| Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/697 Written by Lee on Thursday, 22nd June 2006 http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2004/2/kent_franchise_statement Quote from the above link : "No station or route closures are planned. And the consultation is exactly that - the proposals are open to alteration based upon reasoned argument. Stations where reductions in service are proposed are typically very lightly used. For example: Swale - 12 passengers per day; or one passenger for every five trains that call Beltring - 23 passengers per day; or one passenger for every two trains" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swale_railway_station Quote from the above link : "There are currently plans to close Swale station, or at least replace its train service with a token service (eg one train a week in either direction)." http://ndrailusers.wikispaces.com/Mag19?token=be1c6d1935da3ac5b5e39d0baff8e945#tocMag1919 Quote from the above link : "The Writing on the Wall? Beltring Station on the Medway Valley line in Kent is to be virtually closed because only 23 people use it each day; or one passenger for every two trains. These figures include rush hour trains - off-peak services are even more lightly used. The Kent division of Railfuture commented that 'Beltring station, which is slated for reduction to 1 Parliamentary train a week under the SRA proposals, is only a short walk from The Hop Farm ("Kent's most popular family attraction" in it's 2004 brochure). An all-in rail and entrance ticket is available including a courtesy bus link between Paddock Wood & the farm but this ticket is NOT valid at Beltring station. It is very easy to claim that a station is poorly used when you direct most of your potential users to a different station! ' Using the figure of 23 passengers a day equates to 8300 per year, and if you can recall the station usage figures from the 'Securing the Future' document you will see that only Barnstaple, Eggesford, Credition, and Umberleigh (just) would fulfil this criterion, all others would be closed ! Beware - it could happen here!" http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/ Quote from the above link (January 2006 update.) : "a regular two-hourly service using a single train would generate a profit, whereas a "parliamentary" service that's so infrequent that it drives everyone away would make a bigger loss than the current service." http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/page/dft_railways_039804.pdf Page 32 of the above document. "Service frequency on the Sheerness branch will be maintained at its current level of 2 tph rather than being reduced to hourly as previously proposed. It is, however, now proposed that the very lightly used station at Swale be closed completely." Page 35. "It is now proposed to close Beltring station altogether." Etruria station closed on 30 September 2005. Here are some relevent links. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etruria_railway_station http://www.cilt-international.com/news-display.asp?ID=430&t=arc&m=10&y=2005 Here is a link to a recent parliamentary written question. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060427/text/60427w01.htm#column_1227 Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when (a) he and (b) one of his agencies last carried out a national survey of railway station usage. [62464] Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport has been collecting usage data from stations across Great Britain over 2004 and 2005 to complete the National Rail Travel Survey. Results from this survey should be available towards the end of 2006. Here is a link to Appendix 2.2 of the South West Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy. http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rus%20documents/route%20utilisation%20strategies/south%20west%20main%20line/appendices/appendix%202.2.pdf Quote from the above link : "A national review of station usage (based on the number of users per day and per train) could consider least-used stations against the criteria already being applied to proposals for new stations." If this course of action were to be taken , then they would consider the stations that they feel are the least used as if they havent been built yet. Very few new stations have been approved in recent years. One station that has is Coleshill in the West Midlands (link below.) http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=190297&NewsAreaID=2 Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/698 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Thursday, 22nd June 2006 Passenger traffic at Melksham is 7 ticketed journeys per train timetabled. In reallity, with cancellations, bustitutions and travellers on tickets such as rovers, the figure should be incrreased to 10 journeys per train. Swale is stated as having 0.2 passengers per train - that's 1/35th or 1/50th of the Melksham traffic per train. In terms of passengers per day, it works out as around a seventh of Melksham's traffic (Swale has a much better service at present). So however you look at it', it's really a different league. Melksham, remember, was 1974th our or 2504 stations in terms of tickets sold in the figures from 3 years ago - that was before the growth from 20,000 to 27,000 the following year (for which I do not have country wide figures). The implication, were this a level playing field, is that the DfT would be looking to slash back services to around 500 stations - around 20% - around the country. Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/699 Written by sb on Friday, 23rd June 2006 Well yeah its all fine on looking at current passenger trends and working out how cost effective a particular line or service is, but its definitely a short sighted view. I live in Frome and the services here are a joke, if anyone analysed passenger use on this station it would be closed. Thats not to say there are few passengers willing to use the services but it is definitely easier to either drive to where you want to go or use bath spa. So yes Lee, take them stats with a big pinch of salt :( Good luck with your melksham services tho! Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/700 Written by Lee on Friday, 23rd June 2006 [quote author=sb link=topic=264.msg699#msg699 date=1151022736] So yes Lee, take them stats with a big pinch of salt [/quote] As Graham & others are aware , I DO take those stats with a big pinch of salt!!! Hence the title of the link.... If Melksham were to remain at 7 ticketed journeys per train timetabled (official figures) after the service is slashed , then on 2 round trips a day Melksham would end up on 28 passengers per day (5 more than Beltring , 6 more than Etruria.) Of course , Melksham wont remain on 7 ticketed journeys per train because a significant number of passengers are likely to desert the service........ Although Melksham is not as dramatic a case as Etruria of what I believe to be "closure by stealth" there are similarities. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etruria_railway_station Quote from the above link. "Its train services were suspended in May 2003 during the upgrade of the West Coast Main Line. Central Trains did not restart services to Etruria when the work was finished and continued with bustitution, although First North Western reintroduced a limited service. After already low passenger numbers dwindled even further, closure was proposed by the Strategic Rail Authority in February 2004 [1], but it was another 18 months before services were finally withdrawn." Cancellations & bustitutions have been a factor regarding the Melksham issue in recent times. Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/701 Written by Lee on Friday, 23rd June 2006 Now , where was I? Oh yes , I remember...... http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=190297&NewsAreaID=2 As stated in the above link , the new Coleshill station / interchange : "will improve access to national rail network for the local population, offer integrated bus and rail services and enhance transport connections with Birmingham International airport and the National Exhibition Centre. It will also provide a large park and ride facility that would be connected to the M42, the A446 as well as local roads." "The new development will include a five bay bus interchange and a 200 space car park, along with a new road bridge over the railway. As part of the scheme the local authority have agreed to improve bus provision. The interchange will form part of the Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/704 Written by Lee on Saturday, 24th June 2006 In one respect though , the Coleshill station / interchange press release is too modest. It would also provide access to the M6 Toll Road. Here are some relevant maps (link below.) http://www.m6toll.co.uk/maps/map_viewer/M6TollMapsLeaflet.pdf Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/706 Written by Lee on Sunday, 25th June 2006 Here is a link that contains information about the Coleshill area , and also one about nearby Water Orton. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleshill%2C_Warwickshire http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Orton Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/711 Written by Lee on Monday, 26th June 2006 Coleshill station / interchange will be situated near to the Hams Hall employment area , a little way to the east of Water Orton station. Here is a railway map of the area (Page 2 of the link below.) http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3115_Route%2017%20West%20Midlands.pdf Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/718 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 28th June 2006 Here is a link to some more info on the Coleshill area. http://www.coleshillweb.co.uk/ Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/722 Written by Lee on Thursday, 29th June 2006 Coleshill station / interchange will be situated near to the Hams Hall Railfreight Terminal. Here is an archive / background link on this. http://www.abport.com/news20043515.htm Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/728 Written by Sion Bretton on Thursday, 29th June 2006 Yes and today they were counting people using the train this AM ( A person was in thier Car) Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/730 Written by Lee on Friday, 30th June 2006 The link below gives examples of some of the daily container services to Hams Hall Railfreight Terminal. http://www.gbrailfreight.com/gb-railfreight-intermodal-container-business-daily-container-services/p_96/ Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/734 Written by Lee on Saturday, 1st July 2006 Here is a link to more info on the Coleshill Parkway Multi-Modal Interchange. http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/corporate/newsstor.nsf/PublicByCategories/014AA7FE829E79198025716A00520298 Quote from the above link : Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/742 Written by Lee on Sunday, 2nd July 2006 "Showcase" bus routes are also proposed in the Greater Bristol Joint Transport Plan. Here is a link on this. