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11-12 station usage: Welsh context

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jones_bangor

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Sourced from the ORR website.

Rank / Station Name / 11-12 Entries & Exits / (10-11 Entries & Exits)
1 Cardiff Central 11,502,080 (11,259,968)
2 Cardiff Queen Street 2,488,932 (2,411,438)
3 Newport (Gwent) 2,273,932 (2,291,040)
4 Swansea 2,148,042 (2,155,906)
5 Bridgend 1,578,288 (1,604,944)
6 Trefforest 911,800 (769,646)
7 Pontypridd 873,660 (1,034,976)
8 Neath 809,610 (819,546)
9 Cardiff Bay 793,368 (753,148)
10 Cathays 755,434 (701,082)
11 Caerphilly 678,406 (665,328)
12 Bangor (Gwynedd) 675,748 (633,664)
13 Rhyl 633,238 (609,178)
14 Wrexham General 622,148 (613,618)
15 Barry Island 617,220 (618,346)
16 Penarth 589,422 (586,048)
17 Aberdare 537,548 (524,592)
18 Treherbert 512,582 (526,862)
19 Barry 506,304 (503,634)
20 Port Talbot Parkway 478,180 (478,844)
 
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sonic2009

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What's so special about Trefforest to justify numbers (and an increase) of this size?

The University of Glamorgan has it's main campus in the village, this would explain the high numbers of passenger usage.
 

anthony263

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More students attending the nearby university Ivo and I think there have been some additional housing devlopment in the area.

Of course many people are becoming fed up with rush hour traffic on the A470 so that could be another reason
 

Swirlz

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How is this data calculated? Actual passenger counts or ticket sales data?

A possible reason for North Wales stations seeing an increase is that Arriva Trains Wales seems to have been conducting increasingly frequent revenue protection exercises, which could have pushed up ticket sale data, when normally, passengers would leave without paying and presumably no data would be recorded about their (free) journey...
 

Quakers Yard

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Treforest would have thousands more if people used the TVM!
The numbers from there to Cathays and Pontypridd must be staggering.
 

WatcherZero

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How is this data calculated? Actual passenger counts or ticket sales data?

A possible reason for North Wales stations seeing an increase is that Arriva Trains Wales seems to have been conducting increasingly frequent revenue protection exercises, which could have pushed up ticket sale data, when normally, passengers would leave without paying and presumably no data would be recorded about their (free) journey...

Nowadays it directly uses the Lennon ATOC ticket sales data, recieves estimates of rail use from secondary ticket sellers like PTE's and attempts to distribute rovers, Station groups and PTE ticket passengeres without origin or destination on a ratio of station popularity for those tickets refined by manual counts every few years.
 

swcovas

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I posted this on the other thread re footfall:

For anyone interested:

Cambrian main line +5.4%
Coast Line +1.5%
West Wales main line +5.3%
Pemb Dock Line +7.6%

HOWL seen virtually negligible increase except Sugar Loaf's stunning 35% increase!!!

All this on what was supposed to be a "no growth" franchise!
swcovas is online now Report Post Edit/Delete Message
 

LNW-GW Joint

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I posted this on the other thread re footfall:

For anyone interested:
Cambrian main line +5.4%
Coast Line +1.5%
West Wales main line +5.3%
Pemb Dock Line +7.6%
HOWL seen virtually negligible increase except Sugar Loaf's stunning 35% increase!!!
All this on what was supposed to be a "no growth" franchise!

Plenty of surprising reductions too:
Newport, Swansea, Bridgend, Ponty (and Chester, ATW's northern capital).
 

Arglwydd Golau

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The University of Glamorgan has it's main campus in the village, this would explain the high numbers of passenger usage.

