Great Western Coffee Shop

From Sunday 23rd December 2018 to Thursday 3rd January 2019 inclusive, trains are replaced by buses from Westbury and Trowbridge to Melksham and Chippenham, from where connecting trains can be taken to Swindon.

This thread is written on behalf of the Melksham Rail User Group (http://www.mrug.org.uk) (formerly the Melksham Rail Development Group) to put train and bus information together for their passengers.  A general thread on the wider issues associated with this 12 day closure of the railway at Westbury may be found ((here)) (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=20359).

It takes time to correlate and check data, so posts will be added here over the next few days - hopefully sequentially.    Please come along to the next Melksham Rail User Group meeting on 23rd January 2019 - see ((here)) (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=20687)

Services calling at Melksham, Sunday 23rd December 2018

08:49 from Westbury (08:16) to Chippenham (09:09) [ by bus ]
10:00 from Chippenham (09:40) to Westbury (10:35) [ by bus ]
10:49 from Westbury (10:16) to Chippenham (11:09) [ by bus ]
12:00 from Chippenham (11:40) to Westbury (12:38) [ by bus ]
13:35 from Westbury (13:00) to Chippenham (13:55) [ by bus ]
14:30 from Chippenham (14:10) to Westbury (15:05) [ by bus ]
16:45 from Westbury (16:10) to Chippenham (17:05) [ by bus ]
17:00 from Chippenham (16:40) to Westbury (17:35) [ by bus ]
18:00 from Chippenham (17:40) to Westbury (18:35) [ by bus ]
18:45 from Westbury (18:10) to Chippenham (19:05) [ by bus ]
20:00 from Chippenham (19:40) to Westbury (20:35) [ by bus ]
20:50 from Westbury (20:25) to Chippenham (21:19) [ by bus ]

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/x18tt_20181223.png)

Passengers between Trowbridge and Chippenham / Swindon may also travel by train via Bath Spa, changing services there.  For the period of these engineering works, "via Melksham" tickets will be accepted via Bath Spa.

Passengers between Westbury and Chippenham / Swindon may also travel by via Bath Spa - but they will need to start on a rail replacement bus to Trowbridge and change there as well.

Services calling at Melksham, Monday 24th December 2018

07:05 from Chippenham (06:45) to Westbury (07:40) [ by bus ]
07:25 from Westbury (06:52) to Chippenham (07:45) [ by bus ]
08:30 from Chippenham (08:10) to Westbury (09:06) [ by bus ]
08:47 from Westbury (08:12) to Chippenham (09:07) [ by bus ]
09:42 from Chippenham (09:22) to Westbury (10:16) [ by bus ]
11:10 from Westbury (10:32) to Chippenham (11:30) [ by bus ]
12:27 from Westbury (11:53) to Chippenham (12:47) [ by bus ]
12:42 from Chippenham (12:22) to Westbury (13:16) [ by bus ]
14:27 from Westbury (13:53) to Chippenham (14:47) [ by bus ]
14:43 from Chippenham (14:23) to Westbury (15:17) [ by bus ]
16:27 from Westbury (15:53) to Chippenham (16:47) [ by bus ]
16:50 from Chippenham (16:30) to Westbury (17:25) [ by bus ]
17:50 from Chippenham (17:30) to Westbury (18:28) [ by bus ]
18:27 from Westbury (17:53) to Chippenham (18:47) [ by bus ]
19:25 from Chippenham (19:05) to Westbury (19:58) [ by bus ]

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/x18tt_20181224.png)

Services calling at Melksham, Tuesday 25th December 2018
Services calling at Melksham, Wednesday 26th December 2018

There will be no train or rail replacement bus services calling at Melksham Station on 25th or 26th December

Rail Replacement bus services will resume on 27th December
Peak trains to / from Swindon will resume on 2nd January 2019
Full timetabled train service will resume on 4th January 2019

