will make a huge difference. At present, around 70,000 journeys are made per year and that should be around 250,000 (I can explain the “should”) – and that will make a big difference to the town and environment, and a little to reducing road congestion.”  

Industrial action by the transport sector and train drivers’ unions – The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) and Aslef – was called in 2022 over pay, working conditions (including the removal of guards from trains) and job security.   

Last November, the RMT Union decided on a pay deal with the government outside of London; this included a backdated pay rise of 5% for 2022-23 as well as job security guarantees. Members of the train drivers’ union, Aslef, have remained in dispute and voted to continue striking until spring this year.