Usage tables for lines with many stops

[backontrack]

Hello all

I'm going to start using this thread for collecting usage statistics for lines such as the Cumbrian Coast and Cambrian Coast lines where one of the service's main characteristics is the sheer number of stations involved. I think that it could come in useful to see those figures in some discussions so that people can know how many people get off at x compared to y, and so on and so forth.

I'm going to use the ORR published statistics for each station's annual usage.

This is how the formatting is going to work:

York: station with over 5 million visits per year
Shrewsbury: station with over 1 million visits per year
Barrhead: station with over 0.5 million visits per year
Barmouth: station with over 0.1 million visits per year
Caersws: station with under 0.1 million visits per year
Criccieth: station with under 50,000 visits per year
Dovey Junction: station with under 10,000 visits per year
Shippea Hill: station with under 1,000 visits per year
Breich: station with under 100 visits per year

Altnabreac: request stop (in this case, with under 1,000 visits per year)
Falls of Cruachan: summer-only station
Dunrobin Castle: summer-only request stop station

(Carlisle): brackets denote a station served by services on other lines,
as well as by trains on the route that that post focuses on

Completed Lines
Atlantic Coast Line
Bentham Line
Cambrian Coast Line
Conwy Valley Line
Cumbrian Coast Line
Esk Valley Line
Far North Line
Furness Line
Heart of Wales Line
Highland Mainline
Kyle of Lochalsh Line
Nithsdale Line
Penistone Line
Settle and Carlisle Line
West Highland Lines

To-do list:
Barton Line
Bittern Line
Breckland Line
Looe Valley Line
Poacher Line
St Ives Bay Line
Tamar Valley Line
Tarka Line
Wherry Lines

 

[backontrack]

Cambrian Coast Line

(Shrewsbury: 2.088 million)
Aberystwyth: 0.327 million
Barmouth: 0.186 million
Welshpool: 0.171 million
Newtown: 0.162 million
Machynlleth: 0.136 million
Harlech: 0.114 million
Tywyn: 0.104 million
Pwllheli: 79,502
Porthmadog: 72,120
Caersws: 64,636
Borth: 64,498
Penrhyndeudraeth: 57,788
Fairbourne: 42,146
Aberdovey: 35,960
Llwyngwril: 30,076
Criccieth: 29,600
Talybont: 28,090
Dyffryn Ardudwy: 16,740
Minffordd am Portmeirion: 15,518
Llanbedr: 11,566
Morfa Mawddach: 10,880
Penhelig: 10,400
Talsarnau: 6,032
Llandanwg: 4,272
Dovey Junction: 4,084*
Penychain: 3,540
Pensarn: 3,234
Tonfanau: 2,758
Llanaber: 2,304
Abererch: 2,140
Tygwyn: 1,802
Llandecwyn: 1,792

*Dovey Junction (interchange): 9,035

 

[backontrack]

Atlantic Coast Line

(Par: 0.196 million*)
Newquay: 0.103 million
Bugle: 4,462
Roche: 4,176
Luxulyan: 2,404
Quintrell Downs: 2,342
St Columb Road: 1,878

*Par (interchange): 79,970

 

[backontrack]

Far North Line

(Inverness: 1.239 million*) v
Dingwall: 86,276† ^
Muir of Ord: 64,820 ^
Beauly: 51,522 v
Thurso: 39,174 ^
Tain: 29,774 ^
Invergordon: 28,958 ^
Alness: 29,272 ^
Wick: 17,546 v
Conon Bridge: 15,100 v
Ardgay: 7,140 v
Brora: 5,994 ^
Golspie: 5,786 ^
Lairg: 5,426 v
Fearn: 5,256 v
Helmsdale: 4,636 v
Forsinard: 2,210 ^
Rogart: 1,630 v
Georgemas Junction: 1,320 v
Dunrobin Castle: 1,030 ^
Altnabreac: 658
Invershin: 438 v
Kinbrace: 376 v
Culrain: 300 v
Kildonan: 206 ^
Scotscalder: 182 v

*Inverness (interchange): 59,821 v
† Dingwall (interchange): 491 ^

Alness has received its highest total for several years. Dingwall's gone up by 6,000, partially offsetting the striking fall it has received over recent years. There are steady increases at other Easter Ross stations, like Muir, Conon Bridge, Invergordon and Tain; Beauly continues its steadily decline. Are passengers switching to the bus in Ardgay (perhaps because some of those passengers are from Bonar Bridge) and Lairg? Perhaps it's the same story in Invershin, where usage has nearly halved (last year, it was 826). Dunrobin Castle's broken through 1,000, hurrah! Golspie and Brora are doing well; Helmsdale's fallen in usage, surprisingly - by over a hundred (two years ago, it had usage above 6,000). That ranks it below Fearn for the first time. Kildonan's gone from 76 to 206! Kinbrace has lost about a hundred passengers since last year. Forsinard continues to go from strength to strength with an additional hundred or so passengers using the station. Altnabreac's gone from 356 to 638, putting it ahead of Kinbrace! Poor old Scotscalder is now the line's least-used station, with only 182 passengers; however, no station on the line is below 100 this year. Georgemas has gone down by just shy of two hundred - does that signify Halkirk passengers switching to the bus? But the big story is that Thurso's risen again! About 1,050 more passengers than last year. Wick's fallen slightly - probably as a result of being on the route of the X99 - but not by a full hundred passengers.