Services calling at Melksham, Thursday 27th December 2018

07:50 from Westbury (07:15) to Chippenham (08:10) [ by bus ]
08:35 from Chippenham (08:15) to Westbury (09:10) [ by bus ]
08:55 from Westbury (08:20) to Chippenham (09:15) [ by bus ]
09:42 from Chippenham (09:22) to Westbury (10:16) [ by bus ]
11:38 from Chippenham (11:18) to Westbury (12:16) [ by bus ]
11:40 from Westbury (11:02) to Chippenham (12:00) [ by bus ]
13:45 from Westbury (13:10) to Chippenham (14:05) [ by bus ]
14:38 from Chippenham (14:18) to Westbury (15:16) [ by bus ]
15:35 from Westbury (15:00) to Chippenham (15:55) [ by bus ]
16:45 from Chippenham (16:25) to Westbury (17:21) [ by bus ]
17:35 from Westbury (17:00) to Chippenham (17:55) [ by bus ]
17:45 from Chippenham (17:25) to Westbury (18:21) [ by bus ]
19:25 from Chippenham (19:05) to Westbury (19:59) [ by bus ]
19:48 from Trowbridge (19:33) to Chippenham (20:08) [ by bus ]
20:45 from Chippenham (20:25) to Westbury (21:20) [ by bus ]

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/x18tt_20181227.png)

Services calling at Melksham, Friday 28th December 2018

(almost the same as 27th ... but note first bus is a little earlier)

07:35 from Westbury (07:00) to Chippenham (07:55) [ by bus ]
08:35 from Chippenham (08:15) to Westbury (09:10) [ by bus ]
08:55 from Westbury (08:20) to Chippenham (09:15) [ by bus ]
09:42 from Chippenham (09:22) to Westbury (10:16) [ by bus ]
11:38 from Chippenham (11:18) to Westbury (12:16) [ by bus ]
11:40 from Westbury (11:02) to Chippenham (12:00) [ by bus ]
13:45 from Westbury (13:10) to Chippenham (14:05) [ by bus ]
14:38 from Chippenham (14:18) to Westbury (15:16) [ by bus ]
15:35 from Westbury (15:00) to Chippenham (15:55) [ by bus ]
16:45 from Chippenham (16:25) to Westbury (17:21) [ by bus ]
17:35 from Westbury (17:00) to Chippenham (17:55) [ by bus ]
17:45 from Chippenham (17:25) to Westbury (18:21) [ by bus ]
19:25 from Chippenham (19:05) to Westbury (19:59) [ by bus ]
19:48 from Trowbridge (19:33) to Chippenham (20:08) [ by bus ]
20:45 from Chippenham (20:25) to Westbury (21:20) [ by bus ]

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/x18tt_20181228.png)

Services calling at Melksham, Saturday 29th December 2018

07:35 from Westbury (07:00) to Chippenham (07:55) [ by bus ]
08:45 from Chippenham (08:26) to Westbury (09:21) [ by bus ]
08:55 from Westbury (08:20) to Chippenham (09:15) [ by bus ]
09:42 from Chippenham (09:22) to Westbury (10:16) [ by bus ]
10:17 from Westbury (09:42) to Chippenham (10:37) [ by bus ]
11:40 from Chippenham (11:20) to Westbury (12:16) [ by bus ]
11:40 from Westbury (11:02) to Chippenham (12:00) [ by bus ]
13:45 from Westbury (13:10) to Chippenham (14:05) [ by bus ]
14:40 from Chippenham (14:20) to Westbury (15:16) [ by bus ]
15:35 from Westbury (15:00) to Chippenham (15:55) [ by bus ]
16:40 from Chippenham (16:20) to Westbury (17:16) [ by bus ]
17:35 from Westbury (17:00) to Chippenham (17:55) [ by bus ]
17:45 from Chippenham (17:25) to Westbury (18:21) [ by bus ]
19:25 from Chippenham (19:05) to Westbury (19:58) [ by bus ]
19:48 from Trowbridge (19:33) to Chippenham (20:08) [ by bus ]
21:50 from Chippenham (21:30) to Westbury (22:25) [ by bus ]

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/x18tt_20181229.png)

Judging by some of the poor connections at Chippenham, I suspect the bus organiser has shares in the buffet there!  Trains are only running hourly between Chippenham and Swindon for much of the holiday period.

