Chippenham train services hit the headlines : what do you think about it?

Plans for improved rail services through Chippenham train station have been debated heavily in the news recently with both the high speed rail link and the Trans Wilts railway hitting the headlines.

 

This week Cabinet Minister Cheryl Gillan said she was “optimistic” the £1.1 billion electrification of the Great Western Main Line will get the green light.

 

The plans, which were originally introduced by the Labour government in 2009, involved electrification of the line from London Paddington to Bristol via Swindon, Chippenham and Bath, right into Wales, ending at Swansea.

 

But Chancellor George Osborne pulled the plug in his spending review last autumn and new proposals would see the electrification ending at Didcot Parkway, which would not benefit the West or Wales.

 

However, Mrs Gillan, said electrifying the 178-mile line was "crucial" to boosting the economy of Wales and she is “optimistic about a good outcome" for the £1.1 billion project.

 

In other rail news affecting Chippenham, the campaign for an improved Trans Wilts service is hotting up.

 

Trans Wilts Rail is a pressure group pushing for a more frequent service between Swindon and Salisbury, which would stop at Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge and Westbury.

 

At the moment if you wanted to get to Salisbury from Chippenham you have the choice of a twice daily train, which often takes over two hours and involves a couple of stops, usually via Bath.

 

But now an online survey has been launched to gauge the opinion of the public and businesses to the proposals and the group hopes to get the line reinstated by next year.

 

Wessex Chambers of Commerce, TransWilts Community Rail and Wiltshire Council are sponsoring the TransWilts Rail proposal, which would also involve re-opening Wootton Bassett train station.

 

What do you think about the above plans? Are we well served by trains in Chippenham? Could the service be better/more frequent? If you’ve ever driven to Salisbury from Chippenham you’ll know it’s not a straightforward or fast route. A train might open up commuting possibilities?

 

I’d love to hear what you have to say on this.