TransWilts Trains - running a successful campaign talk
Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2013-10-05 05:59:29 - Graham Ellis
I have been asked to talk for a few minutes at TravelWatch SouthWest later today...
The TransWilts line from Swindon to Westbury, via Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge, and on to Salisbury via Dilton Marsh and Warminster is a line on which the only two trains operating each day run in "marginal time" - before dawn and after dark, times when the train can be loaned to us off of another line because it's not a time when people want to travel there. But alas a round trip from Swindon at 06:12 and the second back there at 20:21 (from a different ultimate destination) is pretty unmarketable, and you're left with a line that's not working properly for any passengers.
I personally got involved with the Melksham Development Railway Group (looking at the town of Melksham, served only by trains on this line, yet the 4th largest urban conurbation in Wiltshire) and the "Save the Train" Campaign some 7 years ago. Objectives of Save the Train:
1. Make people aware that the service level is probably not optimal
2. Get the case for any change looked at
3. (Re)gain services at or close to that optimal level
4. Retain services at an optimal level
I have been asked to talk to "A winning campaign" ... how are we doing?
1. People are very much more aware, and those who are movers and shakers are most certainly aware. Yet there are still people who say to me "I didn't know there were direct trains from Trowbridge to Swindon" or "Does Melksham have a station"?
2. We have studied the case. And others have studied the case. From all angles. Business Case, Operational Case, Route utilisation Strategy, Political Case, Public Survey, Business Survey, Trial service. And we continue to study...
"In August 2012 Wiltshire Council commissioned Robert McClean, a transport planning consultant, to undertake a study to identify potential rail demand within Wiltshire.“It would also strongly support the case for three potential new stations to open, each of which shows high passenger demand.†The new Trans Wilts is predicted to add six new direct connections around Wiltshire and 1,240 service improvements. “Current proposals for the Trans Wilts service would add one additional train every two hours in each direction with the aspiration to increase the frequency to an hourly service,†said Mr McClean.
3. It's a long way from theory to practical application. We still have just 2 trains a day (and so I'm premature in talking about a successful campaign), however the National Rail timetable from 8th December shows 8 rather than 2 departures for Westbury and some beyond each weekday. The train has been identified. Staff being trained. Financial support for ramp up period in place. Tickets on sale. Marketing plan in place, with associated linkages, needs and effects included and a feedback loop to tell us how we're doing. A signoff or two remain.
4. The business case is a sound one. But the service won't work on that case alone. When and if the 10:32 pulls out of Westbury for Swindon on 8th December 2013, we're into very different game to campaigning for an improved service, and a very different degree of operation and support than Santa specials, summer Sunday trips, or even seasonal heritage operations. We're looking at 5,500 individual services per year. And that's why "Save the train" - a campaigning group for an appropriate service - retires and the "TransWilts Community Rail Partnership", an organisation to champion and support the service, including the same dedicated team of people and member organisations with their energies and knowledge, directed towards positive and sustainable activities, takes over.
I have been asked to talk to "A winning campaign" ... here are some keys as to why the TransWilts has come so far forward.
a) We set down a clear set of strategic aims; keep measuring against them and din't allow them to be diluted by campaign creep.
b) We have chosen a practical, workable, modest, easy-to-support set of goals. And be well backed up technically.
c) We have a large number - a huge number - of supporters and we make best use of their skill and enthusiasm, from the former MDs of large companies (at least one of who is here today) through to our curfewed friend who's afraid the police will arrest him if the train is late back from Weymouth
d) Railway administrators and civil servants and ministers and MPs know what they're on about, they know the system and in almost every case they actually want to help make things better. We can help them help us - respect and celebrate their skills, remember our manners, control requests for information, only ask for practical solutions, support them in difficult but understandable situations.
e) When I personally first got involved as a newcomer, I was welcomed by those involved already. My "Press and Publicity" role means that I've become the visible one at times, but in the audience today we have the chair of the Melksham Railway Development Group, and the chair of the TransWilts Community Rail partnership, both of whom have been inspirational and remain so. And I have a list of two dozen more names to honour should there be an opportunity at a launch.
f) And in turn I welcome many, many others, even those who may appear to coming in as steamrollers at present. We can make real use of those people, help them be effective, save them some of the mistakes we made - and if they end up getting some of the credit, that's lovely - there'll be plenty of credit to go around if we all make a success of this.
I was asked to talk to "A winning campaign" ... yet so much more we're looking forward to running a winning co-operative venture.
Keeping on target. There are Melkshamcentric flyers (from a 12,000 circulation through every door in Melksham printed by FGW at no cost to the TwCRP and distribution financed by the Melksham Railway Development Group) at the back of the room, and there's a new draft "What is our Community Rail Partnership" leaflet too. Please take these; please visit us (that should be practical in just 9 weeks time) and encourage others to support us and to use the TransWilts section of the national rail network.