The most alarming thing is that usage is falling at Inverness itself. Severed connections onto/off the Far North Line can't be helping those interchange statistics, though.

 

[BrianB]

It's when you divide those numbers up by the number of days in a service year, then again by 2, that the truly low daily usage becomes apparent, sometimes down to 1 passenger a week!

 

[backontrack]

Kyle of Lochalsh Line

(Inverness: 1.259 million*)
(Dingwall: 80,900†)
(Muir of Ord: 64,480)
Kyle of Lochalsh: 62,704
(Beauly: 52,870)
(Conon Bridge: 15,494)
Plockton: 9,998
Strathcarron: 7,678
Garve: 3,668
Achnasheen: 3,076
Stromeferry: 1,254
Attadale: 938
Duirinish: 930
Achnashellach: 878
Lochluichart: 532
Achanalt: 424
Duncraig: 348

*Inverness (interchange): 61,978
† Dingwall (interchange): 421

Usage is also sinking rather alarmingly for many of the stations on this line.

 

[backontrack]

It's when you divide those numbers up by the number of days in a service year, then again by 2, that the truly low daily usage becomes apparent, sometimes down to 1 passenger a week!

That's very true. I have to admit that I was surprised by how well some of the Cambrian coastal towns are doing, though - certainly much better than the Easter Ross towns!

 

[backontrack]

Cumbrian Coast Line

(Carlisle: 1.856 million*)
(Barrow-in-Furness: 0.653 million†)
Whitehaven: 0.251 million
Sellafield: 0.200 million
Millom: 0.195 million
Workington: 0.187 million
Maryport: 89,562
Askam: 65,752
St Bees: 51,114
Wigton: 49,124
Corkickle: 45,852
Seascale: 40,464
Ravenglass for Eskdale: 32,638
Harrington: 30,262
Aspatria: 25,904
Foxfield: 24,604
Dalston: 22,180
Kirkby-in-Furness: 14,578
Flimby: 11,678
Bootle: 11,850
Drigg: 10,348
Silecroft: 8,104
Parton: 7,396
Green Road: 6,982
Braystones: 956
Nethertown: 412

*Carlisle (interchange): 0.343 million
†Barrow-in-Furness (interchange): 17,566

 

[BrianB]

That's very true. I have to admit that I was surprised by how well some of the Cambrian coastal towns are doing, though - certainly much better than the Easter Ross towns!

if you work on the basis of Mondays to Saturdays only that gives 312 days a year; so a figure of 5000pa gives footfall of just 8 joiners and 8 alighters per whole day, spread across the number of trains calling.

 

[backontrack]

West Highland Lines

(Glasgow Queen Street: 20.550 million)
(Dalmuir: 0.961 million*)
(Dumbarton Central: 0.815 million†)
(Singer: 0.660 million)
Oban: 0.164 million
(Cardross: 0.145 million)
Fort William: 0.138 million‡
Mallaig: 86,406
(Possilpark and Parkhouse: 73,138)
(Maryhill: 64,050)
Taynuilt: 21,916
Crianlarich: 16,672§
Arrochar and Tarbet: 15,742
Helensburgh Upper: 14,276
Corrour: 11,092
Glenfinnan: 9,122
Garelochhead: 8,556
Rannoch: 7,780
Arisaig: 6,262
Connel Ferry: 6,262
Spean Bridge: 6,262
Banavie: 5,852
Bridge of Orchy: 5,680
Dalmally: 5,618
Tyndrum Lower: 5,510
Ardlui: 5,426
Morar: 4,576
Upper Tyndrum: 4,512
Loch Awe: 4,140
Roy Bridge: 3,556
Corpach: 2,518
Lochailort: 1,696
Tulloch: 1,616
Falls of Cruachan: 734
Loch Eil Outward Bound: 572
Locheilside: 372
Beasdale: 312

*Dalmuir (interchange): 0.120 million
†Dumbarton Central (interchange): 0.121 million
‡Fort William (interchange): 355
§Crianlarich (interchange): 1,775

Amazingly, Arisaig, Connel Ferry and Spean Bridge all share the same number of passengers.