I have refreshed some timetables as I uploaded this data - moved a couple of columns around to clarify connections

Services calling at Melksham, Sunday 30th  December 2018

08:49 from Westbury (08:16) to Chippenham (09:09) [ by bus ]
10:00 from Chippenham (09:40) to Westbury (10:35) [ by bus ]
10:49 from Westbury (10:16) to Chippenham (11:09) [ by bus ]
12:00 from Chippenham (11:40) to Westbury (12:38) [ by bus ]
13:35 from Westbury (13:00) to Chippenham (13:55) [ by bus ]
14:30 from Chippenham (14:10) to Westbury (15:05) [ by bus ]
16:45 from Westbury (16:10) to Chippenham (17:05) [ by bus ]
17:00 from Chippenham (16:40) to Westbury (17:35) [ by bus ]
18:00 from Chippenham (17:40) to Westbury (18:35) [ by bus ]
18:45 from Westbury (18:10) to Chippenham (19:05) [ by bus ]
20:00 from Chippenham (19:40) to Westbury (20:35) [ by bus ]
20:50 from Westbury (20:25) to Chippenham (21:19) [ by bus ]

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/x18tt_20181230.png)

Some of the connections at Chippenham are horrid on 30th December - any Westbury / Trowbridge to Swindon passengers - I suggest you check if you can do better via Bath Spa.  Note that "via Melksham" tickets will be accepted via Bath Spa during the Christmas / New Year engineering works - easement in place.

Services calling at Melksham, Monday 31st December 2018

07:05 from Chippenham (06:45) to Westbury (07:40) [ by bus ]
07:35 from Westbury (07:00) to Chippenham (07:55) [ by bus ]
08:35 from Chippenham (08:15) to Westbury (09:10) [ by bus ]
08:55 from Westbury (08:20) to Chippenham (09:15) [ by bus ]
09:42 from Chippenham (09:22) to Westbury (10:16) [ by bus ]
11:38 from Chippenham (11:18) to Westbury (12:16) [ by bus ]
11:40 from Westbury (11:02) to Chippenham (12:00) [ by bus ]
13:45 from Westbury (13:10) to Chippenham (14:05) [ by bus ]
14:38 from Chippenham (14:18) to Westbury (15:16) [ by bus ]
15:35 from Westbury (15:00) to Chippenham (15:55) [ by bus ]
16:45 from Chippenham (16:25) to Westbury (17:21) [ by bus ]
17:35 from Westbury (17:00) to Chippenham (17:55) [ by bus ]
17:46 from Chippenham (17:26) to Westbury (18:21) [ by bus ]
19:25 from Chippenham (19:05) to Westbury (19:59) [ by bus ]
19:48 from Trowbridge (19:33) to Chippenham (20:08) [ by bus ]
20:45 from Chippenham (20:25) to Westbury (21:20) [ by bus ]

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/x18tt_20181231.png)

Services calling at Melksham, Tuesday 1st January 2019

07:50 from Westbury (07:15) to Chippenham (08:10) [ by bus ]
08:35 from Chippenham (08:15) to Westbury (09:10) [ by bus ]
08:55 from Westbury (08:20) to Chippenham (09:15) [ by bus ]
09:42 from Chippenham (09:22) to Westbury (10:16) [ by bus ]
11:38 from Chippenham (11:18) to Westbury (12:16) [ by bus ]
11:40 from Westbury (11:02) to Chippenham (12:00) [ by bus ]
13:45 from Westbury (13:10) to Chippenham (14:05) [ by bus ]
14:38 from Chippenham (14:18) to Westbury (15:16) [ by bus ]
15:35 from Westbury (15:00) to Chippenham (15:55) [ by bus ]
16:45 from Chippenham (16:25) to Westbury (17:21) [ by bus ]
17:35 from Westbury (17:00) to Chippenham (17:55) [ by bus ]
17:46 from Chippenham (17:26) to Westbury (18:21) [ by bus ]
19:25 from Chippenham (19:05) to Westbury (19:59) [ by bus ]
19:48 from Trowbridge (19:33) to Chippenham (20:08) [ by bus ]
20:45 from Chippenham (20:25) to Westbury (21:20) [ by bus ]

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/x18tt_20190101.png)

Services calling at Melksham, Wednesday and Thursday 2nd and 3rd January 2019

Peak hour trains return between Melksham and Swindon.

