| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by matth1j at 17:06, 26th November 2025 |     |
According to AI:
The reinstatement of a disused platform at Chippenham station is a critical component of the Bath & Wiltshire Metro proposal, even though the station already has two operational platforms (Platform 1 for westbound services and Platform 2 for eastbound services).
The goal is to increase the operational flexibility and capacity of the entire rail corridor, especially for the local services coming from the Melksham/Trowbridge line.
Here is how the reinstatement fits into the plan:
1. What Platform is Being Reinstated?
Chippenham used to have a third platform (often referred to historically as the original Down Platform, now disused).
Location: This disused platform is the one immediately next to the main station building on the south side, which currently serves as a sort of concourse/access area.
Why it was removed: It was taken out of use in 1976 and the track was slewed (moved) to the south side of the island platform (Platform 1) to allow the new, longer High Speed Trains (HSTs) to be fully accommodated on the island platform.
2. The Purpose of Reinstatement (Platform 3 / Down Local)
The return of this platform is essential for the proposed increase in local service frequency:
Segregation of Services: The Great Western Main Line (GWML), which runs through Chippenham, is a high-speed route used by frequent long-distance services to and from London Paddington and Bristol/South Wales. The TransWilts services (the local Metro service) share these main lines.
Preventing Bottlenecks: With only two operational platforms, if a local Metro train terminates at Chippenham or has a scheduled longer stop, it holds up the main line, causing delays to the high-speed intercity services.
Dedicated Local Platform: Reinstating the third platform (let's call it the Down Local Platform for simplicity) would allow the new, more frequent Metro services (the two-trains-per-hour service) to use a dedicated platform. This would:
Increase Reliability: The local service could run independently, without waiting for a gap in the main line traffic, greatly improving reliability.
Increase Capacity: It frees up the main line platforms (1 and 2) for the high-speed services, increasing the overall throughput of the station.
In essence, while the Melksham Passing Loop unlocks the capacity between Trowbridge and Chippenham, the reinstatement of a platform at Chippenham unlocks the capacity at the station itself, allowing the increased number of trains to turn around, terminate, or stop without disrupting the main high-speed traffic.
The goal is to increase the operational flexibility and capacity of the entire rail corridor, especially for the local services coming from the Melksham/Trowbridge line.
Here is how the reinstatement fits into the plan:
1. What Platform is Being Reinstated?
Chippenham used to have a third platform (often referred to historically as the original Down Platform, now disused).
Location: This disused platform is the one immediately next to the main station building on the south side, which currently serves as a sort of concourse/access area.
Why it was removed: It was taken out of use in 1976 and the track was slewed (moved) to the south side of the island platform (Platform 1) to allow the new, longer High Speed Trains (HSTs) to be fully accommodated on the island platform.
2. The Purpose of Reinstatement (Platform 3 / Down Local)
The return of this platform is essential for the proposed increase in local service frequency:
Segregation of Services: The Great Western Main Line (GWML), which runs through Chippenham, is a high-speed route used by frequent long-distance services to and from London Paddington and Bristol/South Wales. The TransWilts services (the local Metro service) share these main lines.
Preventing Bottlenecks: With only two operational platforms, if a local Metro train terminates at Chippenham or has a scheduled longer stop, it holds up the main line, causing delays to the high-speed intercity services.
Dedicated Local Platform: Reinstating the third platform (let's call it the Down Local Platform for simplicity) would allow the new, more frequent Metro services (the two-trains-per-hour service) to use a dedicated platform. This would:
Increase Reliability: The local service could run independently, without waiting for a gap in the main line traffic, greatly improving reliability.
Increase Capacity: It frees up the main line platforms (1 and 2) for the high-speed services, increasing the overall throughput of the station.
In essence, while the Melksham Passing Loop unlocks the capacity between Trowbridge and Chippenham, the reinstatement of a platform at Chippenham unlocks the capacity at the station itself, allowing the increased number of trains to turn around, terminate, or stop without disrupting the main high-speed traffic.
| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by matth1j at 17:01, 26th November 2025 | |
Just playing with AI (Gemini), asking about this sort of thing, and it mentioned that proposed improvements include reinstating the unused platform at Chippenham (nearest the main building), as well as Westbury. That was news to me - has it got it right? I've probably just missed it.
| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by grahame at 19:15, 22nd November 2025 | |
Being stuck in with a cold, I got my crayons out to see what this could look like. Click on images to see them bigger
| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by TaplowGreen at 16:09, 5th August 2025 | |
Has the cost of the scheme really already gone up by £20m in five days?
