Members of Melksham's Railway Development Group were instrumental in pressing for a return of train services to Melksham (current population around 24,000) in the 1970s and 1980 - culminating in a return of the train in 1985, and growth to 3,000 ticket sales per annum in 2001 rising to no fewer that 27,400 sales 5 years later.
A catastrophic timetable slashing in December 2006 has resulted in what we will make a temporary setback. At present, no trains call at the station between 07:17 in the morning and 19:08 at night. The majority of travellers have to make longer journeys by car, or by bus, at present. Some have given up their jobs completely
MRDG is working in co-operation with the
Save the Train campaign for
the return of an appropriate service linking the five largest
population centres in Wiltshire (Swindon, Salisbury, Trowbridge,
Chippenham and Melksham) also has a representative on
the West Wiltshire Rail Users Group.