06:36 from Swindon (06:10) to Melksham (06:36) [ by train ]
06:42 from Melksham (06:42) to Westbury (07:16) [ by bus ]
07:13 from Westbury (06:36) to Melksham (07:13) [ by bus ]
07:20 from Melksham (07:20) to Swindon (07:48) [ by train ]
07:40 from Westbury (06:58) to Chippenham (08:00) [ by bus ]
08:50 from Chippenham (08:30) to Westbury (09:28) [ by bus ]
09:40 from Chippenham (09:20) to Westbury (10:14) [ by bus ]
10:50 from Westbury (10:15) to Chippenham (11:10) [ by bus ]
11:40 from Chippenham (11:20) to Westbury (12:14) [ by bus ]
12:50 from Westbury (12:15) to Chippenham (13:10) [ by bus ]
13:45 from Westbury (13:10) to Chippenham (14:05) [ by bus ]
13:50 from Chippenham (13:30) to Westbury (14:28) [ by bus ]
15:15 from Chippenham (14:55) to Westbury (15:53) [ by bus ]
15:50 from Westbury (15:15) to Chippenham (16:10) [ by bus ]
16:40 from Westbury (16:05) to Melksham (16:40) [ by bus ]
16:50 from Chippenham (16:30) to Westbury (17:28) [ by bus ]
16:50 from Melksham (16:50) to Swindon (17:16) [ by train ]
18:01 from Swindon (17:36) to Melksham (18:01) [ by train ]
18:10 from Melksham (18:10) to Westbury (18:45) [ by bus ]
18:15 from Westbury (17:37) to Chippenham (18:35) [ by bus ]
19:14 from Swindon (18:48) to Melksham (19:14) [ by train ]
19:22 from Melksham (19:22) to Westbury (19:57) [ by bus ]
19:42 from Westbury (19:00) to Melksham (19:42) [ by bus ]
19:47 from Melksham (19:47) to Swindon (20:20) [ by train ]
20:45 from Chippenham (20:25) to Westbury (21:20) [ by bus ]

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/x18tt_20190102.png)

Although these won't directly be of use to me as I will be away for much of the festive period, I would like to acknowledge the amount of work which has gone into producing them. 

It is also a shame they have to be compiled in the first place by someone outside the train operating company.   A proper poster on display at the affected stations, or even a page on the website would be have been welcome rather than relying on the "use the journey planner" route.

Thank you Bob.   I wrote a piece of software to help me  ;D

Double sided .pdf suitable for printing at http://www.mrug.org.uk/mrug_xmas18_tt.pdf . Please spread the word / share the URL.

Have a good time away.

We are told that’s what people prefer. More like a skewed survey question and some train companies who can’t be bothered to produce a timetable anymore.

I too acknowledge the timetables Graham and his software have produced. Shows it can be done.

I suspect that the majority of casual travellers now use their mobile phone and track on there ... however, experience of distributing material suggests to me that a significant number - especially of regular travellers (thus "accounting for more journeys") - who like to have (and keep) a printed / tabulated timetable in addition or in some case instead of tracking on their mobile.

Folks I've spoken with over the last weeks may well use online trackers and journey planners for new journeys.  And also for  their regular run - but only if they're not given a sheet with the times on it.   GWR know this - I just have a delivery (which I have passed on) of printed BT and B1s for the New Year ...

Replacement buses are in place (upthread) right through to 3rd January - do I see a chic of hope here that works are under way on the line too .... I would love to see some activity on signalling equipment to make it far less liable to the failures that have dogged the service of late.