Usage On New Devon & Cornwall Services

[whole diary]

[RichardB]

I haven't seen or heard of any advertising for the Newly improved Newquay service, and it's the public that don't use the trains that need to hear about it.

I just hope the powers that be give the Newquay Line  a couple of years to build up passenger numbers, whilst Timetable changes can kill passenger numbers OVERNIGHT it takes time, lot's of it!! for passenger numbers to build.

There was a press launch before the timetable started, it was on TV radio and in the local rags.

What about a door to door timetable delivery in Newquay and district? Chiltern did a advertising drop around South Bucks when FGW^▸ (First Great Western) TV services were so poor. I think I may have put it on Coffee Shop.

I agree entirely with smokey's comments about timetable changes killing passenger number overnight.

Perhaps his comment should be tattooed on the back of the wrist of every DafT employee including ministers.

The door to door delivery should either have happened or be happening very soon (similarly in the Par & St Blazey area).   We placed full page adverts in the Newquay Voice and Newquay Guardian the week before the timetable change with smaller ads the week before that and after too.  We'll be doing more ads during the Spring too.

Certainly agree with Smokey that it takes time for passenger numbers to build.  This is particularly going to be so on the Newquay line as the change is such a big one and there has not been a good year-round timetable on the line for many years.

Richard Burningham
Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership

[bemmy]

I, personally, think that most trains should be extended to Penzance.

But obviously, that would require 2 units.

And during holiday periods, half hourly is needed in the evening!

Sounds like a good idea as the connections quite frankly are a joke! Is there not still a section of single line though between St Erth and Penzance which could make this sensible idea a non starter?

It's a short section the last mile or so between Long Rock and Penzance, so shouldn't in itself pose too much of a problem.

However First are already operating a bus service between the towns which is probably more profitable than hiring the extra unit and crew that would be needed for a half hourly train service. So the bad connections at St Erth may not be entirely accidental.

[Lee]

I haven't seen or heard of any advertising for the Newly improved Newquay service, and it's the public that don't use the trains that need to hear about it.

I just hope the powers that be give the Newquay Line  a couple of years to build up passenger numbers, whilst Timetable changes can kill passenger numbers OVERNIGHT it takes time, lot's of it!! for passenger numbers to build.

There was a press launch before the timetable started, it was on TV radio and in the local rags.

What about a door to door timetable delivery in Newquay and district? Chiltern did a advertising drop around South Bucks when FGW^▸ (First Great Western) TV services were so poor. I think I may have put it on Coffee Shop.

I agree entirely with smokey's comments about timetable changes killing passenger number overnight.

Perhaps his comment should be tattooed on the back of the wrist of every DafT employee including ministers.

The door to door delivery should either have happened or be happening very soon (similarly in the Par & St Blazey area).   We placed full page adverts in the Newquay Voice and Newquay Guardian the week before the timetable change with smaller ads the week before that and after too.  We'll be doing more ads during the Spring too.

Certainly agree with Smokey that it takes time for passenger numbers to build.  This is particularly going to be so on the Newquay line as the change is such a big one and there has not been a good year-round timetable on the line for many years.

Richard Burningham
Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership

Thanks for that RichardB. From your Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership perspective, what are your initial observations of usage on the lines within your remit since the December timetable change?

[RichardB]

It's too early to say, Lee.

We do passenger counts on all the branch lines we work on in early February.  That will give us a lot more info.

The figures I have seen so far for the branches in 2008 have been very good.  You might almost think we hadn't had two terrible Summers on the trot....

Best wishes,

Richard

[vacman]

It's too early to say, Lee.

We do passenger counts on all the branch lines we work on in early February.  That will give us a lot more info.

The figures I have seen so far for the branches in 2008 have been very good.  You might almost think we hadn't had two terrible Summers on the trot....

Best wishes,

Richard

Falmouth seems particularly busy these days! particularly in peak!

[grahame]

I just hope the powers that be give the Newquay Line  a couple of years to build up passenger numbers, whilst Timetable changes can kill passenger numbers OVERNIGHT it takes time, lot's of it!! for passenger numbers to build.

Story from elsewhere in the area that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) now serve:

2000 - Passenger numbers growing on a very limited service

May 2001 - timetable recast, with a service more than doubled

Passengers *per service* drop due to recast

Easter 2002 - passenger surveys of numbers on trains reveal low numbers

Passenger numbers grow, summer 2003

Passenger numbers grow, summer 2004

Summer 2004 - consultant study bases 2007 to 2016 service on 2002 survey

Passenger numbers grow, summer 2005

December 2005 - new franchise awarded

April 2006 - new operator takes over

Passenger numbers grow, summer 2006

New Operator slashes services, December 2006

Something of a tragedy - a service that had been bustling in November 2006 had become a near-parliamentary ghost train in January 2007. People had to switch to road.  People had given up their jobs. People were shockingly inconvenienced.

