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grahame
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« on: August 19, 2011, 15:06:16 » |
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14580224Many rural railway lines have seen a huge increase in popularity in the last three years, the rail industry says.
Operators say journey numbers on some lines in Cornwall and Derbyshire almost doubled between 2007-08 and 2010-11.
The industry puts the success partly down to the "staycation" effect, with people choosing to holiday at home instead of going abroad.
Many of the fastest-growing branch lines connect to seaside resorts and towns, and show spikes during summer.
The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) says there are now around 40 million local and rural rail journeys made each year.
The 10 branch lines with the biggest percentage growth saw total journeys increase from 4.5m to nearly 7m between April 2008 and March 2011.
Atoc collects data for the 27 stretches of track designated as "community rail routes" by the Department for Transport - typically low-speed, countryside routes provided by one operator. ...
Interestingly, although the headline is "rural" that word "local" is used too ... and the top growth services are listed as follows: Truro - Falmouth: 90.6% Bristol Temple Meads - Severn Beach: 90.3% Derby - Matlock: 86.2% Arun Valley line: 53.1% Par - Newquay: 52.6% Good to see three sets of results like that from FGW▸ Land ... and I note that all lines their lines that are in the list are ones that have had service improvements. Am I allowed to suggest another line which - if the service level was increased to an appopriate level - should show growth of over 100% and top the table? 
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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ChrisB
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« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2011, 15:43:42 » |
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Not quite so picuresque, eh, Chris?!! :-)
There's a video report on the BBC» website that I've seen, via a twitter this morning.
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Tim
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« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2011, 16:55:35 » |
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One wonders how many of these branchline passengers continued onto the (profitable) mainline who otherwise might not have done so?
If you want to invest in getting more people to buy your lucrative mainline tickets there is a good arguement that you might actually get a good return by investing on the local feeder lines where the amounts of money needed are relatively low. This must apply especially to the local line Grahame has in mind due to its proximity to London
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ChrisB
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« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2011, 17:06:34 » |
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But is the capacity there?
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eightf48544
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« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2011, 17:36:23 » |
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Capacity is a problem over many parts of the network. Grahame's line is single track thoughout with no passing loops, thus a train running late in one direction will cause a train in the other direction to have to wait on a main line.
Thus to be on the safe side a large margin between trains in opposite directions is required. Thus reducing the potential frequency of service. Add in few freight trains as well and the capacity for passenger traffic is further reduced.
Plus of course not forgetting the shortage of stock to cover both the the extra passengers and/or a more frequent service. Any potentialy spare units released by say the 172s are already in high demand to agument services, see other posts on the board. Plus we still can't scrap the 14Xs.
Thus the only way one line can get a more frequent service/longer trains is by robbing Peter to pay Paul.
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« Last Edit: August 19, 2011, 17:44:32 by eightf48544 »
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2011, 18:35:51 » |
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Not quite so picuresque, eh, Chris?!! :-)
Eh??  |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #6 on: August 19, 2011, 19:04:20 » |
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Sorry, that was aimed at Grahame!
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grahame
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« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2011, 19:23:58 » |
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But is the capacity there?
Yes.  We know where the various capacity limits are and the elements of TransWilts Rail have been and continue to work together to move towards an appropriate service that's within the limits now, and post electrification too. Thanks to rail industry professional report work rather than our own workings, so it does stand up. There will be need for some associated provision in terms of capacity, such as the provision of additional road (private and public) interchange facilities, and it's highly likely that ticketing facilities will need to be enhanced for certain departure points. |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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Electric train
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« Reply #8 on: August 19, 2011, 19:24:07 » |
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Hopefully there will be a substantial traffic growth on the Marlow Donkey on Sunday  |
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Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
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bobm
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« Reply #9 on: August 19, 2011, 23:11:14 » |
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Dear oh dear the good old BBC» using words like staycation - whatever happened to the English Language..... Hoping to go on the Falmouth line tomorrow or possibly the St Ives... |
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« Last Edit: August 20, 2011, 00:05:21 by bobm »
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JayMac
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« Reply #10 on: August 19, 2011, 23:35:31 » |
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Short video news item about the Liskeard-Looe line with the quoted news item as well. I'd put the Severn Beach figures down partly to the improved revenue collection. The work done by Severnside CRP▸ and FoSBR» has no doubt helped as well. The line doesn't really benefit from that much tourist traffic - I've not considered a 'staycation' at Severn Beach! |
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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Electric train
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« Reply #11 on: August 20, 2011, 08:01:17 » |
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I blame Micheal Portillo for this |
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Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
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smokey
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« Reply #12 on: August 21, 2011, 14:22:54 » |
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The 90.6% increase on Truro-Falmouth line,
Would that increase be BEFORE this years New Truro Gate line?
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LiskeardRich
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« Reply #13 on: August 21, 2011, 16:46:40 » |
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It is based on a years figures, so based on the gates being less than a year old, as a minimum the start of the figures were pre gate installation. Potentially depending on when the figures date from it could be more pre gate than post gate, so a larger increase to come in the next set of figures!
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All posts are my own personal believes, opinions and understandings!
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RichardB
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« Reply #14 on: August 22, 2011, 15:38:49 » |
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The 90.6% is the rise between the 2007/8 financial year (April - March) and 2010/11 one. Given the gates didn't become operational until this January, most of the rise came before the gates.
So far this calendar year, the Maritime Line has seen 18.1% more journeys than last year. This year's total for the first 7 periods (28 weeks, Jan to July) of 299,562 journeys is already more than the full year totals for years 2001 to 2008. Only 2009 and 2010 were more.
Wasn't all the good publicity on Friday great.....
Richard Burnngham,
Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership
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