Well I did say, earlier in this thread, something about HS2 costings in Wiltshire.....................
.......best add another zero or two!
| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by Clan Line at 15:16, 5th August 2025 | |
Has the cost of the scheme really already gone up by £20m in five days?
Well I did say, earlier in this thread, something about HS2 costings in Wiltshire.....................
| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by grahame at 11:59, 5th August 2025 | |
Has the cost of the scheme really already gone up by £20m in five days?
I would be pretty sure that is for different element combinations - at the current quite early "optioning" stage there is no definitive "this is exactly it" specification.
| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 06:33, 5th August 2025 | |
Hmm. I commend the scheme, obviously and absolutely, but would like to clarify exactly how much is being discussed here:
The headline from Melksham News, dated 30 July 2025, is
Talks held in Melksham to advance £30m train service plan
While the headline from the Gazette & Herald, dated 4 August 2025, is
Wiltshire's railway system to be transformed in £50m scheme
Has the cost of the scheme really already gone up by £20m in five days?
| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by grahame at 06:08, 5th August 2025 | |
And as reported in the Gazette and Herald
As often if the case, public comment is interesting
This is ridiculous GWR cant even run a reliable service now let alone adding more trains. We were promised 5 car trains on the Portsmouth to Cardiff route years ago and they spent a fortune lengthening the platforms and have we seen 5 car trains absolutely not. Any additional trains for bath rugby weekends absolutely not the railways are a joke. Don't get me started on train drivers pay which is so much they don't have to work weekends so most trains are therefore cancelled because this stupid government failed to change their working practices.
You are correct, it’s only two carriages, absolutely pathetic. Air conditioning that’s mostly not working or if it is working it’s blowing out warm air so the guard opens the windows. On the Welsh trains some routes have a trolley service, you may remember the Inter City 125 service with the dining car with a chef for a hot meal , that’s long gone now.
I'm cautiously excited about this prospect. I'm not sure what the odds of it making the journey from plan through to completion are, but if it did, it'd be a tremendous improvement for the area. Right now people are effectively forced into driving everywhere, and the roads really aren't up to the task. Having other options would be wonderful and could allow for some much more sensible housing development than the current approach, which mostly seems to consist of sticking a bunch of 5-bed mini-mansions in the middle of a field, joining it to a creaking road system and letting God sort the traffic out.
The comment added to the story on Facebook are interesting too
Where’s the money then? I personally can’t see any of this happening in my lifetime. Corsham station should be reopened first. More wishful thinking on the supporters.
There going to be on time.and they’ve employed a leaf sweeper full time.and a heated front bumper just in case it snows.
How is this going to be funded at a time when the country is £3 trillion in debt?
Getting changed ready for the OHLE to be installed
Some valid concerns and questions. Some - such as funding - addressed in the article but having a political point made.
Personal view - it's a prospect that could and probably should be taken much further and could be achieved. I am reminded of the rolling of eyes and putdowns we got when we asked for an improvement from the two trains each way per day in my home town in Melksham. Now - scheduled at least - 9 each way during the week and 7 at weekends.
Totally granted that we have a major reliability problem at present, and fixing that is necessary in parallel to looking further ahead. Suggestions that we wait to look forward until the current operational mess is sorted out, or that the people involved can't run the current system so couldn't sort out an improved one are off the mark - indeed with the more robust infrastructure some of the operational nightmares would be reduced.
| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by grahame at 10:09, 1st August 2025 | |
Report from the Melksham News (Page 8, 31st July edition)
https://melkshamnews.com/talks-held-in-melksham-to-advance-30m-train-service-plan/
| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by grahame at 15:43, 16th July 2025 | |
I would appreciate some clarification of what the MP means by "two trains per hour through Melksham station"
a) We already get two trains an hour through Melksham station, sometimes more. The vast majority of them are however freight trains, the remainder mostly being IETs on diversion.
b) Did the MP's script writer actually mean him to say two trains an hour STOPPING at Melksham station? Because that would be very welcome indeed.
c) Of these theoretical two passenger trains an hour that we have now established not only pass through Melksham but may actually stop, do they stop to pick up AND put down passengers?
