Best part of 1000 timetables now out there with Melksham residents - https://grahamellis.uk/blog1815.html

Lots learned - very much a two way thing - listening to the public transport users - and those who don't use it - is the MTUG lifeblood.

 
Looking closely, love the cloud of midges above the right hand reindeer, very realistic and great attention to detail.

Mark

 
Also, I think the 2nd picture does hint that Melksham has done well for Christmas lights. Personally I'm not particularly keen on that very artificial tree, but there is a natural one not far from it. And the lights down the high street look really nice/festive. Well done to all the volunteers that did most (all?) of the putting up.

 
Posting here for check / comment before I go on to hit various key players ...

Over the last three weeks, I have lead the team of half a dozen producing and handing out the Melksham Public Transport timetable booklet produced by the Melksham Transport User Group and covering this winter for all services.  We have no easy way to quantify the outcome of our work. But we have found it enjoyable / fulfilling, made so much more so by meeting people and I would suggest that we have made some positive difference for some people and journeys.

I find one of the gems of distributing leaflets is the opportunity it gives me to listen and to observe. And that in turn helps me inform, plan and suggest. These items are in no particular order; some are no surprise, others are.  Here is my "intelligence" log ...

1. Two buses have become one.
Melksham used to have two town bus vehicles (run by Fromebus) but early in covid one was withdrawn "temporarily" due to a lack of drivers. It has never come back.  So it's really galling - and feels like betrayal - to see the second vehicle in the town again, doing a morning school run then headed off to Trowbridge to run one of their Town services, while "route 15" (Berryfield and eastern suburbs) is now served by a single journey per day from the Market Place at 12:08.

2. Reliability of train service
The scale of the problem that people have with "late" - on the day - train cancellations is difficult to overstate. If they are relying on a service they need it to turn up - a few minutes late only matters if connections into other infrequent services miss. Availability of information on alternatives when something goes wrong and the lack of anyone to help and meaningfully get them on their way makes it even worse.  A lot of people are telling me that they aren't or are no longer using the train because they have been let down.

3. Long distance early and short distances later
For the trains, journeys on the first trains out are for longer distances and then closer ones for the following trains.  Multiple people on the 06:30 headed for Southampton, and on the 07:21 headed for London and for the Midlands.  Also across the days, multiple for South Wales.  Largest flows on following trains were Bristol Temple Meads, Swindon and Chippenham.  Nothing unexpected here - but did note in Winter the 09:10 first southbound train very quiet indeed in terms of picking up at Melksham.  Very few headed for Bath - almost certainty explained by good through bus service, lack of through train and grotty Monday to Friday connections at Chippenham in the Monday to Friday morning peak

4. Lack of help when train cancelled
There were some 20 people waiting for the 10:10 to Swindon Saturday. Shown on time at 10:00, shown as 10:12 a few minutes later, then "cancelled".  Bald statement - no "due to", no apology, no announcement, no alternative suggested. I know it was a last minute change, but "due to passenger taken ill on train" and "we will let you know more in 15 minutes" would have helped. As it was, we (I was handing out timetables as a friend of the stations) called in from the help point. Operator able to tell me why the train was cancelled, but not any alternatives. Much to be learned (longer writeup?) but little things like having the 2 character industry cancel code also displayed, and having the help point announce the change and to call in with the number of passengers would help.  On that Saturday, I  directed people to Faresaver buses; GWR were going to arrange a rail replacement bus but got everyone sorted.

5. Bias towards ladies
More women that men around and travelling; pointed out to me by a (lady) taxi driver who suggested we were biased because we were talking to more ladies.  Thinking about that, probably because of the gender bias of people around. Certainly where we had a lady volunteer with us, she was taking the lead speaking with lone females.

