The future of Hayle station

[whole diary]

[vacman]

Dont get me wrong, vacman, I do think your point about usage has merit.

Let's look again at the Appleford/Culham example, where the following quotes set a similar tone to that at Hayle:

^We feel frustrated, angry, let down and worried that we might lose all our services.

^We think this is a move by the company to cut services to us altogether in the long term and that really worries us.^

^It^s an outrage. We would be cut off if we lost the station.^

^FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have been awarded the franchise to operate this service, not to change it to an express service or to provide an ever-deteriorating service so passengers are driven away, justifying the next stage in the closedown.

FGW's response was as follows:

^We have no plans to stop running trains from Appleford and Culham stations.

^We^re required to operate a minimum level of service within our contract, which we are currently exceeding.

^The number of people who wrote in to comment about the removal of these stops vastly exceeds those using the services regularly.

^This is a particularly congested part of the network and the timings of trains are very tight. Although the changes will inconvenience a small number of people, we have to balance this against the positive impact it will have on the vast majority of our customers^ journeys.^

When I read that, I honestly thought that FGW were going to ride out the storm.

They didnt though, and Appleford/Culham have been given a second chance, along with what effectively amounts to a "use it or lose it" challenge. It is now imperative that they get people onto their restored services to justify their inclusion in the timetable, as indeed the Hayle folks will have to if they gain/regain services.

You can bet that's what we will bust a gut to do when we get a proper service on the TransWilts.

On the issue of improved journey times/less stops on Cornish services, the concern would be that we could end up heading for the following scenario:

"HST^▸ (High Speed Train)/IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) and XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) services will now only serve St Erth, Camborne, Redruth, Truro, St Austell, Par, Bodmin Parkway and Liskeard between Penzance-Plymouth. Dont worry though, the other stations will continue to be served by the DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) services."

Whilst that might sound reasonable, it would have quite a negative impact on services at stations such as Hayle, Lostwithiel, St Germans and Saltash.

I think FGW have realised that Saltash is now one of the "main" stations, there is one extra service from December, a lot of this is thanks to Richard Bickford's efforts to actually get people onto the trains.

At the end of the day you have to draw the line somewhere with the amount of stops on "Express" trains, and long distance srvices in general, look at the 1406 Pad-Pnz, it stops at 13 stations on the 79 miles between Plymouth and Penzance, but only 7 stations between Pad and Plymouth!

[Tim]

hi vacman maybe if anybody bothered to do tickets from hayle then we might get a true picture of how many people use the station.

only just seen thic post, it is actually the responsibility of the passenger to buy a ticket and have on many accasions seen a few people get on a t Hayle and if not challenged for a ticket happily walk out of the station at Penzance without paying, if people of Hayle are really that concerned then they need to do their bit aswell.

You are right, but IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) Hayle doesn't even have a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine), so I expect the attitute of many passengers (perhaps even the majority of passengers, certainly more than the scrote minority) is that "if they can't be bothered to sell me a ticket on board then why should I pay"  If you leave the train at Penzance without a ticket you should queque up at the window and buy one on your way out of the station.  But I think you have an unrealistic view of human nature if you think that more than a few upright citizens will do that. 

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) does have a responsibility to the payer and fare paying passenges to encourage ticket purchase.  Would checks on exiting Penzance not pay for themselves?

[richard bickford]

Not sure we are classified as 'main' yet, but we want to be. The population of the town and surrounding area has the potential to provide significant passenger growth.

You are right we do gain an extra service in December. The 1755 from Plymouth will call which strengthens the commuter offer. You will note the minimal impact a Saltash stop has on the timetable. I think its a minute later at Liskeard, but even thats gets absorbed by Truro or Redruth.

My main drive at the moment is to get even more on the service we have, and get Network Rail to do something about the up platform gap.

[Chris2]

hi vacman maybe if anybody bothered to do tickets from hayle then we might get a true picture of how many people use the station.

only just seen thic post, it is actually the responsibility of the passenger to buy a ticket and have on many accasions seen a few people get on a t Hayle and if not challenged for a ticket happily walk out of the station at Penzance without paying, if people of Hayle are really that concerned then they need to do their bit aswell.

You are right, but IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) Hayle doesn't even have a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine), so I expect the attitute of many passengers (perhaps even the majority of passengers, certainly more than the scrote minority) is that "if they can't be bothered to sell me a ticket on board then why should I pay"  If you leave the train at Penzance without a ticket you should queque up at the window and buy one on your way out of the station.  But I think you have an unrealistic view of human nature if you think that more than a few upright citizens will do that. 

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) does have a responsibility to the payer and fare paying passenges to encourage ticket purchase.  Would checks on exiting Penzance not pay for themselves?

I was looking through a publication on the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) website, regarding station facilities, available from

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/stations/betterrailstations/pdf/report.pdf

This report was commisioned by Lord Adonis after his week long tour regarding station facilities. in the report under figure 8 there is a list of what is expected at different classes of stations. The report classifies Hayle as a grade F1 station and states that there should be a ticket machine, unless derogartion or paytrain operation. It also classifies Saltash as an F2 station which is a lower classification, and no ticketing facilities to be expected.

[Lee]

They didnt though, and Appleford/Culham have been given a second chance, along with what effectively amounts to a "use it or lose it" challenge. It is now imperative that they get people onto their restored services to justify their inclusion in the timetable, as indeed the Hayle folks will have to if they gain/regain services.

I think that the new timetable is a sensible compromise for Appleford and Culham. The village of Appleford getting a 2-hourly service for its residents, with Culham getting a service aimed at the Science Centre commuters (who I would estimate make up 90-95% of the stations business), but with an additional early afternoon train for anybody working a half-day.

