Upgrades needed to town’s railway services 40 years on

A local transport user group has said there is ‘room for improvement’ in services at Melksham’s railway station, which reopened 40 years ago.

The station now facilitates around 60,000 journeys a year. However, the chair of the Melksham Transport User Group, Graham Ellis, says the service is ‘appalling’ and could be improved — particularly as Melksham is the fourth largest town in Wiltshire.

Melksham Railway Station closed in 1966 as part of the Beeching cuts — a series of closures and reorganisations of the British railway network in the 1960s aimed at making the system more financially viable.

Following a campaign spearheaded by the Melksham News, the station reopened in 1985 as a single-line track, running just a couple of services a day for commuters living in Melksham and working in Swindon.

Melksham’s population has grown significantly since the 1980s and, despite passenger numbers increasing by 25%, with around nine trains running each way per day, the station continues to operate on a single-line track.

Graham said the service runs about every two hours and is prone to cancellation ‘far too often’.

“These limitations are acknowledged by all parties and almost everyone would like to see better,” said Graham, who suggests the service needs to run every hour during the day.

“That’s an increase from nine to around 16 trains each way per day. And the 1-in-18 cancellation rate needs to be reduced to one in 50 or better,” he explained.

“All parties know these issues — our service is less frequent than any other station in Wiltshire and our cancellations are double those anywhere else.”

Recently, members of the Melksham Transport User Group met to mark 40 years since the station reopened. The group aims to enhance facilities at Melksham’s bus stops and railway station, and to act as an independent voice for train and bus users.

Graham said, “The problem at Melksham railway station is that the single line is near capacity, and adding more trains would make them even less reliable. It would also have a knock-on effect on the surrounding lines as trains wait on the main line to access the single track through Melksham.

“A great deal of background work has been done — and continues — to improve reliability and service, link trains and buses, and make the station more user-friendly.”

Weymouth trains

This summer, there is a direct train on Saturday mornings from Melksham to Weymouth at 09:09, with a return service in the evening. “We encourage people to make the most of this and enjoy a day out,” said Graham.

“Fares are £23.60 return per adult (three for the price of two with GroupSave, and a 33% discount with railcards), half fare for children aged 5 to 15, with infants and babies travelling free. Up to two dogs per person and cycles are also free of charge. The return train leaves Weymouth around 19:30, arriving back in Melksham at approximately 21:30.”