6. "Game-changer"
"Game-changer" - that is how the improved Saturday evening service on the Bath to Melksham (and Devizes) bus has been described by customers.  The gap between 21:05 and 23:15 plugged - now 21:00, 22:10 and 23:20.  Passing on a big "Thank you" to Faresaver / Wiltshire Council. Is there a strong case for similar on Friday evening and perhaps Thursday too - suggestion is a further round trip by the vehicle that terminates Devizes at 20:47.  21:00 Devizes -> Bath, 22:10 Bath -> Devizes?  Further work needed but THANK YOU

7. People who will not even consider public transport
At Leekes, we noted that almost everyone had driven there and the majority indicated they would not / did not use public transport. An opportunity to chat about why with some of them.  A proportion were dismissive - "because I have a car" or "because someone can drive me" - and dismissive to the extend of saying "I would never use public transport" in a tone that was a definite put-down.  And yet - "you never fly" - "oh yes".  Or "wouldn't you use the bus into Bath" and got some answers of "yes, I do for that".  Others suggest not because of the wait for buses, for them not going where they want, or not knowing about them. One memorable lady said "because people on buses fart" but when questioned she admitted to farting herself.

8. Jams in the centre of Melksham
Solid traffic through Melksham - the majority of it private cars as we handed out timetables and chatted with people on Wednesday and Friday mornings. Nose-to-tail from the Church Street light back to the Market Place roundabout which was also solid.  Most cars still fossil fuel powered / engines running too.

9. Need to move as people get older / give up their cars
There were a couple of people we met (at Leekes) who indicated they had driven there, and told us that driving their car was their lifeline, but who - with age - I suspect won't be fit / safe to drive themselves at some time quite soon. Where there’s a couple, there is often one [remaining able] driver. For some they are seeing the need to end driving as the end of their livelihood as they know it and I question whether some may be driving longer than they should. Others are nervously learning about public transport or waiting knowing the need will come. And we did meet some who have recently given up driving and are now bussing around, and mostly happily. Big thank you to those people who have switched in time.  Requirement / need to help others switch earlier and more than is done?  Potential significant growing bus customer base?

10. Younger people online
GWR are no longer producing printed timetables, Faresaver are for trunk routes. I have not seen anything printed for Melksham by our other four operators.  For younger users, undoubtedly, the smart phone has mostly taken over, though even there some like to have printed reference available.  For middle aged and more senior user, the booklets are a boon - often a welcome relief - a "nice to have" to use in place of "struggling" around on the phone.  Of course, the booklets do not have the real time tracking that makes such a huge difference.

11. Local use of own service
I have been struck before at how unambitious and unenquiring people are - and I suppose that's natural as they are concerned for the bus stop and bus service at the place and time they use without a look at the wider picture, and indeed without thought for what and how it may be there, or improved, or gone, in the future.  Somewhat less of an issue with train services where people seem to be a little wider in what they see - but still an issue.

12. Taxi attitudes
Taxis are part of the transport network, overlapping and potentially competing for some journeys with public and private journeys, providing connections for some journeys to complete the "final mile" and in other cases are the only realist option. Taxi driver attitudes to public transport are as varied as their range of jobs.  I spoke with several and get on well with them; one was - err - unpleasant. That driver would pick up / drop off from the station, but does not want to be listed or have referrals because "people know to call".  Taxi drivers in Melksham do not like rail replacement work from GWR because it takes months for them to get paid, they end up out of their home town, and they end up carrying passengers who rarely tip and may no longer be waiting at the station by the time they get there.

13. Bus driver attitudes
I take my "hat off" to the patience and customer care given by the majority of current bus drivers. Buses are heavy vehicles and the good but unsocial drivers of heavy vehicles tend to work driving HGVs rather than PSVs.

