Station usage data - adopt an inloved station

[David Pemberton]

Hello

The ORR's figures for 09/10 station usage are available (here) and also reported in the mainstream and specialist media.

The data mainly comes from LENNON ticket sales via MOIRA (see report for detailed methodology).

I wondered about adopting a little-used station by occasionally buying tickets to/from it, but never actually making the journey. For example a return from Aslockton to Elton & Orston costs £2 and will count as two journeys, a monthly season ticket £29.60 will count as 45 journeys. For poor old Elton & Orston 45 journeys will boost usage by over 25%.

So I could ask for a monthly season ticket for a birthday present, and weekly season ticket as a stocking-filler, and every now again buy a standard return for £2 (perhaps when a ticket inspector has been a little over officious). By the end of the year station usage will be up so much as to require comment in the next set of stats...

Lots of over lovely little stations to adopt, how about Sugar Loaf with just 106 entries and exits, or Combe with just 42. You could skew the Coombe figures for less than the cost a round of drinks in a London wine bar.

Best wishes

David

P.S. This is obviously silly & irresponsible, and no one should attempt to corrupt data that is vital to the planning of the nation's railways.

 

[causton]

Or how about randomly making the journeys?

 

[142094]

In the past I was thinking that this could be a good way of ensuring that a station isn't closed down - however I've yet to put it into practise.

 

[infobleep]

From later this year I aim to travel on one parliamentary train service a year; or visit a station with a parliamentary service; or use a line that has a parliamentary service running over it. The station usage figures are really helpful in finding such services or stations.

This isn't so easy because parliamentary services are by their very nature run sparingly. I don't drive either so rely on public transport or my feet to get me their or back from the train journey, assuming only one direct journey is available or suitable.

Kind regards

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Infobleep, the easiest one to do is the Chiltern 11.36 off Paddington to High Wycombe Mon - Fri. First stop currently Gerrard's Cross, but some posters have said it will gain a Ruislip call in the May timetable which makes it Travelcardable*.

And there is enough time to easily do this one and then get down to Streatham Hill for the one a day direct to Tulse Hill ( I forget the time! ).



*Ooh - I invented a word!