EWR Bedford - Bletchley

[Robin Edwards]

I won't repeat what I have posted over the years about being a regular but intermittent user of the Bedford to Bletchley line and how frustrating this can be at different times.

I wanted to use the 09.24 from Bedford yesterday, Tuesday 23rd September but I've learnt not to show surprise when services get cancelled - which it was, so I used the car.

Checking today, Wednesday 24th September on RTT and the 09.24 seems to have disappeared from the timetable with no service from Bedford between 08.08 and 10.47? Is this right?

I've been getting a tad impatient with the Bletchley to Oxford section which still seems to be problematic for commencing but if East West Railway is ever to be seen as a serious concern, surely the existing section from Bedford needs to become a greater priority? Or am I wrong?

 

[Bletchleyite]

It would indeed appear that they've P-coded (removed from the timetable rather than cancelled) half the service today. Naughty.

I don't think the existing section is much of a priority as it's quiet and will be until the Cambridge bit is opened. The MKC-Oxford section will be a lot busier.

 

[Robin Edwards]

It would indeed appear that they've P-coded (removed from the timetable rather than cancelled) half the service today. Naughty.

I don't think the existing section is much of a priority as it's quiet and will be until the Cambridge bit is opened. The MKC-Oxford section will be a lot busier.

It is indeed quiet - because many will know better than to rely on the service and use their cars

I would think that if a consistently good, reliable service is introduced then more would use the train. I can't recall a time when this has been a good, reliable service so like rural buses that don't run at decent times, they only get used as a last resort.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It is indeed quiet - because many will know better than to rely on the service and use their cars

No, it's quiet because hardly anyone wants to travel between Bedford and Bletchley. It's quiet and it always has been, even when the service was consistently decent e.g. in LM days. It only survived Beeching because the local bus operator wasn't able to provide alternatives.

I would think that if a consistently good, reliable service is introduced then more would use the train. I can't recall a time when this has been a good, reliable service so like rural buses that don't run at decent times, they only get used as a last resort.

An hourly service for about 10 people per train if that seems pretty good to me. The problem is the unreliability, but even when it was reliable it only carried about that. The one exception was when there being a Primark in Bedford but not MK attracted a lot of young weekend passengers, but now there is one that dropped off.

The only way in my view you'd excite reasonable demand for it would be a through service to Milton Keynes Central. But Oxford is absolutely a priority - demand for that will be high.