Station Usage 2018/19

[Eccles1983]

I'm glad to see Helsby and Frodsham get decent increases in numbers.

Frodsham particularly has had 47% growth due to the Liverpool and Leeds services.

Build it and they will come.

 

[mr williams]

Pontypool (& New Inn) up from 77,000 to 111,000, up 44% in a year and doubled in the past six. Also, a service of 35 trains a day on a weekday is the sort of service level not seen since the 1960s and the days when it was Pontypool Road.

I see on Google View that there is now a bus stop outside the station entrance. Anybody know if any local buses actually go down to the station entrance? It is a long uphill slog from the station to the main road at the top of the entrance road!

 

[daodao]

As ever, the figures are misleading. On example that persists is the major difference between the nearby stations of Coryton (217090) and Whitchurch, Glam (33700).

I returned in November 2018 to where I used to live for over 20 years (Whitchurch, Glam) and used the train for a return journey to Bute Road. The TVM was out-of-order, so I made sure that I bought a ticket from the guard to avoid being penalty fared - there was a revenue block at Queen St. As ever, I was sold a ticket from Coryton rather than Whitchurch, despite stating Whitchurch as the origin - there is no difference in price and presumably it is easier for the guard not to reset their ticket machine.

 

[Killingworth]

As ever, the figures are misleading. On example that persists is the major difference between the nearby stations of Coryton (217090) and Whitchurch, Glam (33700).

I returned in November 2018 to where I used to live for over 20 years (Whitchurch, Glam) and used the train for a return journey to Bute Road. The TVM was out-of-order, so I made sure that I bought a ticket from the guard to avoid being penalty fared - there was a revenue block at Queen St. As ever, I was sold a ticket from Coryton rather than Whitchurch, despite stating Whitchurch as the origin - there is no difference in price and presumably it is easier for the guard not to reset their ticket machine.

There wii be many anomalies, not least the number who travel between ungated stations where guards physically can't, or don't, collect all the fares.

In Sheffield those commuting to Manchester can use a season ticket on the hourly TPE services that stop at Meadowhall, Sheffield or Dore & Totley for the same price. SYPTE have provided free parking at Meadowhall and Dore. A significant number from the south and west side of the city boarding at Dore travel on season tickets issued for Sheffield to keep options open. Something similar may happen for the North and East where it might make sense to book from Meadowhall.

Within the mass of data there'll be lots of other distorting factors. Every station could probably tell a story. Any explanations of annual changes over 10%, up or down, might make interesting reading.

Some of the changes have been a lot bigger than that. There have been some strange local fluctuations over the years that only local users can probably fully explain.

 

[The Ham]

There wii be many anomalies, not least the number who travel between ungated stations where guards physically can't, or don't, collect all the fares.

In Sheffield those commuting to Manchester can use a season ticket on the hourly TPE services that stop at Meadowhall, Sheffield or Dore & Totley for the same price. SYPTE have provided free parking at Meadowhall and Dore. A significant number from the south and west side of the city boarding at Dore travel on season tickets issued for Sheffield to keep options open. Something similar may happen for the North and East where it might make sense to book from Meadowhall.

Within the mass of data there'll be lots of other distorting factors. Every station could probably tell a story. Any explanations of annual changes over 10%, up or down, might make interesting reading.

Some of the changes have been a lot bigger than that. There have been some strange local fluctuations over the years that only local users can probably fully explain.

I know when I was traveling to Southampton Airport Parkway, given the distance traveled, it was the same price to Southampton Central, so I brought a ticket to the further place so I had it if I needed it.

 

[Kite159]

There wii be many anomalies, not least the number who travel between ungated stations where guards physically can't, or don't, collect all the fares.

In Sheffield those commuting to Manchester can use a season ticket on the hourly TPE services that stop at Meadowhall, Sheffield or Dore & Totley for the same price. SYPTE have provided free parking at Meadowhall and Dore. A significant number from the south and west side of the city boarding at Dore travel on season tickets issued for Sheffield to keep options open. Something similar may happen for the North and East where it might make sense to book from Meadowhall.

Within the mass of data there'll be lots of other distorting factors. Every station could probably tell a story. Any explanations of annual changes over 10%, up or down, might make interesting reading.

Some of the changes have been a lot bigger than that. There have been some strange local fluctuations over the years that only local users can probably fully explain.

