West Wiltshire Rail User Group meeting, Trowbridge, 20 May 2026

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

...

South Western Railway was nationalised a year ago ... and on 20th May, Andrew Ardley of SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) will be talking to the West Wiltshire Rail User Group in Trowbridge.  Easily reachable at the Bethesda Church Hall - 100 yards from Trowbridge Station, and timed for people arriving from and returning to other stations including Melksham and Chippenham.  SWR still have a few services to Warminster and Westbury, though they have "rationalised" away their services at Trowbridge and Bradford-on-Avon leaving those stations without any through trains from London.  It will be very interesting to hear what Andrew - a good friend over may years - has to tell us, including an update on what they are doing on their core line in the south of the county.

In amongst the "don't know" elements is the passenger voice and I worry if and how that will get due weight into the future.  We have good friends at Transport Focus which, however, has lacked authority.  Marketing words suggest a positive future for them, but from what I have seen the toothlessness may still remain.  We will see; as an advocate of public transport I really hope for a mainstream strong and informed passenger voice / advocate.

No conclusions here - an explanation, a look ahead into a rather foggy crystal ball, and an encouragement to come along on 20th May.  Join me on the 18:10 train from Melksham; return on the 21:22 from Trowbridge.

I've added it to the Coffee Shop forum's calendar.

[Mark A]

The flyer for the meeting - it has the times, info for non-members etc.

Mark

[Image from here is not available to guests]

(Image size modified to make it easier to read on the forum - bobm)

(Thanks: also, didn't know how to do that and now I do - marka)

[grahame]

Excellent evening with update from Andrew A.

For member - slide set here

[GBM]

Excellent evening with update from Andrew A.

For member - slide set here

The mention of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)/Chiltern - might this be the battery train?

[Western Pathfinder]

Interesting to see that the last part is in Italian!…or Latin .

[ChrisB]

It's Latin....

Mark A....your luck might eventually be in for your Bristol service

Gradual blurring of TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) boundaries: lots of background work with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) on future operation of various routes
across Wessex but changes will take time

[John D]

Excellent evening with update from Andrew A.

For member - slide set here

The mention of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)/Chiltern - might this be the battery train?

It might be a multi-mode train

GWR could just about get away with battery EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit)▸ , but realistically anything over about 60 miles (or 30miles out and 30 back) off an electrified line, especially in cold winter or very hot summer day is pushing it.   Battery technology is improving so maybe this will go up a bit to nearer 80 miles.

If looking at regional train (say 5-6 cars, capable of 100-110mph on electric, maybe 90-100mph on diesel or battery, with seats and comfort suitable for 3+ hour journeys) then as GWR operate to Portsmouth, Weymouth, Gatwick really needs to be dual voltage.

But a quick look at a map, will show that routes like Cardiff-Exeter, Exeter-Basingstoke, Bristol-Great Malvern/Worcester etc are too far for the battery.  So either got to add few miles of electrification where charging can happen, or fit train with diesel generator set too.

Chiltern probably need ability to work off Metropolitan line 4th rail.  I think this is now 500v outer rail, -250v centre rail, but at least it is effectively 750v not the old 600v (400 and -200)

To be honest, if GBR^▸ (Great British Railways)▸ (or its shadow version) had ordered 70-100 of these, a cascade would probably solve 90% of train shortages or types coming up for renewal.

So yes, SWR^» (South Western Railway - about)» doesn't really need anything different to GWR regional fleet, or even others like Cross Country Cardiff-Nottingham.  Can see why it is one type desperately needed (have built high speed bimodes, lots of commuter electric units in last 10 years, but no regional units for 34+ years).  Nothing really that can work on part electrified routes that's mid to long distance, but not full intercity high speed