Isn't it also signposted from the A470 as a 'Park and Ride' (or similar). I remember a few years ago thinking that I would do my bit to ease traffic congestion in Cardiff and so decided to catch the train (having driven early morning from Bangor). The car park was absolutely full, had no alternative but to park with half the car on a kerb or else I would be late and was subsequently fined £30!
I don't know whether the car park has been enlarged now.
 

swcovas

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Isn't it also signposted from the A470 as a 'Park and Ride' (or similar). I remember a few years ago thinking that I would do my bit to ease traffic congestion in Cardiff and so decided to catch the train (having driven early morning from Bangor). The car park was absolutely full, had no alternative but to park with half the car on a kerb or else I would be late and was subsequently fined £30!
I don't know whether the car park has been enlarged now.

Is it any coincidence that the combined totals for Ponty & Trefforest are virtually unchanged over the two years? Anything to do with some form of ticketing calculation?
 

Quakers Yard

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Is it any coincidence that the combined totals for Ponty & Trefforest are virtually unchanged over the two years? Anything to do with some form of ticketing calculation?



Two words. Fare zones. Same fare from Ponty. I make the guard change my ticket if its done from Merthyr going south!
 

Rhydgaled

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What dates do the estimates begin/end? Is it May timetable change to May timetable change? September to September?

Fishguard Harbour is marked with an 'Explanation of large change' but all this says is: 'continues high growth from previous year', with an increase of around 8,000. Fishguard & Goodwick station doesn't appear to be included, but if the estimate is May to May it wouldn't have been opened yet.
 

Gareth Marston

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What's so special about Trefforest to justify numbers (and an increase) of this size?



None of them are busy enough ;) Even Aberystwyth only has 326,000.

Only 11 arrivals and 10 departures though for such a sparse service it probably has one of highest footfall divided by services a year numbers. I make it 46 a train
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I posted this on the other thread re footfall:

For anyone interested:

Cambrian main line +5.4%
Coast Line +1.5%
West Wales main line +5.3%
Pemb Dock Line +7.6%

HOWL seen virtually negligible increase except Sugar Loaf's stunning 35% increase!!!

All this on what was supposed to be a "no growth" franchise!
swcovas is online now Report Post Edit/Delete Message

Ceredigion stations up 3.3 Montgomeryshire 7.4
 
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merlodlliw

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Sourced from the ORR website.

Rank / Station Name / 11-12 Entries & Exits / (10-11 Entries & Exits)
1 Cardiff Central 11,502,080 (11,259,968)
2 Cardiff Queen Street 2,488,932 (2,411,438)
3 Newport (Gwent) 2,273,932 (2,291,040)
4 Swansea 2,148,042 (2,155,906)
5 Bridgend 1,578,288 (1,604,944)
6 Trefforest 911,800 (769,646)
7 Pontypridd 873,660 (1,034,976)
8 Neath 809,610 (819,546)
9 Cardiff Bay 793,368 (753,148)
10 Cathays 755,434 (701,082)
11 Caerphilly 678,406 (665,328)
12 Bangor (Gwynedd) 675,748 (633,664)
13 Rhyl 633,238 (609,178)
14 Wrexham General 622,148 (613,618)
15 Barry Island 617,220 (618,346)
16 Penarth 589,422 (586,048)
17 Aberdare 537,548 (524,592)
18 Treherbert 512,582 (526,862)
19 Barry 506,304 (503,634)
20 Port Talbot Parkway 478,180 (478,844)

I find Cardiff Bay figures inflated,when I use the DMU only a handful use it.

As for Wrexham a good growth for two trains an hour,I always queried Rhyl figures as I use the station a lot, but then Rhyl does have up to six trains an hour & serves the Vale of Clwyd up to Ruthin.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Plenty of surprising reductions too:
Newport, Swansea, Bridgend, Ponty (and Chester, ATW's northern capital).

Now Chester does surprise me, as its ATWs only station with four tocs using it,what was the supposed reduction at Chester? I always have difficulty reading these tables.
Chester also has vast numbers using the electrics.
 
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LNW-GW Joint

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I find Cardiff Bay figures inflated,when I use the DMU only a handful use it.

As for Wrexham a good growth for two trains an hour,I always queried Rhyl figures as I use the station a lot, but then Rhyl does have up to six trains an hour & serves the Vale of Clwyd up to Ruthin.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Now Chester does surprise me, as its ATWs only station with four tocs using it,what was the supposed reduction at Chester? I always have difficulty reading these tables.
Chester also has vast numbers using the electrics.

