Great Western Coffee Shop

just before 06:00m on Monday morning

stated that leisure travel was up 10 percent on pre-covid numbers
although rail cards numbers issued were up and
commuter travel was still slugish

Robert was urging us to think rail first instead of car first,
and that the leisure traveller/s spent approx £107:00p per trip

This seems part of a nathional campaign as ITV news is reporting LIVE from Manchester Piccadily train station
with rail delivery group employee Seb Gordon

If leisure travel is up and commuting travel is down, there should be a plan to move rolling stock from Network South East as was to Regional Railways as was. Maybe take the trailer carriages out of the 455s and add them to the 150s.

It may only last a few months - to Christmas? - have to ensure its a permanent drop across the week. May find a near-normal peak midweek too going forward. Best not to be too hasty

If there is a desire to attract more leisure passengers one thing that would be required is to improve Sunday services in a number of respects, not least how early they start. The timetable as it stands today has been a step or two in the wrong direction almost back to the 1960s in some areas.

The recent dicument listed in another thread about updating railway practices definitely points to a 7day working shift pattern for staff….so here’s hoping