Fares are still off-putting, in the modern day of higher living costs, in some places and for some people. The fares to Cardiff, for example, from Hereford are not super expensive for the distance, not compared to similar distances in other parts of the country. However, assuming you've decided to fork out for it, and a non-railcard fare is not cheap these days so it's not something you just wake up and go to do now, you've then got the frustration of dealing with overcrowding on TfW. A really busy 2 car 175 is not a pleasant experience, and dealing with all the idiocy such a service usually carries (an entirely different topic!) is off-putting.
This is of course the off-peak experience, during the peak when I last did this journey it was much more pleasurable. The trains were busy, but not overcrowded, so the atmosphere was relaxing. Which is of course very different to how it used to be.
Worse is going the other way to Birmingham. Services are still too unreliable, although nothing like it was a few months ago, for a leisure journey to be worthy of consideration. The fare, while not extreme, is still not considered good value for the service offered, and the risk of a 1 hour or more wait for a train due to a cancellation, to then end up potentially being on a very busy train and standing for most of the journey, well it's not a fun thought.
Most of my friends and family avoid the railway like the plague, but occasionally have to endure it because the majority of said group do not drive. I can't say I blame them most of the time, the quality of service and fares don't encourage me to go on a rail journey either. Which goes against logic, considering my line of interest you'd think I'd be promoting the use of the railway wouldn't you? I'd surely be wanting to use it myself, but quite frankly it isn't what it needs to be to encourage me to use it.
Case in point, it cost me less (or near enough, I have to confess I forget the exact rail fare) to go to the cinema to watch the new Sonic The Hedgehog film (£12.50, including a 95p online booking fee) yesterday than it does to go to Worcester. That's not including the money I'd spent while over there of course, the fare for a 56-57 mile round trip is not considered good value for money. I didn't spend extra on popcorn or drinks either, my water bottle was all I needed.
I have a feeling there's plenty more of us out there who have the same problem with the railway, and there's no quick or easy solution to that. I want a good day out on the rails, it's been a long time since I had a proper good day of finding required trains, but when the better option is to go to the cinema or to do almost anything else in times of making money stretch, then it's not likely to happen.
As for passenger counts, yes the trains are very busy again although I have no numbers to support how much it compares to 2019 or whatever. A lot of places, no doubt numbers are not that high, but come the school holidays that will inevitably change as it always does! Quite frankly, in weather like it is outside currently, the idea of a day out in cold and strengthening wind or a day indoors where there's warmth and comfort, well it's fairly obvious really that all the areas which see outdoor activity are going to be quiet still. If it was actually like spring outside, then those quieter places would inevitably be much busier.
When that happens, we will still probably be enduring short-formed trains, missing train crew, outlandish fares (not everywhere, and this is a little subjective to be fair) and industry action, not to mention random cancellations. Until all that starts getting improved, then I suspect passenger numbers will still be a bit suppressed!
