Great Western Coffee Shop

Thinking of the ORR-provided figures here:
https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage

For an individual station, thinking of Bath Spa for a moment, the figure for total entries and exits in 2020-2021 is 1,198,504. Trying to work out to what extent this figure informs as to journeys *originating* from a station as opposed to overall footfall. That is, do the ORR figures provide a picture of how well a rail service provides for the community in which a station is situated? Bath might be a case in point - a big visitor draw, but the station itself not necessarily easy of access to people who might use it as a departure point for a journey.

Mark

Would imagine that 2020 - 2021 of all years is likely to be the one where the figures are least skewed by "casual visitors" - though there is a significant inflow of school pupils which seems to have returned to a greater extent than other commuters. What always intrigues me is the imbalance of Oldfield Park calls in the morning and afternoon "peaks". 6 calls on Bristol bound services at approximately 20 minute intervals between 07.00 and 09.00; only 4 in the opposite direction between 16.00 and 18.00 at approximately 40 - 20 - 40.

On peak differences

There are some fascinating differences between morning and evening peaks.

http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/index_to_mar_10.html

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/633285/rail-passenger-crowding-2016.pdf

On the location / access to Bath Spa station for residents

Good question too ...