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Public Transport from (and to) Melksham on Sundays

Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2009-08-23 16:44:52 - Graham Ellis

I walked into the Town Centre in Melksham at around 9 O'clock this morning - a bright sunny morning and it was (as you would expect) quietish, but it certainly wasn't deadly quiet. A young gentlemen approach me, asking me for directions to the train station.

If someone asks me for directions, I'll help them if I can - answer their questions, and give them helpful extra tips. But I didn't tell this chap how to get to Melksham Station. Why? Because it wouldn't have sent him to a perfectly adequate platform ... at which no trains were due to call for the next 8 hours, and from where there's no alternative public transport (bus) service either.

"Well - I can give you directions, but there aren't any trains until early evening on a Sunday. [I don't know why I added "on a Sunday" - it would have been an even worse story on Monday to Friday!]. Where are you going?" And he unfolded a sheet of A4 paper, showing that he had to catch First Great Western's bus from Chippenham Station at 09:40.

A further issue - there are 2 buses an hour on Monday to Friday on the Trowbridge - Melksham - Chippenham run. There is one an hour on Saturday. And there are zero per hour on Sunday. Hmmm - talk about being disconnected. "If you're going out for the night, leave your car at home and take a taxi or public transport". "Why not be green and use public transport?" I'll tell you why not on a Sunday morning - because there isn't any!

We got him sorted in the end ... he wouldn't be in Chippenham for that 09:40, but he would be on the next bus out, to Bath at ten to eleven. Here's a complete departure board for Melksham for Sundays

07:45 - to London (Heathrow) and London (Victoria) (From Frome)
10:50 - to Bath (from Devizes)
11:13 - to Devizes and Easterton (From Bath)
12:50 - to Bath (from Easterton and Devizes)
13:13 - to Devizes and Easterton (From Bath)
14:50 - to Bath (from Easterton and Devizes)
15:13 - to Devizes and Easterton (From Bath)
16:50 - to Bath (from Easterton and Devizes)
17:13 - to Devizes and Easterton (From Bath)
17:21 - train to Chippenham and Swindon (from Westbury)
18:31 - train to Westbury (from Swindon and Chippenham)
18:50 - to Bath (from Easterton and Devizes)
19:13 - to Devizes and Easterton (From Bath)
19:52 - train to Chippenham and Swindon (from Westbury)
20:13 - to Devizes and Easterton (From Bath)
20:50 - to Bath (from Easterton and Devizes)
21:05 - to Frome (from London Victoria and Heathrow)
21:50 - to Bath (from Easterton and Devizes)

You might say "I know that's not many services ... but is is Sunday. Yes, it is Sunday. And Sunday afternoon is now the busiest time of the week for long distance travel.