Dundee to Arbroath Intermediate stations - The purpose of them?

[Liam_Hendry]

Stations between Dundee and Arbroath are some of the least used in Britain: Balmossie, Moniefieth, Barry Links, Golf Street, even Springfield near Cupar. What is the purpose of these stations, which only receives 2 services per day, 1 early in the morning and 1 late at night. Apart from Moniefieth which has had a service increase just like Broughty Ferry has, what is the point of running these services when only 10 people are going to use these stations per year? Seems like a waiste of a train that could be required elsewhere and also seems like a waste of money. Would they benefit from what Broughty Ferry has benefited from, "Use it or Lose it" where services are increased for a year as a trial? Or to be closed down all together?

 

[najaB]

Apart from Moniefieth which has had a service increase just like Broughty Ferry has, what is the point of running these services when only 10 people are going to use these stations per year?

It is often cheaper to run a limited service than it is to close a station.

 

[LLivery]

I think a better question is why ScotRail hasn't increased the number of services at these stations. If it was the Sussex Coast they would have at least 1tph. Its not like these stations are in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I would say at a guess, the historicly poor service at these stations, contrasting with the excillent bus links from many of the towns and villages as well as our unhealthy obsession with the motorcar has a very great deal to do with it!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Seems like a waiste of a train that could be required elsewhere and also seems like a waste of money.

From what I can see, the set that works the morning southbound train actually waits at Dundee (Central Jn then platform 3) for over an hour before its next working afterwards, so it hardly looks ScotRail can ill-afford to run it. Similarly the unit used for the return service actually runs ECS back to Perth via Arbroath, and as that's right at the back end of the evening peak once again I doubt ScotRail desperately need the unit elsewhere. As for the money, I too would predict this is correct...

It is often cheaper to run a limited service than it is to close a station.

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I would say at a guess, the historicly poor service at these stations, contrasting with the excillent bus links from many of the towns and villages as well as our unhealthy obsession with the motorcar has a very great deal to do with it!

I believe it used to be an hourly service between Dundee and Arbroath until the early 1990s: indeed the likes of Broughty Ferry, Monifieth and Carnoustie weren't unstaffed until the mid-1980s.

 

[Starmill]

I'm confused - Carnousite is a relatively busy station and Broughty Ferry has seen patronage increase significantly in recent times. Golf Street and Barry Links are so close to Carnousite as to be useless really, and they are only kept open by parliamentary services. Further along the line, Laurencekirk has only just been re-opened, and, along with Portlethen, is doing quite well.