Greeting (re-Hi) from Wiltshire, where the trains need your support ;-)

Hi, everyone ...

I had better to a "re-intro" as I see a lot of new names - I used to be a regular here; British, old enough to have memories that go back before many of you were born (and trying not to bore people with those memories), and married for (goodness!) 10 years this July to Lisa, who moved here from the USA and introduced me to uk-y.  I live in Wiltshire, about 100 miles west of London, and Lisa and I have attended a number of group meetings and even held one at our place.

What's been happening to us?  Well - when Lisa moved over here, I was giving training classes on computer technologies.  Since then ... things have moved on, and we now find ourselves writing an running our own courses in languages like PHP and because our customers come quite a distance to see us, we now run a hotel too which is open to anyone - not just our students. Lisa's now very much a part of the local community here ... really feels at home, has a British passport, but as with many people it took a while for her to feel really settled. And, yes, we catch up with American (and other) friends from all over the world.

Those of you who knew me "way back" may recall a certain interest in transport and travel (yep, that's why I'm posting on this particular board!) and indeed I have been helping with a campaign to get the train service across our local county put back up from 2 to 6 a day.  Cutting a long story (which you can read here and here) short, I understand that if we can show sufficient support for it, we have a good chance of getting that service restored.

So - can I ask anyone who's been to see us, or who's in this part of the country, or uses the train, or feels it's a good idea to sign up.  It's here:
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/pledge.html

Many thanks!

Graham
(graham@wellho.net)

Hi Graham. Don't want to hijack your thread, but just wanted to say welcome back. Please pass a hello along to Lisa too. Glad to read you two are doing well. 

Hi Graham. Don't want to hijack your thread, but just wanted to say welcome back. Please pass a hello along to Lisa too.

Will pass on the "hello" ... and do feel free to hijack the thread ... after all, it "bumps" it, doesn't it?  ... and I do miss not being around as I used to.  Still travelling, of course - Norwich on Monday, London on Wednesday, home again next weekend!

Hello Graham, nice to hear from you! Glad things are going well for you and Lisa. Will definitely check out that link.

Hi Graham!  It's great to see you!  Please send my hellos to Lisa as well.

I've signed up!  I hope all your efforts help. XXX

Hi Graham! Please send my regards to Lisa!
I'll read your links now 

hi graham,

we're big transport geeks over in our house (well, okay, my fiance is the train geek in the house but he loves it) so we'll certainly try and do something for the campaign.

Thanks folks ... good to see some old names and new.  Next Friday ... big meeting with the local transport authority and train operator after which I'll be either elated or depressed ... nearly 300 have now signed to support, and it's good to see that the passenger's voice is being noticed.

Thanks folks ... good to see some old names and new.  Next Friday ... big meeting with the local transport authority and train operator after which I'll be either elated or depressed ... nearly 300 have now signed to support, and it's good to see that the passenger's voice is being noticed.

How did it go?!

How did it go?!

Can I claim the record for the longest-delayed reply EVER? I will turn "notify of updates" on after this.  We got over 500 signatures.  Then the price quoted by the train company rose 3-fold and the county council got cold feet about helping with a subsidy ...

We're trying again this year (rail timetables change annually!).  And I have a meeting lined up this Friday with some very senior people indeed ... so I should be able to follow very much quicker this time.   We've also renewed the request for people to support us ... and we've already exceeded the support from last year.

Oh - I suppose I should quote the new URL ...
http://www.transwilts.or.uk/pledge.html

Graham

We've won! No - I'm not having a dream about England in the World Cup ... but rather catching up with old friends I have neglected for many moons.

Perseverance has paid off, and our local train service has gone up this year from 2 each way a day to 8 ... and the team of us who have been involved have been given the task of getting a 500% traffic increase in three years (that's right - from 54 passengers per day in 2013 to 320 passengers per day in 2016!).   Lisa helps with graphic design, other friends help with leaflet distribution, offer advise, count passengers on trains, run our own forum ... someone told me that retaining a decent service would be much harder work than regaining one, and I believe him!

Old friends ... new friends ... we now run a hotel too, and we would love to see you this summer.  Come by train to MELKSHAM - that's about 100 miles west of London - and we'll pick you up at the station.   Stay at http://www.wellhousemanor.co.uk [Well House Manor] and we'll tell you about all the great places around - the bus to Bath leaves right outside through the day, and there's plenty else to see.

On 5th July, we're hosting the Melksham Heritage Discovery Fair - https://www.facebook.com/thewellhousecollection - from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - make a long weekend of your visit to Wiltshire to celebrate Independence Day.  On 12th July, it's Melksham Carnival and we're looking for anyone who wants to walk with us through the town handing out leaflets ... that's from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  in association with the Melksham Music Festival.

For newcomers to the UK who fancy seeing real England away from the big cities - what life's really like in a market town in the shires - what an excellent chance!

P.S. - Should give you the rail site URL - http://www.twcrp.org.uk