WOMAD comes to Wiltshire - nearest station, Melksham, July 2026

[whole diary]

[JohnM]

(Just to clarify, I wasn't suggesting that the Bath/27x option should be promoted as a means of getting to the site; just an observation really.)

[TaplowGreen]

Perhaps it would have been worth suggesting to the organisers, or one of the local operators that a shuttle bus from Melksham station may have been a good idea?

[Phil]

Perhaps it would have been worth suggesting to the organisers, or one of the local operators that a shuttle bus from Melksham station may have been a good idea?

I used Melksham station a couple of times yesterday (Wednesday) and whilst there wasn't exactly a bus, there were definitely more than one MPVs meeting and greeting people associated with Womad (staff and performers at a guess, since a couple were carrying either musical instruments or well disguised machine guns...)

[JohnM]

Perhaps it would have been worth suggesting to the organisers, or one of the local operators that a shuttle bus from Melksham station may have been a good idea?

I guess the main reason Chippenham was chosen in preference to Melksham was Melksham's lack of capacity - low service frequency by short trains?

[grahame]

Perhaps it would have been worth suggesting to the organisers, or one of the local operators that a shuttle bus from Melksham station may have been a good idea?

I guess the main reason Chippenham was chosen in preference to Melksham was Melksham's lack of capacity - low service frequency by short trains?

There was a danger of trying to put a gallon into a pint pot. Even with extra trains (from where? how on the line?) only 3 carriage platform then a lack of turning spaces for buses and no station loos.

[JohnM]

Looking at the A365 near the festival on google maps with traffic colouring, there's quite a lot of yellow, but no red, yet...
https://maps.app.goo.gl/YRt54qNFQ1vNdK9z7

[John D]

Just seen what looks like new posters at Bradford on Avon station, near entrances, and there is a section on max luggage etc

It includes banned items and has silhouette (near bottom right) of one of those pull along hand trolleys that Festival goes often use

Wonder if WOMAD triggered the update, does Melksham or Chippenham have similar posters.  Possibly been there years but never noticed it before

[grahame]

Perhaps it would have been worth suggesting to the organisers, or one of the local operators that a shuttle bus from Melksham station may have been a good idea?

I guess the main reason Chippenham was chosen in preference to Melksham was Melksham's lack of capacity - low service frequency by short trains?

There was a danger of trying to put a gallon into a pint pot. Even with extra trains (from where? how on the line?) only 3 carriage platform then a lack of turning spaces for buses and no station loos.

Another good reason why not ...

14:04 Frome to Swindon due 14:57 has been cancelled.

15:44 Swindon to Frome due 16:38 will be started from Westbury.
It will no longer call at Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge.

This is due to a fault on this train.

Which leaves a gap of about 4 hours each way ... and I think festival go-ers will be headed home?

[JohnM]

Which leaves a gap of about 4 hours each way ... and I think festival go-ers will be headed home?

Not until tomorrow morning if they want to see tonight's acts. Campsite must be vacated by midday.