And I guess at some times of the day it can be quicker going Manchester - Sheffield - Dore compared to going all the way on a luxurious 150

 

[Killingworth]

And I guess at some times of the day it can be quicker going Manchester - Sheffield - Dore compared to going all the way on a luxurious 150

At some times of day it's better getting a seat on a 150 than standing crammed between cycles and airport luggage on a short formed TPE185! There are 2 trains an hour from Manchester in the evenings (fast and stopping) and only an hourly evening train out of Sheffield - with a 2 hour 33 minute gap in that service. But yes, booking from Sheffield gives more options, although it's quite normal for a Dore to Manchester ticket to be routed via Sheffield, going in by Northern and out again by TPE. But this is is digressing from the subject of this tread

 

[philthetube]

I wonder what happened at Colne this year, down from 92182 to 66000, much bigger drop than on the rest of the line

 

[splashoutradio]

I wonder what happened at Colne this year, down from 92182 to 66000, much bigger drop than on the rest of the line

The official data puts it down to "Issues with May 2018 timetable introduction." It has certainly had an effect on lots of Northern stations, but a 28% drop is quite substantial.

 

[dk1]

The official data puts it down to "Issues with May 2018 timetable introduction." It has certainly had an effect on lots of Northern stations, but a 28% drop is quite substantial.

Once things settle down (hopefully they will soon) these figures will all recover.

 

[Glenn1969]

I note Man Airport was 23% up despite the Northern and TPE carnage. It makes me wonder whether 7m is possible there once things are back to normal

 

[Wtloild]

It's difficult to make out a clear trend for Northern stations because of all the factors at play - industrial action, the 2018 timetable meltdown, electrification work, Lime Street extended closure etc.

My station (Chorley) has gone down from 662k to 567k.
Has lost lots of days lost to engineering work, strikes & to an effective lack of services most Sundays.
Also heard numerous tales of people locally just giving up on trains altogether, either buying cars, using existing cars more, switching jobs, etc.
I myself have barely used trains for work in the last year, as it invariably involved having to use an early hours rail replacement bus.

Numbers will recover this year, but such is the general lack of faith, it will take a while for confidence improve & figures to increase to what they should be.

 

[splashoutradio]

I note Man Airport was 23% up despite the Northern and TPE carnage. It makes me wonder whether 7m is possible there once things are back to normal

It may not be this, but on paper, stations within Greater Manchester haven't been hit quite so badly, with some even seeing an increase due to a change in the way the figures are calculated.
Journeys made within the county using free concessionary passes are now accounted for whereas previously they weren't.

 

[bluenoxid]

What happened at Ilkeston, over 250,000 in first year of opening down to 130,000 in 2018/19?

Aberdeen has lost a million passengers in the last 5 years, and Bolton has lost 600,000.

There's a footnote to explain the stats about Aberdeen. Station improvement work.

Ilkeston may be realism setting in after the first year novelty of the new station wore off. With many cancelled trains in recent weeks popularity won't be improving.

The 2017/18 figure wasn't right. A revision was issued at the end of March.

https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/footer/revisions-log/

As a result of feedback from one of our users, we identified an issue with some of our 2017-18 station usage entries and exits estimates. The error is believed to have been caused by a manual update applied at an early stage in the production process and primarily affects the estimate of entries and exits at Ilkeston in 2017-18. The production process for producing the 2017-18 estimates has been re-run resulting in changes to estimates at around a third of all stations. The biggest change is for Ilkeston, for which the revised entries and exits estimate is around 50% less than previously published. Changes to estimates for all other stations are less than 2%. These revised estimates, together with previous revisions made to 2017-18 estimates on 14 January 2020, have been included in all associated data tables including 2017-18 data, but have not been included in the 2017-18 factsheet or elsewhere. Estimates for station usage in 2018-19 are not affected by these revisions.

Revised figure for 2017-18 was 126,226

 

[WatcherZero]

So someone pretty much double counted Ilkeston in 2017.

 

[John R]

As ever, the figures are misleading. On example that persists is the major difference between the nearby stations of Coryton (217090) and Whitchurch, Glam (33700).

I returned in November 2018 to where I used to live for over 20 years (Whitchurch, Glam) and used the train for a return journey to Bute Road. The TVM was out-of-order, so I made sure that I bought a ticket from the guard to avoid being penalty fared - there was a revenue block at Queen St. As ever, I was sold a ticket from Coryton rather than Whitchurch, despite stating Whitchurch as the origin - there is no difference in price and presumably it is easier for the guard not to reset their ticket machine.

Impressive to misname both your start and end point. Whitchurch (Cardiff), hasn’t been Whitchurch (Glam) for over 40 years, and Bute Road station was renamed Cardiff Bay over a quarter of a century ago too.

Did you also visit Cardiff General whilst there and maybe take a trolley bus after a quick dip at the Empire Pool?

 

[daodao]

Impressive to misname both your start and end point. Whitchurch (Cardiff), hasn’t been Whitchurch (Glam) for over 40 years, and Bute Road station was renamed Cardiff Bay over a quarter of a century ago too.

