Getting those extra miles!

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Many commuters from Chippenham drive to Chippenham station, which has quite a wide catchment area. They're from Calne and Corsham, Melksham and Malmesbury to name but four towns.

Season tickets from Chippenham to London (Paddington) and from Chippenham to Reading cost exactly the same (be they weekly, annual, or in between) as season tickets for the longer journey from Melksham, and Melksham tickets are also valid for use at Chippenham.

So - is it a good idea to suggest to commuters who originate to the south of Chippenham that when they renew their seasons, they get a Melksham ticket?  On days that the 07:20 from Melksham / 17:45 from Paddington work for them, they'll already be save the drive into Chippenham, and they'll be able to make Saturday trips from Melksham to Swindon at no extra cost.   And - come an improved service - they'll be able to start using it straight away on their annual ticket without any trade-in and rebook penalties.

[John R]

I believe they would lose any performance discount at renewal if they change any aspect of the ticket. Though if they upgraded the current ticket to "from Melksham" then that might avoid the problem.

[Busboy W1]

It might also show the company people live there and do want to use their local train station. Might it be worth suggesting it to a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) official.

There are similar situations across the network not least on the North Cotswold line with Combe,Finstock,Ascott Under Wychwood and Shipton with 4 out of 5 see only 1 booked train service a day in each direction. Therefore some customers on that line use Moreton In Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury and Hanbrough accordingly to travel further afield.