Hey Everyone, re fares and the mess that is the fare system.
Let's just admit
There is NOTHING FAIR about UK▸ train FARES 
Let's not MISS the Bigger picture about this NEW train service, as I did earlier in this thread.
For 7 weeks somebody (or bodies) is/are doing something about the worse than dire train service that serves, (SORRY, fails to Serve) Melksham.
What is needed here is some good old fashioned encouragement to ensure the success of this trial train service.
Get positive about this and the local press will run with it,
It's too easy for this Summer Service to fail because of lack of advertising & NEGATIVE comments.
I for one hope to travel on it, will need to find a Hotel for 2 Nights, any Hotels in Melksham near the station that anyone can suggest (question for Lord Grahame).
Tis over 20 years since I've been south of Yeovil Pen Mill.
Will have to buy a NEW Bucket & Spade.
Smokey, I'm 110% with you. The times have now been released onto the
FGW▸ ticketing system, and you should see quite a bit of local and wider publicity from now until the 28th August - the last day.
It is TREMENDOUS news. Not only does it give the headline Weymouth trip -
and from Swindon where we need to market it strongly - but it also gives Westbury / Trowbridge / Melksham a full Sunday out in London which hasn't been possible before, and we'll be pushing that. And watch for other things too - anyone fancy train and bus / coach to see Stonehenge, Avebury, Devizes, and Marden Henge all in a day?
Accommodation - I would be delighted to offer accommodation at "Well House Manor" in Melksham at delegate rate - that's 72.00 per room per night (pair up / rooms are spacious twins) for a 2 night stay, including superior continental breakfast. Enter "TransWilts" as your coupon code when booking (
otherwise you would be offered doubles for 95 pounds). Hotel site
here and booking site
here. Breakfast will be available early on the Sunday so that you can make either the 07:45 to Swindon or the 08:46 to Weymouth. We're about a mile from the station and can usually offer free pickup / dropoff. Nearer the station, you have Longhope Guest House and Bowden House; they're somewhat downmarket of us, but will probably offer you a better price.
On fares The discussion's going on here on the more anoracky places so that we know what to tell people to ask for that's easy to understand and a fairish fare. We want to encourage first time users, then have them come back for later trips too and tell their friends. We don't want them p**sed off by the complexities and threats of penalties if they don't understand the rules and make a mistake.
Why not make a long weekend of it - come to Melksham on the evening of Friday, 15th July - visit the Party in the Park and see the Carnival on Saturday, and have a trip to Weymouth on Sunday!