14. Cafe at station lack
Comment was made about the lack of the cafe at the station. However, care needs to be taken when considering this as evidence e for future provision as some comments related to it as a cafe serving the general community where the bias was toward the provision of excellent breakfasts and as a waiting room / facility for service businesses on Station Approach rather than a cafe / sales outlet for passengers catching trains for which speed of service is a key factor.  These other uses of the cafe facility are informative and it may be worthwhile in any future consideration of having people at the station - volunteers or paid - on a more regular basis. See other points

15. Business staff
People travel to work by bus - to locations within Melksham as well as to other towns, and where we look to the future such uses should be noted and developed.  Only a tiny proportion of travel-to-work people will be joining the buses in the centre of Melksham / some get off there though.  We did note some joining outbound, including to Bowerhill and / or Hampton Park and walking the final element, and if warehousing is build on the A365 it will also generate bus ridership on the 272/(273/271).

16. Helpers wonders
A huge "thank you" to the team of volunteers out there on cold mornings, in Leekes in the draught entrance corridor, and in the Assembly Hall for Christmas lights.  It is wonderful to have been able to work in getting the timetables out there, and helping inform the public about public transport options.

17. Need for other towns
"Ooh that's good / do you have one for Corsham / Trowbridge / Chippenham / Calne" - sorry to disappoint people!

18. Size of brochure
28 pages, A4 folded vertically so 297mm x 105mm - a bit big for people's pockets, but at the same time clasped lovingly as people taking it really felt they had something.  Production cost is such that it can't be an automatic / every year production and indeed for the summer we may have more rather than less to say.  Flagging that up, then, as a learning piece and made possible due to the support from the councils.  Thoughts needed (and being had) for a "next time"

19. School bus operators
As well as our five operators of public transport, we noted Coachstyle, Chandlers and Beeline all operating school services with pickups in the Market Place (and there's Faresaver and Fromebus school operations too). We have also noted school minibuses based at the Railway Station car park, all headed out at around 07:00 - not sure when they are back and out for a second time, but they are all tucked up there by 18:00. Prior to our leafletting at the station, we wondered if there was scope for one of these vehicles to be used as a peak hour "Melksham Rail Link" as we had briefly a decade ago, but they leave too early in the morning for that to look possible.  This whole school bus thing could be looked at - bearing in mind that both The Manor School and Aloeric Schools bring significant private car traffic close to the town,

20. Campus entrance concern
From a Crown House resident (and a different one to the one who usually provides feedback) - a concern about how busy the entrance gates are to The Campus now - especially at the time that pupils arrive for and leave from Melksham House. The concern relates to the resident(s) feeling there are dangers including from vehicles turning out of Crown House, and to pedestrians crossing from cars driving up past the disabled spaces / taxi rank and turning in to the campus. I can share these concerns - I expressed them at various planning stages and am disappointed that no entry of exit was made to the A350 nor either an entrance or an exit from Orchard Gardens. Also noting that the campus entrance / exit onto Place Road is available to the emergency services only.

21. Literature ill-fitted for some info
Classifying the booklet as "timetables" means that much of the useful information in there is unlikely to be found. When talking with some people I have pointed out other data such as the electric charging points, and the "how to get to airports"; feels a bit of a waste have produced it but people who want to know won't find it.  Some cases for judicious social media sharing in the New Year?   It is always hard to know what to include and what not - I note that MTC's travel and transport page has a section on buses from and to Melksham, and so does not cover the town bus.

22. Sunday first train
This is the one we had to fight to get and fight to keep through Covid. Even on a dreary December day, double figures joining and looking in through the windows really busy with passengers.  I estimate it left with around 50 passengers on board, and that makes sense for the Warminster / Westbury / Trowbridge passengers who are headed out for the day and it's their best way early on a Sunday.

23. Can't find a taxi
Couple of frustrations expressed as to how hard in can be to find a taxi, and how Ubers that are booked can cancel and let you down.