 

[backontrack]

Highland Mainline

(Stirling: 2.338 million*)
(Inverness: 1.259 million†)
(Perth: 1.081 million‡)
(Larbert: 0.804 million)
(Dunblane: 0.519 million)
(Bridge of Allan: 0.271 million)
Aviemore: 0.145 million§
Pitlochry: 0.121 million
(Gleneagles: 68,730)
Kingussie: 44,200
Dunkeld and Birnam: 32,878
Blair Atholl: 17,598
Newtonmore: 8,770
Carrbridge: 5,808
Dalwhinnie: 3,188

*Stirling (interchange): 0.285 million
†Inverness (interchange): 61,978
‡Perth (interchange): 0.121 million
§Aviemore (interchange): 50

 

[absolutelymilk]

Wikipedia does a similar thing for some lines, e.g. the Severn Beach Line: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severn_Beach_line#Passenger_volume

It would be great if you could add this to those lines - let me know if you need any help with it.

 

[backontrack]

Settle and Carlisle Line

(Leeds: 29.724 million)
(Carlisle: 1.833 million*)
(Shipley: 1.739 million)
(Keighley: 1.703 million)
(Bingley: 1.220 million)
(Skipton: 1.091 million)
Settle: 0.133 million
Appleby: 53,036†
(Hellifield: 26,896)
Kirkby Stephen: 26,786
(Gargrave: 26,570)
Ribblehead: 18,930
Langwathby: 17,870
Horton-in-Ribblesdale: 16,096
Garsdale: 15,684
(Long Preston: 13,918)
Lazonby and Kirkoswald: 12,510
Dent: 8,484
Armathwaite: 5,950

*Carlisle (interchange): 0.353 million
†Appleby (interchange): 2

I have used the 2015-16 usage figures for all the stations on this line rather than the 2016-17 figures. This is because the latter data set was skewed by the Eden Brows landslip, which closed the line north of Appleby-in-Westmorland for about a year.

 

[backontrack]

Bentham Line

(Leeds: 29.724 million)
(Lancaster: 2.034 million)
(Carlisle: 1.833 million*)
(Shipley: 1.739 million)
(Keighley: 1.703 million)
(Bingley: 1.220 million)
(Skipton: 1.091 million)
(Morecambe: 0.235 million)
(Carnforth: 0.207 million†)
(Bare Lane: 0.188 million)
(Hellifield: 26,896)
(Gargrave: 26,570)
Bentham: 22,578
(Long Preston: 13,918)
Giggleswick: 12,918
Heysham Port: 9,128
Clapham: 6,654
Wennington: 3,956

*Carlisle (interchange): 0.353 million
†Carnforth (interchange): 9,913

I have used the 2015-16 usage figures for all the stations on this line rather than the 2016-17 figures. This is because the latter data set was skewed by the Eden Brows landslip, which closed the Settle and Carlisle Line north of Appleby-in-Westmorland for about a year; because that line is linked to the Bentham Line at Hellifield, and because some passengers may choose to change trains at Long Preston or Hellifield to visit the Yorkshire Dales, the Eden Valley or the North Pennines, it seems sensible to use the most recent data set from when both lines were operating in completeness for the full year.

 

[Bald Rick]

West Highland Lines


Roy Bridge: 3,556


Amazingly, Arisaig, Connel Ferry and Spean Bridge all share the same number of passengers.

Good grief - I was responsible for 0.3% of Roy Bridge’s usage!

 

[backontrack]

Good grief - I was responsible for 0.3% of Roy Bridge’s usage!

I'm sure he'll be very pleased with that.

 

[snowball]

Good grief - I was responsible for 0.3% of Roy Bridge’s usage!

Did you use it 10 times?

 

[backontrack]

Esk Valley Line

(Middlesbrough: 1.356 million)
Whitby: 0.132 million
Nunthorpe: 35,814
Gypsy Lane: 32,996
James Cook: 31,402
Glaisdale: 18,298
Lealholm: 17,358
Marton: 13,696
Grosmont: 13,514
Egton: 12,088
Great Ayton: 6,890
Danby: 6,334
Castleton Moor: 5,444
Sleights: 4,188
Commondale: 3,754
Ruswarp: 2,568
Battersby: 1,660
Kildale: 1,416

 

[backontrack]

Nithsdale Line

(Glasgow Central: 32.060 million)
(Carlisle: 1.856 million*)
Barrhead: 0.738 million
(Crossmyloof: 0.689 million)
(Kilmarnock: 0.589 million)
Dumfries: 0.362 million†
Stewarton: 0.311 million
(Pollokshaws West: 0.146 million)
Priesthill & Darnley: 0.145 million
Annan: 0.124 million
Nitshill: 0.112 million
Kilmaurs: 0.104 million
Dunlop: 91,990
Kennishead: 79,240
Auchinleck: 61,838
Gretna Green: 39,042
Sanquhar: 27,350
New Cumnock: 26,604
Kirkconnel: 19,050

*Carlisle (interchange): 0.343 million
†Dumfries (interchange): 83

 

[Bald Rick]

Did you use it 10 times?