Mistake made by local people along this line?  To assume that it - because it was growing rapidly and getting better used every year from 2001/2 - that it was safe in the hands of the professionals.

The people of Newquay should take great care to bang the drum for their service  and to publicise it and protect it; just because it's newly improved doesn't mean that the bean counters will give it a realistic amount of time before they look to another change ...

[vacman]

I don't think Newquay will have any problems now as it has a dedicated unit that was freed up without any extra cost.

[chrisoates]

I, personally, think that most trains should be extended to Penzance.

But obviously, that would require 2 units.

And during holiday periods, half hourly is needed in the evening!

Sounds like a good idea as the connections quite frankly are a joke! Is there not still a section of single line though between St Erth and Penzance which could make this sensible idea a non starter?

It's a short section the last mile or so between Long Rock and Penzance, so shouldn't in itself pose too much of a problem.

However First are already operating a bus service between the towns which is probably more profitable than hiring the extra unit and crew that would be needed for a half hourly train service. So the bad connections at St Erth may not be entirely accidental.

I assumed that the track was single to accommodate the carriage washer and that it used to be dual, on having a look there is only one track west from what was Marazion station up past the Mexico in at Long Rock and some houses would have to come down to dual it.....wonder why they did that ?

[chrisoates]

I see St Ives branch users up to 430,000 up 30 %.
I'd put money on the whole of St Ives not knowing they can have a day out in Plymouth for ^6.25 or Exeter for ^11 (with railcard)

(most branch users are holidaymakers)

Costs only  slightly less to get to Penzance by bus (10 miles).

Trains with Plusbus or Ride Cornwall tickets are a fantastic way to explore Cornwall...a little extra with a Torbay Plusbus  gets you to Paignton zoo, Living coasts, Kents cavern, Kingswear for Dartmouth, Brixham.
The Dartmouth visit is great as you can have a sea cruise and return by boat up to Totnes to return to Cornwall.

I work a six day week and really look forward to a day off....nothing better than a wander around Exmouth, a sea cruise, walk around Dawlish Warren, stroll down to Dawlish town.....couldn't really do this without trains - long may they continue to run.
       

[Andy]

I, personally, think that most trains should be extended to Penzance.

But obviously, that would require 2 units.

And during holiday periods, half hourly is needed in the evening!

Sounds like a good idea as the connections quite frankly are a joke! Is there not still a section of single line though between St Erth and Penzance which could make this sensible idea a non starter?

It's a short section the last mile or so between Long Rock and Penzance, so shouldn't in itself pose too much of a problem.

However First are already operating a bus service between the towns which is probably more profitable than hiring the extra unit and crew that would be needed for a half hourly train service. So the bad connections at St Erth may not be entirely accidental.

I assumed that the track was single to accommodate the carriage washer and that it used to be dual, on having a look there is only one track west from what was Marazion station up past the Mexico in at Long Rock and some houses would have to come down to dual it.....wonder why they did that ?

The stretch from just west of the former Marazion station into Penzance was double track until 1975 and no houses have been built on the formation. The singling was purely an economy measure, as far as I remember. The fact that there were two or three level crossings on that stretch giving access to the beach may also have had something to do with it. The washer does impinge on the former "up" line formation, I think.

[devon_metro]

.a little extra with a Torbay Plusbus  gets you to Paignton zoo,

Well worth a visit 

[smokey]

[/quote]

I assumed that the track was single to accommodate the carriage washer and that it used to be dual, on having a look there is only one track west from what was Marazion station up past the Mexico in at Long Rock and some houses would have to come down to dual it.....wonder why they did that ?
[/quote]

The Main Line from Paddington to Penzance USED to be Double through-out except for 1 short piece that was always single.

[marky7890]

The Main Line from Paddington to Penzance USED to be Double through-out except for 1 short piece that was always single.

Would that be where the Royal Albert Bridge is?

Mark

[smokey]

The Main Line from Paddington to Penzance USED to be Double through-out except for 1 short piece that was always single.

Would that be where the Royal Albert Bridge is?

Mark

It would

[chrisoates]

The Main Line from Paddington to Penzance USED to be Double through-out except for 1 short piece that was always single.

Would that be where the Royal Albert Bridge is?

Mark

That's another point - anyone know the life expectancy of the bridge ?