Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 15:35 29 Mar 2024
* Delays at Dover as millions begin Easter getaway
* A view from inside ship that hit Baltimore bridge
- Attempted murder charge after man stabbed on train
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

On this day
29th Mar (1913)
Foundation of National Union or Railwaymen (*)

Train RunningCancelled
15:14 Swindon to Westbury
15:22 Newbury to Bedwyn
15:28 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
15:50 Bedwyn to Newbury
15:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
16:15 Newbury to Bedwyn
16:23 Westbury to Swindon
16:55 Bedwyn to Newbury
17:24 Newbury to Bedwyn
17:36 Swindon to Westbury
18:04 Bedwyn to Newbury
18:26 Newbury to Bedwyn
18:37 Westbury to Swindon
18:55 Bedwyn to Newbury
19:02 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
19:24 Newbury to Bedwyn
19:55 Bedwyn to Newbury
20:13 Swindon to Westbury
20:49 Newbury to Bedwyn
21:16 Westbury to Swindon
21:16 Bedwyn to Newbury
21:53 Newbury to Bedwyn
22:25 Bedwyn to Newbury
22:30 Swindon to Westbury
22:47 Newbury to Bedwyn
Short Run
13:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
13:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
13:55 Paignton to London Paddington
14:36 London Paddington to Paignton
15:28 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
15:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
16:35 London Paddington to Plymouth
16:50 Plymouth to London Paddington
17:03 London Paddington to Penzance
17:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
18:03 London Paddington to Penzance
18:29 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
18:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
19:04 Paignton to London Paddington
19:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
20:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
21:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
23:17 Bedwyn to Reading
Delayed
10:04 London Paddington to Penzance
10:20 Penzance to London Paddington
12:03 London Paddington to Penzance
12:15 Penzance to London Paddington
13:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
13:15 Plymouth to London Paddington
13:50 London Paddington to Great Malvern
14:03 London Paddington to Penzance
14:15 Penzance to London Paddington
15:03 London Paddington to Penzance
15:15 Plymouth to London Paddington
16:03 London Paddington to Penzance
16:15 Penzance to London Paddington
17:29 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
etc
PollsOpen and recent polls
Closed 2024-03-25 Easter Escape - to where?
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 29, 2024, 15:49:18 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[211] 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury...
[66] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[49] Who needs a travel agent these days?
[36] Travel for free on the m2 metrobus - Bristol - 4,5,6 April 202...
[28] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[26] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
 
News: the Great Western Coffee Shop ... keeping you up to date with travel around the South West
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1]
  Print  
Author Topic: How is it doing? - a couple of passenger counts  (Read 4063 times)
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40692



View Profile WWW Email
« on: November 16, 2019, 10:00:16 »

Yesterday (Friday) ... 22 on the 11:47 into Melksham from Westbury ... 2 off and 2 on ... 24/4

This morning ... 09:48 at Melksham.  No fewer that 6 ahead of me in the queue for the ticket machine ; 34 people got on (didn't see any getting off) - guesstimate 30 on into Melksham so that's 64/34. No noticable big parties or lots of people headed to a match - just (?) general traffic.

Come 15th December, the 11:47 from Westbury becomes the 12:16 (and that's the first train after 09:45) (and the following train from Westbury is withdrawn).  On a Saturday, the 09:48 at Melksham doesn't leave until 10:20.  It will be interesting to see what effect this has on both short term and long term passenger numbers.



Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
Celestial
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 674


View Profile
« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2019, 11:53:45 »

Do you think at that time of day people's journeys will be particularly sensitive to the time of departure?  Today I would guess most people are off on retail therapy or leisure activities, so will not be too bothered by half an hour either way.
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40692



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2019, 12:46:47 »

Do you think at that time of day people's journeys will be particularly sensitive to the time of departure?  Today I would guess most people are off on retail therapy or leisure activities, so will not be too bothered by half an hour either way.

I don't thinks it will make a massive difference on a Saturday at this time in the medium or long term.   in the short term, with large numbers of occasional travellers having got use to it, we have to reach out to the community to let them know.

A bigger Saturday concern is the end of the 13:48 to Swindon which was ideal for when Swindon Town were at home. In future, services are at 12:20 and 14:22.    14:22 is too late for the match, 12:20 means for some that a drink ahead of the match will empty them to change their habits, but others have told me they'll be driving to Chippenham now.    We'll see

The Monday to Friday consultation that GWR (Great Western Railway) did was very useful in helping us sort out the majority (though not all) local concerns.   Sadly, no weekend consultations and there are some "if only ....." situations - the one above, and one on Sunday too ...

Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
Celestial
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 674


View Profile
« Reply #3 on: November 17, 2019, 14:23:33 »


A bigger Saturday concern is the end of the 13:48 to Swindon which was ideal for when Swindon Town were at home. In future, services are at 12:20 and 14:22.    14:22 is too late for the match, 12:20 means for some that a drink ahead of the match will empty them to change their habits, but others have told me they'll be driving to Chippenham now.    We'll see


I can see the Daily Mail headline now.  "Scandal as train company forces outraged footie fans to spend an extra hour in the pub before kick off." "Said one fan, It's disgraceful  - we used to arrive just in time for a leisurely half of mild, but now will have  to down three pints of skullcracker before getting to the ground. It's all GWR (Great Western Railway)'s fault." 
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40692



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2019, 20:14:13 »

Handing out leaflets as people arrive at Melksham Station gate ... opportunity taken to make a note of numbers off and on, and to listen to comments to help inform for the future.



Quote
Many thanks - Peter, Peter, Eddy and Roger for assisting in the handing out of leaflets to departing passengers arriving at  Melksham station on the mornings of 29th and 30th November, and 1st December.  Lots of leaflets handed out to passengers very happy to be updated on the changes to train times from Melksham (and trains returning) on and from 15th December 2019 We took the opportunity to note the numbers of passengers joining and leaving each train and the car park numbers.

Friday 29th November.  Weather fine and calm but cold
06:36 to Southampton via Westbury. 4 on, 2 off
07:19 to Cheltenham Spa via Swindon. 12 on, 5 off
07:49 to Swindon. 36 on, 4 off. Departed at 08:05
09:18 to Westbury. 13 on, 1 off
10:02 to Swindon. 24 on, 0 off.
11:12 to Westbury. 12 on, 5 off
12:03 to Swindon. 4 on, 1 off.
12:36 to Swindon. 5 on, 7 off.
Car park (main + front of main + at station) 5 + 3 + 2 at 09:25 (excludes volunteers)
Most of the rest on foot.
No large "special event" crowds
Noting queues of up to 5 people at the TVM (Ticket Vending Machine) (early morning - it failed later in the morning)
COMMENT - request for additional shelter space (can't get everyone in if it's raining)
COMMENT - request for some seats and a bin on the new platform section where the train stops.

Saturday 30th. Weather overcast and gentle breeze. Very cold
07:49 to Swindon. 33 on, 4 off.
08:38 to Swindon. 16 on, 0 off.
09:02 to Westbury. 6 on, 2 off.
09:48 to Swindon. 20 on, 3 off.
11:02 to Westbury. 17 on, 4 off.
11:48 to Swindon. 18 on, 4 off.
Car part 10 + 2 + 5 at 11:30 (excluding volunteers)
Very large number of people dropping off compared to a weekday.   Guess just 50% on foot
No large groups for any particular "special event".
Surprising number of people there for the first time but they had checken and knew train times.
TVM out of order all morning. Frustrated multiple groups who came to collect tickets for future travel.

Sunday 1st December. Cold and calm
08:36 to Swindon. 13 on, 2 off.
09:47 to Westbury. 2 on, 3 off.
10:47 to Swindon. 8 on, 4 off
11:53 to Westbury. 2 on, 11 off
Noting that 08:36 traffic largely day trips - not daily workers as we used to see. Can't rely on trains?
Much higher proportion of people being dropped off; some lifts wait for the train (don't trust it to come?)
Also noticed 4/13 BAME and it is very common for trains to be much more mixed than local population.
TVM still out of order. Frustrated multiple groups who came to collect tickets (again).

Through the three days, the vast majority of people / groups paused for a brief update.  Perhaps 1 in 10 not interested. Of the remainder, 3 out of 4 groups took at least one timetable, most of the rest saying "I look online".  Noting that a timetable showing BATH and BRISTOL connections would be useful - many people headed in those directions.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40692



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2019, 18:53:10 »

Tuesday 10th December 2019

07:19 Melksham to Swindon +21 -6 at Melksham, 79 on to Chippenham 85/27

09:18 at Melksham arrived from Swindon with 27 on. -4 +3 at Melksham 30/7

The 08:53 from Swindon (09:41 at Westbury) - which is the 09:18 at Melksham, runs earlier as from next Monday - leaving Swindon at 08:44, calling at Chippenham at 08:59, Melksham at 09:09, Trowbridge at 09:18 and arriving at Westbury at 09:41. This is really good news - a quarter of an hour's difference at Trowbridge makes it very much more usable by people who work there, and running into Westbury ahead of (rather than behind) services from Bristol to Weymouth, and Bristol to Waterloo, brings in useful new connections.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1]
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page