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/4747277.stm As well as proposed "Showcase" routes to , among other places , Yate , Weston-super-Mare , Portishead plus Bristol - Bath , there are proposed "Showcase" routes from both Bristol & Bath to Norton Radstock. There is also a scheme to re-open the Frome - Radstock railway line. http://www.northsomersetrailway.com/project.php Quotes from the above link : "The North Somerset Railway will give you more than just a preserved line. Our aims are to: Facilitate the operation of regular commuter trains linking Radstock to the National Rail Network. Offer heritage and steam powered trains. Encourage taking freight off the roads in co-operation with local businesses and national rail operators. Create an integrated transport network for the Radstock and Frome area, including links with bus services and a cyclepath alongside the existing railway route." "The railway already forms an integral part of programmes for the regeneration of Radstock, and plans are well in advance for a new station situated in the heart of the town. Further stations will be constructed along the 8 mile line, with the ultimate aim of joining the existing rail network at Frome." [quote author=sb link=topic=264.msg699#msg699 date=1151022736]I live in Frome and the services here are a joke, if anyone analysed passenger use on this station it would be closed. Thats not to say there are few passengers willing to use the services but it is definitely easier to either drive to where you want to go or use bath spa.[/quote] The line to Whatley Quarry forms part of the Frome - Radstock line and is still operational. It is projected to achieve high - level tonnage growth to 2015 (Page 8 , Figure 11 of the link below.) http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3110_Route%2012%20Reading%20to%20Penzance.pdf Here is a link to the Norton Radstock Regeneration plans. http://www.nrrcompany.co.uk/ Here is a link to other areas of interest related to this issue. http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=269.msg716#msg716 The Greater Bristol Joint Transport Plan also puts forward a 'rail vision' of half hourly services from 2006. Here are some links regarding this issue. http://www.fosbr.org.uk/news.php?newsid=0000000078 http://www.fosbr.org.uk/news.php?newsid=0000000076 http://www.fosbr.org.uk/news.php?newsid=0000000074 There were also proposals made to convert the Severn Beach line into a guided busway (link below.) http://www.portisheadrailwaygroup.org/EP_10_Oct_05.htm Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/751 Written by Lee on Monday, 3rd July 2006 There are further Park & Ride developments planned for the West Midlands area. http://www.centro.org.uk/longbridge/Longbridge.pdf http://www.locatebirmingham.com/southwest/longbridge_park_and_ride.html Page 3 of the Network Rail Business Plan 2006 (link below.) http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3115_Route%2017%20West%20Midlands.pdf "At the other extreme are stations with very low usage. Eight of the 20 least used stations in the West Midlands are on the lines from Stratford to Shirley and Leamington, with Bearley managing on average just 6 passengers per day." Page 9. "In the regional context there are a number of investment initiatives likely to facilitate further growth, including new station proposals (e.g. Coleshill) and Centro Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/766 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 4th July 2006 Here are some links on Sandwell & Dudley station. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandwell_and_Dudley_railway_station http://www.networkwestmidlands.com/train/network/orange/lsandd.asp http://www.dudleymall.co.uk/loclrail/crewebirm.htm#stat16 Here is a link to a railway map of the West Midlands. http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3115_Route%2017%20West%20Midlands.pdf Here is a link to more info on Coleshill Parkway Multi-Modal Interchange. http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0125nwarksnews/tm_objectid=16788607&method=full&siteid=50003&headline=funding-for-new-rail-station-delights-o-brien-name_page.html Quotes from the above link : "The county council put in a bid for additional government funding and we were worried that any delays would cause problems. When I told Alistair this, he responded within the hour." The transport secretary said: "I have agreed to provide a total contribution of Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/769 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 5th July 2006 SRA Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/811 Written by Lee on Sunday, 9th July 2006 The DfT have approved a new station at Reading Green Park (link below.) http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/chronicle/headlines/tm_objectid=17339817%26method=full%26siteid=50102%26headline=trains-will-end-the-strain-on-roads-around-mad-stad-name_page.html Quotes from the above link : "The Department of Transport has approved plans for the station - to be built and paid for by Green Park owners Prudential Property Investment Managers Ltd (PruPIM) and backed by Reading Borough Council." "The station, on the Reading-Basingstoke line, should open by December 2008 with trains running every 30 minutes and special services on match days." "As demand grows the frequency should increase to 15-20 minute intervals and the two platforms, unmanned ticket machines, car and bicycle parking, an overbridge and bus interchange should be ready inside 18 months." "In the longer term the station should link to a Mass Rapid Transit system reaching other parts of the area." "Tim Davis, PruPIM project director, said: "It will be a huge benefit to existing and future