Melksham railway station

The station was opened with the original section of the line by the Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway, between Thingley Junction and Westbury, on 5 September 1848.^[3] British Railways closed the station from 18 April 1966^[4] and soon afterwards the line through the station was singled, the station buildings were demolished and the up platform was removed.^[5] The station reopened to passengers from 13 May 1985,^[6] although the short platform meant that trains longer than one carriage could not open all doors.^[7] In July 2018, the platform was improved and lengthened to cater for trains of up to three carriages.^[8][9]

From summer 2015, a ticket vending machine has been in use on the platform, enabling passengers to either purchase their tickets or collect pre-paid tickets for their journey. An additional 20 free car parking spaces were provided at the same time. There is covered cycle accommodation, CCTV and a passenger shelter.^[10]

As of 2020, there is a 'next train' digital display on the station platform, as well as a more detailed arrivals and departures screen in the adjoining car park. In that year, the local Rail User Group turned a disused building close to the station into a café.^[11]

The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.

Great Western Railway (GWR) operates services approximately every two hours each way between Swindon and Westbury, with additional services at peak times; there are nine departures in total. On Sundays, there are seven services each way. Two weekday southbound services run through to Southampton Central and two northbound services continue to Cheltenham Spa.^{[citation needed]}

Between December 2006 and December 2013, Melksham station was served by two trains each way per day (one train on Sundays) between Swindon and Westbury, operated by Great Western Railway, a reduction from five each way per day before the December 2006 timetable change.^[13]

More information Preceding station, National Rail ...

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Chippenham		Great Western Railway Wessex Main Line		Trowbridge

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With Melksham being served by trains on the Swindon to Westbury route, it comes under the remit of the TransWilts Community Interest Company (CIC) which is accredited by the Department for Transport.^[14] As well as developing the café and other facilities, the group has taken out a lease on land adjacent to the station and laid it out for car parking. Income from charges levied will be ploughed back into further improvements at the station.^{[citation needed]}

Melksham Railway Development Group formed in 1995 to promote Melksham station and train journeys to and from the town.^[15] The group supported Save the Train and the TransWilts CRP over the years but has remained independent, running at least one special event every year. In 2015, the group was renamed the Melksham Rail User Group.^{[citation needed]}

The Save The Train group was launched in 2005, to raise public awareness that services along the TransWilts Line were being reduced.^[16] Prior to the introduction of extra services in late 2013, "Save the Train" members transferred to the community element of the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership.^[17]