Melksham Public Transport TransWilts Members' Melksham timetables Summer & Autumn 2018 with a complete list of all public bus, train and coach services in the Melksham area Melksham Public Transport Summer / Autumn 2018 Page 1 of 16
Location of station, central bus stops and taxi rank. Melksham Public Transport Summer / Autumn 2018 Page 2 of 16
Public Transport from Melksham has never been better! Why take the car into Bath when you can go on the bus up to three services an hour, and with a family ticket for up to five people costing just 13.50 on service D3. Skip the hassle of traffic jams and the nightmare of parking and no need for a designated driver either. Service D3 serves the Melksham Forest, Queensway and Bowerhill areas as well as the Town Centre. Catch it at the Forester's Arms if you live in the Skylark Road area. If you're headed for Chippenham or Swindon, there are trains that take just 10 minutes to Chippenham and 25 minutes to Swindon; off peak day returns to Swindon are just 7.40 ( 4.90 with a railcard, or as a group with three or more adults). There are also more frequent buses to Chippenham on route x34 run by Faresaver, daytime Monday to Saturday. For Trowbridge or Westbury, take the train 10 minutes to Trowbridge, or 17 minutes to Westbury. Off peak day return to Westbury is 3.90, with a third off if you've got a railcard or are in a group of 3 or more adults. Again, There are more frequent buses to Trowbridge on routes x34, 68 and 69 run by Faresaver, daytime Monday to Saturday. If you are travelling to Bristol, take any train and change at Chippenham or Trowbridge. If you have plenty of time, take the D3 bus into Bath and change onto the x39 slower than the train but bargain fares. Inside the rear cover of this leaflet, you'll find a list of other public transport services from Melksham, and on the rear cover you'll find contact details for the various operators. We are at the heart of a network connections easily available, and through fares, to thousands of destinations. List of Contents Maps and timetables Bus service D3 Pages 4-7 (Bath Melksham (Devizes)) Train services on the TransWilts line Pages 8-11 (Swindon Chippenham Melksham Trowbridge Westbury) Travelling to airports by public transport Page 12 Some day out ideas Page 13 What is TransWilts? Page 14 Summary of all public transport in Melksham Page 15 Contact details Page 16 Melksham Public Transport Summer / Autumn 2018 Page 3 of 16
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Engineering works in association with the upgrade of the Great Western main lines mean that a revised timetable will run until 5 th August and 28 th to 30 th August 2018 from 8 th to 11 th October and 19 th to 22 nd November 2018 During these periods, Monday to Friday daytime off peak trains will be replaced by buses, and other trains (peak and weekend) will run to a modified timetable. Please check before you travel on these dates. We are also aware of engineering work planned at Christmas / New Year 2018/2019 in the Westbury area which will affect trains. There is free parking for rail users at Melksham Station car park on your right as you drive down Station Approach. There are cycle racks at the station, and there is a subway under the main road between the town and the station to make it safer on foot. It's about a 10 minute walk from the Town Bridge to the station see map on page 2. There is a ticket machine at Melksham Station please buy before you board if you can. However, it only accepts cards (not cash) and does not offer a full range of tickets. If you are in doubt as to what you need, please ask the Train Manager who you see as you join the train to sell you a ticket. The platform at Melksham Station has recently been extended, and you can now leave or join the trains from any door. Melksham taxis will be happy to collect you from the station if you call them. Amongst those who regularly pick up from the station are Nigel's (07976 165910) and Paul's (07986 517319). Melksham Station and the trains are wheelchair friendly, as are the other TransWilts stations (Swindon, Chippenham, Trowbridge and Westbury). Passenger may take bicycles with them on the train, provided that there is room (there's a maximum number per train). They may also take up to 2 dogs, or other small domestic animals in a basket. Dogs are not allowed on seats, and just like us humans may be ordered off the train if they make a nuisance of themselves or are regarded as a danger. There are no public toilets at Melksham Station, but there are toilets on all trains. The trains are in the process of having wheelchair accessible toilets fitted the program is well under way, but a few trains are still to be done. Melksham Public Transport Summer / Autumn 2018 Page 11 of 16