24. Confusion over the 9 O'clock rule
Senior bus cards are valid for joining buses from 09:00 Monday to Friday in Wiltshire, but only from 09:30 in neighbouring authorities.  Seniors who hold cards ARE allowed to travel on earlier buses, but must pay for their journey, yet so many times I hear "I cannot travel earlier because I have a senior card".  The MTC web site tells you that concessionary passes are valid between 09:30 and 23:00 which is correct, but neglects to say they are valid between 09:00 and 09:30, and between 23:00 and close of service (one
 bus!) joined in Wiltshire.

25. Boarding time
As buses get busier, it is notable that stop times take longer / are extended and it appears that certain types of ticket / payment are notably slowing.  And more people these days stay seated until the bus comes to a halt and they only then get up to get off.  All (?) Melksham buses are single door and it is commonly polite to let passengers off before more board - usually but not always followed.  Trains are very quick by comparison with multiple doors (these days) in use at Melksham, and ticket checks on the way.  I note also difference we see in London and Luxembourg.

26. Departure boards
People are generally very happy indeed with the bus displays in the two Market Place stops, and that they have stood up to the vandals so far. People like that they talk.  Minor concerns expressed over their inaccuracy; have to explain that when a number of minutes changes, it's probably due to being stuck in a traffic jam.  The station signs good too, but the word "delayed" is a worry when it pops up because people don't know what's happening, even if the online systems can tell you.  Where a replacement bus is running, the platform display does not show it ... it might be shown on the car park screen.

27. Excessive signage at Station
Several dozen signs, some of them with a lot of small test, and some things missing. Some refer to the ticket office (which we don't have) and a permit to travel machine (which we don't have either) and threaten a penalty fare of £100 if you don't follow the rules.  This puts people off.  People also think "high fares" and indeed the ticket machine need a lot of buttons pressed and knowledge to get best fares sometimes.  Separate topic.

28. First and last trains
Noting that both the first (now 06:29) southbound and last (21:32) northbound are quieter than most. But also noting that most passengers using them are on return trips, and if these trains did not run they would be loosing two fares and (see earlier) likely to be long distance ones.

29. Pedestrianise
A suggestion made that to sort out town centre traffic, pedestrianising from the corner of Church Road to Lowborne corner - only open for buses - could make the Town Centre a much more pleasant place.  Not sure where the traffic would go - may not be popular in Ruskin Avenue or Coronation Road.

30. Town Bus
Absence of a frequent enough service from many parts of its route, and people (even bright ones) have trouble working out where it goes. A second vehicle and a simpler system would be appreciated.  In the past, when we had a second vehicle, it was constrained to a well established route and timetable for a loyal but dwindling customer base.  Now 5 years later there is no such base and a second vehicle could take over a handful of the elements that complexity the current vehicle, make them more frequent, and add in service to new sources and destination such as the railway station, the campus, the prime ministers, the herbs, and the sports stadia, all of which are new since the original routes were planned

31. Bus to RUH
People hate parking at the RUH but find can find the multiple buses stressful. The lack of seating on Dorchester Street where the RUH bus leaves from is a source of criticism, as is the cost by the time you add up 2 x £3 fares + 2 x fares in Bath, doubled if someone is going to support you.  The direct x76 bus is not well known, people may not be aware of the Park and Ride bus into the RUH, and the Avonrider ticket at £7 is lower cost if you know to ask for it.

32. The £3 bus fare
Yes, the maximum £3 fare stays until March 2027.  It does not apply to National Express, 555, or the trains. And there is no any-mode return ticket valid on both bus and train, even though (example) an evening in Trowbridge is often best outbound by bus and return by train.

33. Parking at the station
Hardly anyone parks at Melksham Station these days. When it was free, many people used it and double figures of cars were leaving every evening at 18:03, for example.  Now that it costs, people feel if they're paying they may as well do so at another station with a more frequent service.  There is also a concern that the payment system when first put in lead to a number of high profile penalties being issued, and people were put off.  There is an irony that passenger fare income for the railway at Melksham - say £8 per day per car, 10 cars, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year = £20,000 a year (and that's a low estimate) is income being turned away

Phew - long log ...