Yesterday (08/06/2007) I decided to travel from Portsmouth to the Melksham Rail Development Group AGM^▸ (Annual General Meeting) (click on http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2476.msg5535#msg5535) by bus , using a ^6 First Hampshire & Dorset Explorer ticket.

My intinery was as follows :

0947 First 5 Cosham Health Centre - Fareham Bus Station arrive 1018.

1035 First 78 Fareham Bus Station - Southampton West Quay arrive 1130.

1152 Wilts & Dorset X7 Southampton West Quay - Salisbury Bus Station arrive 1254.

1400 Wilts & Dorset X4 Salisbury Bus Station - Trowbridge Town Hall arrive 1525.

1741 First 234 Trowbridge Town Hall - Melksham Railway Station Approach (thanks driver....) arrive 1804.

I am leaving today by train as follows (^10.50 "Firstminute" fare) :

1545 First Great Western Melksham - Westbury arrive 1602.

1659 First Great Western Westbury - Cosham arrive 1832.

Two points of note :

1) The 1545 Melksham departure is the FIRST SOUTHBOUND TRAIN OF THE DAY.

2) The 1602 Westbury arrival misses the 1559 Westbury - Cosham departure by 3 MINUTES (thanks FGW^▸ (First Great Western)....)

 

On the contrary , I would like to point out that I had a relatively hassle - free day out on the buses , followed by a day of utter connection timing shambles , rounded off by me travelling home on a Cardiff - Portsmouth train that was formed of a class 150 unit YET AGAIN.....