Wiltshire Times - Save our Train

Which of these inconsistent statements concerning the Waterloo service are the people of west Wiltshire to believe?

"If the new operator of the Wales & Borders franchise believed that there was a commercial case for running the services we would of course discuss it with them." The SRA

"It is up to the SRA to determine the franchise shape, and it has decided to withdraw the service from the main timetable and consider alternatives. Our hands are tied and if the service isn't in the franchise we cannot take it on." Arriva Trains

Come on chaps. Stop weaseling and start thinking together about how you can give passengers what they need.

P Sutton,

Town Councillor,

Bradford on Avon Town Council.

IT is good to see our MP Dr Murrison, and Cllr Philip Sutton, fighting to retain the Warminster, Trowbridge and Bradford on Avon stopping train service between London and Wales. The new franchisee feels obliged to cease this service because it is not included in its specification by the Strategic Rail Authority.

What has this got to do with strategy? Irrespective of whether the train stops or not, it uses the same personnel, rolling stock, rails and fixed equipment. It is absurd that the franchisee cannot decide such a simple matter. The SRA heads an administrative, not a geographical, region. Does it suffer from regionnaire's disease, in which decisions are taken further and further from the local point of interest? We don't like being treated like pawns on a chessboard played by 'The Great IT'.

The people of West Wiltshire should keep on the offensive. No war was ever won by sitting in a fort.

C COPLAND-GRIFFITHS,

Trowbridge.

VERY many people will be angered and saddened by your report that the rail service from west Wiltshire to Waterloo is to be discontinued.

The response to your admirable campaign has proved its usefulness and popularity beyond any shadow of doubt.

The fact that I was recently unable to obtain a ticket five days ahead of travel as the train was already fully booked, further confirms this. The present service clearly provides a vital link for those rural communities on its route, and the fact that the Strategic Rail Authority chooses to ignore this is almost beyond belief.

Your earlier report showed the relevant officials of the SRA seemed to be unaware of the geography of the region and their proposals to have just one stop at Salisbury will result merely in one more Bristol-London commuter service.

It is probably too much to hope that the SRA might have a change of heart or, if not, at least put forward some clear and compelling reasons for such a retrograde step, but I fear that this sorry affair may well turn out to be yet another example of expediency for the provider overriding the needs and wishes of the consumer.

DR A CROSSLAND,

Bradford on Avon.

I WAS distressed to read about the possible axing of the Waterloo train. One of the reasons we are moving to Warminster is because of the easy access to Waterloo. The Waterloo train is a popular route to London and nearly always full.

I would urge support for this line to remain. I for one would be extremely annoyed if this line was axed having based our house purchase and move on it.

MRS B LEMETTI

Scotland.

I AM writing to register my concern over the proposed axing of the Alpha Line train service. I use it regularly on London visits, also the excellent service it provides from Warminster to Shrewsbury.

J SIMS

Warminster.

MY attention has been drawn to a short article in your issue of July 3 in which it is stated that the Strategic Rail Authority might, after May 2004, close down the train that runs from Bradford on Avon and other places to London, Waterloo.

I cannot think of any intelligent reason for axing this beneficial amenity, for us who live in Wiltshire and further west, than mere administrative convenience. It must be irritating to the station controllers at Waterloo to accommodate our little 'two-sausage' train among all the 'string of sausage' trains that have to be brought into the terminus and out again. I understand there is difficulty in finding sidings for such long lines of rolling stock when not in use; but that seems to be no excuse for banning our little train; the sort of train that in the days of steam would have been drawn by a Thomas the Tank Engine! Shame!

Maybe the Eurostar, after May 2004, will no longer go to Waterloo; but that will release two or more extra platforms for use by all the trains, including our little one, to visit.

With modern computers to help speed up the planning there should be no justifiable excuse for depriving us of this relatively cheap and useful facility.

I hope the campaign to retain our train is a success.

WMD HOLT,

Bradford on Avon.