Good to see you posting again, Lee.

Thanks Industry Insider  I'd go along with what you said.

Not sure we are classified as 'main' yet, but we want to be. The population of the town and surrounding area has the potential to provide significant passenger growth.

You are right we do gain an extra service in December. The 1755 from Plymouth will call which strengthens the commuter offer. You will note the minimal impact a Saltash stop has on the timetable. I think its a minute later at Liskeard, but even thats gets absorbed by Truro or Redruth.

My main drive at the moment is to get even more on the service we have, and get Network Rail to do something about the up platform gap.

I'd certainly agree that SRUG^▸ (Saltash Rail Users Group) have done an excellent job promoting the Saltash rail service. Some of their publicity material, for example, is inspiration for what we'd like to do on the TransWilts when we actually get a service worth promoting.

I hope that Saltash (as I believe is the 5th largest town in Cornwall, correct me if I am wrong) is considered more highly than it used to be in the station heirachy. I note, though that the extra stop, while very welcome, is in a DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)-operated service, so Saltash may still not be considered quite ready for full "main station" status.

Good luck with your drive though, Richard. I'm certainly rooting for you 

[Andy]

I think Saltash is #6 or #7, depending on whether you count Camborne-Pool-Redruth as one or two. The others ahead of Saltash are Sanozzle,Trura, Newquay and P'nzance. Helston (population 10k) is the largest Cornish town with no railway connection, though part of the former branch line is currently being resurrected by a dedicated group of preservationists, who are making impressive progress. 
 

[richard bickford]

6th. I count Truro as a City!

We also potentially serve much of the Western and Northern part of Plymouth, especially for westbound travel, but we have some that come here for easy access to HST^▸ (High Speed Train) services to London.

[Lee]

Fair enough. I've found a quote from former town mayor Bob Austin putting you at number 6, so it must be true 

Do you have any figures on how your passenger numbers break down, in terms of those from Saltash and those from elsewhere, such as the Western and Northern part of Plymouth?

[Andy]

6th. I count Truro as a City!

We also potentially serve much of the Western and Northern part of Plymouth, especially for westbound travel, but we have some that come here for easy access to HST^▸ (High Speed Train) services to London.

  fair enough Richard. In any case, Saltash's importance is likely to continue growing with the population in the SE corner of Cornwall and the western fringes of Plymouth. I've occasionally wondered (dreamed?) whether a Tamar area "metro" network encompassing Tavistock/Gunnislake/SE Cornwall <Plymouth North Road> Friary/Plympton/Derriford (via Marsh Mills/the Plym Valley line) would be a feasible long-term aim.

[richard bickford]

No real figures. I do know there are some, because I have met quite a few on the station.

Back to the Hayle thread, do any FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff have a feel if there are many that do travel on the St Ives branch with Hayle - St Ives tickets because they are cheaper? Or is it just myth..

[jester]

Mostly passengers who have walked in one direction and get the train back will be sold a hyl-siv single, or passengers who have bought advance tickets from cross country who seem to charge a premium for adding any branch line fare to their tickets.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I'm quite deliberately resurrecting this rather old topic here, with some welcome news - from the Falmouth Packet:

^811,000 scheme to improve access and safety at Hayle station

A joint scheme of around ^811k aimed at improving the access to Hayle station has been unveiled by Network Rail, First Great Western, Cornwall Council and Sustrans.

It aims to provide of a safer alternative north-south link for both passengers and the public travelling through Hayle station via the existing underpass and footbridge.

The new link will also replace an existing footpath crossing ^ Hayle level crossing - which will eventually be closed when the new scheme completes.

As part of the improvement, the disused Harbour Branch railway line will be turned into a footpath and cycleway, new access to the south west of the station car park will be created.

New access with a ramp to the rear of platform 2 to link the underpass to platform will also be built, with plans to provide bike hoops to the rear of platform two, resurface the footbridge to the north east of the station and improve the lighting.

Councillor Bert Biscoe, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for transport and waste, said: ^It is good to yet again see the partnership between Cornwall Council and Network Rail in action. Let us hope that this small step for safety will lead to a giant leap in usage of the railway station and will improve connectivity within Hayle for its residents and visitors.^

Councillor John Pollard, Cornwall Council leader and local member for Hayle North, said: ^This is an excellent scheme creating a safer and much needed access to the station from the North. The additional works to the old railway cutting will also enhance the area and establish a pedestrian route to Platform 2. I would like to thank Network Rail and particularly Philip Boorman of Cornwall Council who has negotiated, developed and championed this scheme and brought it to fruition.^

Network Rail says that over the past four years, there have been five near-misses reported at Hayle level crossing with one fatality in 2009.

Adding that the replacement of the crossing with the new access will "significantly help improve the safety in the area, protecting the lives of passengers and the community".

Work is set to start this month and is projected to complete by May 2014.

[LiskeardRich]

I didn't realise there was an existing underpass or a foot bridge and I lived in Hayle for 3 years. It's been baffling me since I read the story yesterday.

There is a pedestrian foot crossing with warning lights.

[molinnis]

I didn't realise there was an existing underpass or a foot bridge and I lived in Hayle for 3 years. It's been baffling me since I read the story yesterday.

There is a pedestrian foot crossing with warning lights.

The underpass is west of the station virtually under the pedestrian foot crossing, used as car access to rear of houses along Penpol terrace. The bridge is at the east end of the station. was originally I presume a road crossing but now just used as a footpath.

[ACE]

Another 'bargin' on the railways at ^811K...where DO they get these prices from?? But glad of some improvement at Hayle TBH^▸ (to be honest)