Did you also visit Cardiff General whilst there and maybe take a trolley bus after a quick dip at the Empire Pool?

I remember station names from when I first used them, and accept that to be consistent I should have referred to Whitchurch (South Glam.) as it was officially called in the 1980s. Bute Road doesn't exist, despite being the official name for the station then. The adjacent main road is Bute Street, which I recall distinctly - I purchased (in December 1984) the desk and chair I am using now from an office furniture retailer on Bute Street about 200 yards from Bute Road station. Cardiff's main station had been renamed Central by then, but the Empire Pool was still there; the trolleybuses had long since gone.

 

[oglord]

Impressive to misname both your start and end point. Whitchurch (Cardiff), hasn’t been Whitchurch (Glam) for over 40 years

I would suggest that there is nothing wrong with disambiguating stations by (correct) county names even if it is not part of the official name.

 

[John R]

I would suggest that there is nothing wrong with disambiguating stations by (correct) county names even if it is not part of the official name.

If "Whitchurch" had been used then, even though it's not the official name, I would not have referenced it. But to be precise enough to include the county name - but then get it wrong by two iterations and 45 years, appeared rather strange. And then there's the use of "Bute Rd" station which again hasn't been used in over 25 years....

 

[oglord]

But to be precise enough to include the county name - but then get it wrong by two iterations and 45 years, appeared rather strange.

Do not confuse county names with local authority names.

 

[John R]

Do not confuse county names with local authority names.

I'm well aware of the history of councils in South East Wales, given my father worked in them for over 40 years.

The formal title currently is as given in the constitution, namely:-

"This Constitution, and all its appendices, is the Constitution of the County Council of the City and County of Cardiff."

although usually abbreviated to Cardiff Council is all communications. So in what sense is it not a county?

Glamorgan ceased in the mid 70s, South Glamorgan in the mid 90s, and the formal station name updated each time. So my point remains - why be so precise to use the full station name and get it wrong by nearly half a century.

 

[oglord]

although usually abbreviated to Cardiff Council is all communications. So in what sense is it not a county?

In any sense except local government. There are three areas which the ONS define as counties in their Index of Place Names:

1. Areas defined as counties for the purposes of the Local Government Act 1972
2. Areas defined as counties for the purposes of the Lieutenancies Act 1997
3. Areas that are defined as counties for all other purposes, predating the Local Government Act 1888.

Glamorgan ceased in the mid 70s, South Glamorgan in the mid 90s, and the formal station name updated each time. So my point remains - why be so precise to use the full station name and get it wrong by nearly half a century.

Because you are again defining things based on the existence or not of a local government area (sense 1 above). For sense 2 the county is South Glamorgan, and for sense 3 it is Glamorgan. When not talking in the context of local government, sense 1 is not applicable. When not talking in the context of Lords Lieutenant or High Sheriffs, sense 2 is not applicable...

 

[Killingworth]

The 2018/19 figures are now rather academic, revised or not. The 2019/20 figures will be interesting because the threatening lock down effect started to kick in early in March. A few stations will still have achieved increases over the year, as might mine. 2020/21 data will be dire but far too early to predict how numerically dire until we know when semblances of normality can return.

Hereabouts nobody is using Northern services to go out into the Peak District, or to commute to Manchester by TPE, or going to Manchester Airport. Almost all deemed non-essential. Commuters are learning to work from home. Leisure users are far more likely to come back to Northern to get out walking. Air travel will be a totally new ball game!

 

[Purple Orange]

The 2018/19 figures are now rather academic, revised or not. The 2019/20 figures will be interesting because the threatening lock down effect started to kick in early in March. A few stations will still have achieved increases over the year, as might mine. 2020/21 data will be dire but far too early to predict how numerically dire until we know when semblances of normality can return.

Hereabouts nobody is using Northern services to go out into the Peak District, or to commute to Manchester by TPE, or going to Manchester Airport. Almost all deemed non-essential. Commuters are learning to work from home. Leisure users are far more likely to come back to Northern to get out walking. Air travel will be a totally new ball game!

It will be a different picture once we are allowed to resume normal life again. Although it is also fair to say that the extreme changes some people forecast will not happen. Working from home is the biggest one, but people forget that the vast majority of people who work in our city centres already work from home on a weekly basis. Then we have the notion of people not wanting to use public transport due to being in close proximity to others. While there will be some people like that, most will not. The litmus test for close proximity will be the first weekend pubs are opened. Then we have our general road congestion which is horrific at the best of times. Last, but by no means least, we have climate change - burning petrol and diesel in greater volumes is not an option. The main reason our air is cleaner now is because there is far fewer car journeys being made. Some people cite aviation as a factor, which it is, but cars are the biggest contributor to air pollution.