Disclaimer: I don't trust ANY MPs, so I'm not attempting to score political points here
a) We already get two trains an hour through Melksham station, sometimes more. The vast majority of them are however freight trains, the remainder mostly being IETs on diversion.
b) Did the MP's script writer actually mean him to say two trains an hour STOPPING at Melksham station? Because that would be very welcome indeed.
c) Of these theoretical two passenger trains an hour that we have now established not only pass through Melksham but may actually stop, do they stop to pick up AND put down passengers?
Disclaimer: I don't trust ANY MPs, so I'm not attempting to score political points here
See https://www.passenger.chat/t30027.html and https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/mirror/04-NathanSealey_Amey.pdf - next to last slide
* Frome to Chippenham (local):
2tph Frome-Westbury-Trowbridge-Melksham-Chippenham
2tph Frome-Westbury-Trowbridge-Melksham-Chippenham
Which is two trains calling at Melksham to both pick up and to drop off passengers in each direction - a service every 30 minutes. It's what's needed for a true metro 'turn up and go' service.
| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by Phil at 15:19, 16th July 2025 | |
I would appreciate some clarification of what the MP means by "two trains per hour through Melksham station"
a) We already get two trains an hour through Melksham station, sometimes more. The vast majority of them are however freight trains, the remainder mostly being IETs on diversion.
b) Did the MP's script writer actually mean him to say two trains an hour STOPPING at Melksham station? Because that would be very welcome indeed.
c) Of these theoretical two passenger trains an hour that we have now established not only pass through Melksham but may actually stop, do they stop to pick up AND put down passengers?
Disclaimer: I don't trust ANY MPs, so I'm not attempting to score political points here
| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by Clan Line at 10:38, 16th July 2025 | |
"A new platform at Westbury" (my highlighting)
I assume this actually means reinstating the old Platform 1. An article in Rail magazine in 2015 quoted a cost of £10.5 million to do this at that time. How much nowadays ? I suppose we could claim that we are getting our own Wiltshire version of HS2.............at least as far as costings go !
| Re: Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by matth1j at 10:04, 16th July 2025 | |
* Two trains per hour through Melksham Station
| Bath and Wiltshire Metro Posted by grahame at 21:49, 15th July 2025 | |
From our MP (Brian Mathew), posted 15th July 2025 on Facebook
Exciting project for local rail!
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of chairing the very first stakeholder meeting for the Bath & Wiltshire Metro at Melksham Assembly Hall. Joined by representatives from Network Rail, Wiltshire & B&NES councils, local town councils, and the Western Gateway Transport Board, we mapped out an ambitious vision for our region’s rail future:
* Two trains per hour through Melksham Station
* New stations at Corsham and Devizes Gateway
* Better links between housing, public transport, and active travel routes — making it easier to leave the car at home!
The good news? Plans are already moving forward. Western Gateway and Network Rail are working on key infrastructure upgrades, including:
* A new platform at Westbury
* Increased rail capacity through Melksham
This is about much more than trains. It’s about cutting congestion, opening up opportunities, and tackling the climate emergency.
* I’ll keep campaigning hard to make sure our communities get the modern, reliable transport links we need — now and for the future.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of chairing the very first stakeholder meeting for the Bath & Wiltshire Metro at Melksham Assembly Hall. Joined by representatives from Network Rail, Wiltshire & B&NES councils, local town councils, and the Western Gateway Transport Board, we mapped out an ambitious vision for our region’s rail future:
* Two trains per hour through Melksham Station
* New stations at Corsham and Devizes Gateway
* Better links between housing, public transport, and active travel routes — making it easier to leave the car at home!
The good news? Plans are already moving forward. Western Gateway and Network Rail are working on key infrastructure upgrades, including:
* A new platform at Westbury
* Increased rail capacity through Melksham
This is about much more than trains. It’s about cutting congestion, opening up opportunities, and tackling the climate emergency.
* I’ll keep campaigning hard to make sure our communities get the modern, reliable transport links we need — now and for the future.