Twelve!

 

[daodao]

Hello all

I'm going to start using this thread for collecting usage statistics for lines such as the Cumbrian Coast and Cambrian Coast lines where one of the service's main characteristics is the sheer number of stations involved. I think that it could come in useful to see those figures in some discussions so that people can know how many people get off at x compared to y, and so on and so forth.

I'm going to use the ORR published statistics for each station's annual usage.
............

Beware that these statistics are based on ticket sales, and on lines with frequent stops, where tickets are sold by the guard and fares are the same from adjacent stations, these can be very misleading. I lived very close to Whitchurch station in Cardiff for over 20 years, and regularly used the service on the Coryton branch, which has 6 stations within 3 miles. Fares from Coryton/Whitchurch/Rhiwbina to Cardiff are the same, or at least used to be when I lived there. Most of the tickets I purchased (on the train) were issued with Coryton as the departure station, despite me boarding at Whitchurch station, because this was easiest for the guard.

Assuming that my experience was not unique, the usage statistics for Whitchurch station have probably been artificially suppressed. I am aware that Valley Lines stations now mostly have TVMs, and note that annual usage at Whitchurch has nearly trebled from 2012/3 to 2016/7, presumably as tickets are now being purchased at the boarding station rather than from the guard. The same has occurred at Rhiwbina and Birchgrove. In the same period, apparent usage at Coryton has declined.

 

[backontrack]

Heart of Wales Line

(Llanelli: 0.413 million)
(Craven Arms: 0.101 million*)
Llandrindod 40,768
Knighton: 20,714
Ammanford: 19,428
Llandovery: 15,596
Llandeilo: 18,764
Llandybie: 9,382
Builth Road: 7,672
Llanwrtyd: 7,484
Pontarddulais: 5,522
Bucknell: 5,516
Llangadog: 5,324
Pantyffynon: 4,076
Knucklas: 3,670
Llangennech: 3,064
Ffairfach: 2,552
Llanwrda: 2,206
Llangammarch: 1,996
Bynea: 1,950
Pen-y-Bont: 1,858
Cilmeri: 1,698
Dolau: 1,528
Hopton Heath: 1,332
Cynghordy: 994
Garth (Powys): 974
Llanbister Road: 860
Broome: 782
Llangynllo: 720
Sugar Loaf: 228

*Craven Arms (interchange): 1,878

 

[centraltrains]

Would be more interesting if they were in order of calling pattern to see where the dips are i.e. is there any bunching or is it well spread out?

 

[backontrack]

Furness Line

(Lancaster: 2.034 million)
(Barrow-in-Furness: 0.653 million*)
Ulverston: 0.302 million
(Carnforth: 0.207 million†)
Grange-over-Sands: 0.154 million
Arnside: 0.111 million
Dalton: 76,690
Cark and Cartmel: 75,790
Roose: 58,492
Silverdale: 55,892
Kents Bank: 28,262

*Barrow-in-Furness (interchange): 17,566
†Carnforth (interchange): 9,913

 

[backontrack]

Penistone Line

(Sheffield: 9.538 million*)
(Huddersfield: 5.093 million)
(Meadowhall: 2.015 million†)
(Barnsley: 1.479 million‡)
(Chapeltown: 0.343 million)
(Wombwell: 0.215 million)
Denby Dale: 0.197 million
Penistone: 0.156 million
(Elsecar: 0.155 million)
Shepley: 69,936
Brockholes: 60,082
Honley: 57,838
Lockwood: 48,384
Dodworth: 46,244
Silkstone Common: 40,248
Berry Brow: 30,316
Stocksmoor: 22,854

*Sheffield (interchange): 1.054 million
†Meadowhall (interchange): 39,843
‡Barnsley (interchange): 29,065

 

[backontrack]

Conwy Valley Line

(Llandudno Junction: 0.320 million*)
(Llandudno: 0.297 million)
Blaenau Ffestiniog: 40,710
Betws-y-Coed: 36,286
Llanrwst: 14,770
(Deganwy: 9,854)
Dolwyddelan: 3,918
Glan Conwy: 3,566
Tal-y-Cafn: 1,328
North Llanrwst: 1,582
Dolgarrog: 1,002
Pont-y-Pant: 812
Roman Bridge: 744

*Llandudno Junction (interchange): 72,643

 

[backontrack]

I'm in the process of updating these statistics. So far, I've only done the Far North Line.