International travel by Public Transport - getting to your gateway Southampton Airport can be reached by train from Melksham Station take a train shown in this leaflet to Southampton Central, from where several trains an hour connect to the airport (a 10 minute journey). Southampton Airport checkin is just across from the station. Bristol Airport is best reached by bus to Bath Bus station, connecting there into the A4 airport bus which runs from early in the morning to late at night A direct National Express Coach leaves Melksham (Spa Road just up from the Market Place) for Heathrow Airport at 07:35 (Monday to Friday) and 07:55 (Saturday and Sunday) arriving there at around 10:15. The return journey leaves Heathrow at 19:20. Heathrow may also be reached by train and Air link coach - take the train to Swindon, connect into a London train to Reading, from where you catch the coach. Alternative all-rail journeys are available changing at Swindon, Reading, and Hayes & Harlington or - a more expensive route - changing at Swindon and London (Paddington). For Gatwick Airport, take the train to Swindon, change onto a London train and change again at Reading for a direct service into Gatwick Airport. A Flyaway ticket - return fare 110.00 is available from Melksham to Gatwick, for up to four adults (i.e. 27.50 each). 1.00 for children aged 5 to 15. For Eurostar, take the train to Swindon, and change there for London (Paddington) and the Circle or Hammersmith and City lines, or the 205 bus, to St Pancras (London International). A special fare - "London CIV" return from Melksham 78.30 - is available for international travellers. If you are likely to be travelling at peak times, this offers a good saving over a standard ticket to London. If you are taking a cruise from Southampton, take the train shown on page 9 of this leaflet. Taxis are available at Southampton Central station to your cruise terminal - only a short ride, but worth using a taxi unless you have little luggage and know your way. If you are travelling to Ireland, take the train to Holyhead and then the ferry to Dublin. The fare from Melksham to Dublin is between 44 and 50. For a little more you can book through to a destination in Ireland - for example 57 to Tipperary. Melksham Public Transport Summer / Autumn 2018 Page 12 of 16
Day out idea by bus. Take the D3 to Bath Bus Station and then the No. 1 to Claude Avenue. Walk along the old railway track, though Devonshire and Combe Down tunnels and over Tucking Mill Viaduct to Midford. Allow about 90 minutes for the walk. Refresh yourself at the Hope and Anchor before catching the D2 bus back into Bath and then the D3 home. All on the Bath Outer Zone fare of 6.50, or 13.50 for a party of up to 5. Day out ideas by Train Day trip to Salisbury or Southampton. Catch the train at 09:18 (08:54 until 5th August) Monday to Friday or 09:02 Saturday. You'll be in Salisbury by 10:30 or Southampton just after 11:00. Day return fare to Salisbury - 13.50 or 23.50 to Southampton, with 34% off for groups of 3 or more adults or with railcards. Why not visit the Steam! Museum in Swindon? 12.40 including your off peak train travel and admission, 10.60 for seniors. We suggest the 10:02 train (09:55 rail replacement bus until 5th August). Make a day of it go shopping and have a meal out. Last train back around 20:00 21:00 on Saturdays. Fancy the seaside? Take a look at Weymouth (good train connections on Sundays from Melksham), Weston-supermare or Portsmouth. And you could take a day out in London there's far more to do that we have space for in this booklet. Fare from 54.50 (super off peak / any time at weekend) or 59.00 to include unlimited underground and buses for the day. A third off with Railcards or with a Groupsave). Melksham Public Transport Summer / Autumn 2018 Page 13 of 16
Who put this leaflet together? Who are TransWilts? The TransWilts Community Rail Partnership is a partnership between the rail industry, local government and the local communities to encourage better use of the railway line between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham, and our parent company the TransWilts CIC promoted public transport and sustainable journeys to, from and within Wiltshire. Individuals, companies and government bodies are welcome to join and to sponsor our activities, which have helped turn the TransWilts line into the fastest growing in England in recent years. With many more train and bus users in Melksham, train and bus services have been improved this leaflet includes current timetables from our members, and (to the right of this panel) a complete list of public transport services in Melksham that run at least 5 times a week. If you would like to join TransWilts, you would be very welcome if you're an individual, a local council, a group, and especially if you're a provider of transport to from or within Wiltshire. https://transwilts.org. This leaflet also sponsored by: Melksham Public Transport Summer / Autumn 2018 Page 14 of 16
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Web sites and phone numbers for operators (in alphabetic order) AD Rains www.adrainscoaches.com 01666 510874 Faresaver www.faresaver.co.uk 01249 444444 First Bus www.firstgroup.com/bristol-bath-and-west 0117 244 4040 Frome Bus www.fromebus.co.uk 01373 471474 Great Western Railway www.gwr.com 0345 700 0125 National Express coach.nationalexpress.com 0371 781 8181 Go as you please tickets: Wiltshire Day Rover A great day out by bus. Buy a Wiltshire Day Rover and travel right through! Wiltshire Day Rover tickets allow you unlimited travel on the buses of the participating companies. Board your first bus and pay the driver, who will give you a Wiltshire Day Rover ticket. 8.50 Freedom of Severn and Solent. Unlimited off-peak rail travel for any 3 days in a consecutive 7 days or any 8 days in a 15 day period. Board your first train at Melksham, and buy from the Train Manager. 61.10 for 3 days in 7 or 81.80 for 8 days in 15. Rail card discounts apply. Ideal for a Staycation! TransWilts Community Rail Partnership Dryfields House, Bristol Road, Chippenham SN14 6LG and 48, Spa Road, Melksham, SN12 7NY President Peter Blackburn Membership Secretary Bob Morrison Chair Paul Johnson Community Rail Officer Graham Ellis (chair@transwilts.org) (grahamellis@transwilts.org) 0845 459 0153 or 01225 708225 http://transwilts.org Melksham Public Transport Summer / Autumn 2018 Page 16 of 16