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While I lament the loss of several DAB radio stations, including Oneword, I was tickled to find that instead you can listen to birdsong - literally. Twist your DAB radio knob until you find the station, also called Birdsong.

Birdsong was broadcasted when Oneword went off air. It was originally used for the test transmission of Classic FM before its launch in 1992. It was then used three years ago for the station “D1_temp” and was popular with listeners who sent into complaints when it was taken off air in June 2005.

Since April 2008, it has broadcast (most effectively) in stereo.

Devoted listeners should note warnings on the UK Digital Radio website:

Listeners and Birdsong enthusiasts should note the transmission could cease at any time and that the recording is not commercially available.

Please note that the line up of birds featured in the cast may change without warning due to illness, weather and migration.

One listener quoted in a Telegraph Online article said:

It is a lot more enjoyable than some of the rubbish on air these days - and definitely better than debate or phone-in shows full of ‘oiks’ shouting at each other.

Read the Telegraph Online article about the surprising popularity of Birdsong.

As for me, it’s like having the outside inside which as I stare lovingly at the garden from one of the kitchen windows and over the urban valley through the other, makes me feel like I am in some weird kind of aural landscape! I recommend it.

It’s been a while since I’ve made this journey on the train, and definitely not since my little survey of train journey times between Salisbury and Chippenham. And incidentally the price has gone up to £17.50 for a Saver Return.

The journey time from Salisbury to Chippenham via Bath Spa (no direct services at all) is approx. 1h13m. BUT, returning on a Sunday (as many people might), it takes over 2 hours! Also changing via Bath Spa bit with a 40 minute wait. Thankfully you can kill 40 mins at Bath during the day but honestly, this is not even viable by my reckoning and at £17.50 return, even less so.

On a weekday journey time back from Chippenham to Salisbury is reduced to 1h22 but we know there is a direct line ready and able from Salisbury to Swindon via Melksham that could do the job is under an hour.

I have finally got the attention of more people from south Wilts to join the continued TransWilts Rail Campaign and you can read more in the latest newsletter of Salisbury Campaign for Better Transport.

I am really very disappointed that I still can’t confidently recommend anyone travel from south to north Wiltshire or vice versa by rail at the moment, unless it is your only mode of travel.

Today I visited a bluebell wood for the first time (Mottisfont, Hampshire). I have always regarded bluebells as flowers of deep fascination and being in the middle of their magic carpet today made me feel like the eternal child of a great old tree. Incredible also to be in the wood within less than an hour from leaving home. A short train ride to the rural station of Mottisfont & Dunbridge and then a 15 minute walk up to the woods, many of which are protected and cared for by the National Trust.

Being in a bluebell wood for the first time transported me to a time which I only remember within the memories of my cells. There is no cognitive memory of it, but humans here, in this part of the world, have surely marvelled at this spring-time show in the same way I did today. There was a sense of that, anyway.

There now seems to be more than a glimmer of hope that from December 2008 we may get something close to an appropriate TransWilts service between Salisbury and Swindon (via Trowbridge, Melksham and Chippenham). It has been very difficult to gauge exactly how much car traffic cross-Wilts travel causes, especially by commuters, parents and shoppers (and therefore a difficult thing to prove that there is a need for an improved service to ’stakeholders’ - funnily enough passengers are not stakeholders in the same way as politicians, rail chiefs and government) but you only have to give the A350 one go to ‘feel’ the strain it is under and the delays it causes to more essential road travel by those providing goods and services to the county.

The Save the Train has begun a ‘pledge’ campaign in order to gather as much support for this as possible so they are able to present the figures and the views of the Wiltshire public (and those travelling through the county) to FGW and our politicians.

So, what are you waiting for? Take the TransWilts Train Service Pledge.

This month, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly gave a salutary warning to First Great Western on their performance and value for money to customers (passengers). The company will have to spend £29 million to, among other things, increase stock, increase compensation to passengers, and a basic requirement of a franchise: to run their trains on time.

Read the Guardian summary

This follows the revelation that FGW had cooked their punctuality and cancellation figures, although FGW said this happened through a mistake, and was not done on purpose.

This could be good.

Do you tut-tut at the degradation of your surroundings? A couple of years back (it seems), English Heritage launched the Save our Streets campaign and urged people to take an interest in their environment and record the state of our streets, lighting and signage. If only this campaign was promoted more widely and the results recorded. Are the streets near you scarred with bad repairs, usually with poor quality tarmac? Are they filthy with stains, chewing gum and rotting cigarette butts? Are they obstructed by wheely bins or badly parked cars? Are the signs broken or graffitied? Are there too many street lights? Too bright? Too dark?

Conduct a street audit near you and send it to your local councillor. They are elected by you and therefore have a responsibility to take note of your concerns. Find out who your local councillor is by searching according to your postcode at www.upmystreet.com.

Recently, I have become very interested in the concept of viral marketing, that is, using the power of word of mouth, human to human, to get messages and ideas across. The Cluetrain Manifesto sets out exactly how and why companies and organisations who like to act like companies, together with their platitudinous management speak and their computerised apologies and promises should take note of this movement. I found the following statement immensely powerful and inspiring:

“We are not seats or eyeballs or end users or consumers. We are human beings - and our reach extends your grasp. Deal with it.”

If you find yourself waiting for your train at a station fortunate enough to have a food outlet, you may be interested in a BiTE discount card which apparently will give you 20% off food and drinks from outlets like Pumkin, Caffè Ritazza, Burger King and Upper Crust among others.

I have just sent off for one, will see what happens.

I have so much backlog to go through for updates on local train issues I thought I would kick-off with a disappointment and share my frustration at both my outward and return journey on Saturday 13th October, travelling from Salisbury to Bristol.

Out. Took the 10.40 to Bristol Temple Meads. Surely a ‘peak’ service considering many travelling rugby fans on route to Bath Spa, many shoppers and long-distance weekend travellers with luggage. We had a two-coach 158. The train did not empty at Salisbury greatly and although we were lucky to find seats many at this stage were filling the corridors and even the guard’s cab! Read the rest of this entry »

In my effort to campaign for better public transport links between south and north Wiltshire I have not as yet looked in great detail at actual services provided by rail, their cost, convenience and duration (bus to come). I feel it is important to express the problems with current service in this way as for too long those in authority (Wiltshire County Council, First Great Western and Department for Transport) have assumed the service cuts are a very localised issue for Melksham and therefore felt more justified in ignoring it. Well it isn’t. With Wiltshire CC winning its bid to become the only local authority in the county and the majority of county services being based in Trowbridge and increasingly Chippenham, it is more important than ever for transport links between south and north to be improved. Read the rest of this entry »