occupiers at Green Park and people living and working in the surrounding area." "Green Park will be the only business park in the south of England with direct access to a principal motorway and a train station." "Borough transport leader Cllr John Howarth said: "The new station will provide an important new link to a new area of Reading." "It will also mean business travellers reaching Green Park from south of the M4, taking some of the strain off Junction 11." "Work to increase passengers and trains travelling from Reading Station were also announced this week by Network Rail." "Moves to expand the capacity of the tracks and platforms and remove the most major bottleneck on the Great Western mainline have been highlighted as a key projects in Network Rail's 10-year government funding bid." Here is a link related to this issue. http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=278.msg740#msg740 Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/814 Written by Lee on Sunday, 9th July 2006 [quote author=Lee link=topic=264.msg811#msg811 date=1152449415]"It will also mean business travellers reaching Green Park from south of the M4, taking some of the strain off Junction 11."[/quote] Here is an article related to this. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/5154816.stm Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/928 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 18th July 2006 Here are some railway maps of the Reading area (Page 2 of both links below.) http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3111_Route%2013%20Great%20Western%20Main%20Line.pdf http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3110_Route%2012%20Reading%20to%20Penzance.pdf Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/948 Written by Lee on Thursday, 20th July 2006 Here are some links on Peter Brett Associates. http://www.pba.co.uk/default.asp http://www.pba.co.uk/sectorsandservices.asp?ID=2 http://www.pba.co.uk/keyprojects.asp?ID=9 http://www.pba.co.uk/keyprojects.asp?ID=24 http://www.pba.co.uk/keyprojects.asp?ID=29 http://www.pba.co.uk/keyprojects.asp?ID=15 Peter Brett Associates have also worked on Brighton Rapid Transport System. Here are some relevant links. http://www.pba.co.uk/services.asp?ID=12 http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=297.msg822#msg822 Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/951 Written by Lee on Thursday, 20th July 2006 [quote author=Lee link=topic=264.msg704#msg704 date=1151149538] In one respect though , the Coleshill station / interchange press release is too modest. It would also provide access to the M6 Toll Road. Here are some relevant maps (link below.) http://www.m6toll.co.uk/maps/map_viewer/M6TollMapsLeaflet.pdf [/quote] Plans for an extension of the M6 Toll road have been scrapped in favour of a scheme to widen the motorway (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/5197622.stm Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/954 Written by Lee on Friday, 21st July 2006 Here are some more articles on this. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1825567,00.html http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/article1187399.ece http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/07/21/ntoll21.xml http://icsolihull.icnetwork.co.uk/news/national/tm_objectid=17417625%26method=full%26siteid=91411%26headline=%2dpound%2d3%2d5bn%2dm%2dway%2dtoll%2dplan%2dscrapped-name_page.html Re: Links , Damned Links & Statistics - 264/979 Written by Lee on Monday, 24th July 2006 Here are some further articles on this. http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/news/tm_objectid=17423005%26method=full%26siteid=50002%26headline=wasted%2dmillions%2dof%2dtoll%2dm%2dway-name_page.html http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/218/218625_anger_over_extra_lanes_on_m6_plan.html link to index of articles |
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Save the Train was the campaign to bring an approriate train service back to and through Melksham. Most big contributors are still around writing at the Coffee shop forum where new members are very welcome. The train has been saved - sort of - we have stepped back up from an unusable service to a poorish one but it's doing very well. We did that through setting up the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. That fulfilled its early objectives; it has been taken over by local and regional government types who are now doing medium and long term work. The team from this forun can also be found at the Melksham Rail User Group (which was the Melksham Rail Development Group at the time these articles were written and we had no users. We mustn't loose sight, though, that the train service remains poor and needs our community support in marketing and campaigning to keep it going in a positive direction ... and all the more so when we're expecting to find a different normallity once we get out of the Coronavirus Pandemic and head for zero carbon via the climate crisis. Yes, it's saved ... it's now a key community facility ... the need for enhancement and the strong and near-universal local support remain, and the rail industry and goverment remain slow to move and provide the enhancements even to level us up with other towns. Please support the Melksham Rail User Group - now very much in partnership rather than protest with the rail industry and local government, including GWR, TransWilts and unitary and town councils. And please use the trains and buses, and cycle and walk when you can. -- Graham Ellis, (webmaster), February 2021 | |||
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