2010/11 3.053m with 0.724m interchanges
2011/12 2.949m with 0.812m interchanges
So down 104k (3%) on entries/exits but up 88k on interchanges.

More people must be changing at Chester.
I think the introduction of the Merseyrail Day Saver might have something to do with the reduction, because unlike the previous point-to-point tickets if you buy it in Liverpool (eg for Chester shopping or the races) they have no idea you are going to Chester rather than Southport, say.
 

Ivo

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I find Cardiff Bay figures inflated,when I use the DMU only a handful use it.

It can't be denied that 793,368 is a huge number for an unstaffed station - nowhere else comes even close (to my knowledge anyway). Many stations in even London are smaller than it. However...

Mondays to Saturdays: 12 minute service, 0640 - 2354 = 87 each way = 174 trains per day
Sundays: 12 minute service, 0904 - 1854 = 50 each way = 100 trains per day
Week total = 174 x 6 + 100 = 1,144 trains per week
Year total = 1,144 x 52 = 59,488 trains per year (not a perfect calculation owing to public holidays and February 29th; however, Christmas Day is accounted for)

793,368 ÷ 59,488 = 13.3366 passengers per journey

Still think it's inflated?
 

jones_bangor

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As for Wrexham a good growth for two trains an hour,I always queried Rhyl figures as I use the station a lot, but then Rhyl does have up to six trains an hour & serves the Vale of Clwyd up to .

I'm not sure which timetables you've been reading, but Wrexham has more than two trains an hour!! More like 5+
 

swcovas

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It can't be denied that 793,368 is a huge number for an unstaffed station - nowhere else comes even close (to my knowledge anyway). Many stations in even London are smaller than it. However...

Mondays to Saturdays: 12 minute service, 0640 - 2354 = 87 each way = 174 trains per day
Sundays: 12 minute service, 0904 - 1854 = 50 each way = 100 trains per day
Week total = 174 x 6 + 100 = 1,144 trains per week
Year total = 1,144 x 52 = 59,488 trains per year (not a perfect calculation owing to public holidays and February 29th; however, Christmas Day is accounted for)

793,368 ÷ 59,488 = 13.3366 passengers per journey



Still think it's inflated?

Nice calculations!!!! I was going to point out that the Bay trains CAN be full and standing and CAN be just a handful. Depends when you travel, just like any other commuter type service. I've travelled a number of times to Penarth off peak and have been one of just a half dozen on the train. Same applies.
 
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merlodlliw

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I'm not sure which timetables you've been reading, but Wrexham has more than two trains an hour!! More like 5+

I am counting the Chester/Salop line, one train an hour up & Down, I have no idea how the Bidston pax are counted.If I include the Bidston line its three an hour(discouinting Wrexham General to Central & rtn))
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Nice calculations!!!! I was going to point out that the Bay trains CAN be full and standing and CAN be just a handful. Depends when you travel, just like any other commuter type service. I've travelled a number of times to Penarth off peak and have been one of just a half dozen on the train. Same applies.

with 174 trains a day, that's an awful lot of passengers for a four minute journey,its almost like Wrexham General to Wrexham Central distance,but with one train an hour each way, 174 journeys a day can add up though.That figure for an unmanned halt is staggering
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
2010/11 3.053m with 0.724m interchanges
2011/12 2.949m with 0.812m interchanges
So down 104k (3%) on entries/exits but up 88k on interchanges.

More people must be changing at Chester.
I think the introduction of the Merseyrail Day Saver might have something to do with the reduction, because unlike the previous point-to-point tickets if you buy it in Liverpool (eg for Chester shopping or the races) they have no idea you are going to Chester rather than Southport, say.

So I presume Chester is ATWs 2nd busiest Managed station after Cardiff Central,& of the four tocs using Chester my order of pax traveled would be
1. Merseyrail electrics
2.ATW
3,VT
4.Northern
 
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WatcherZero

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What dates do the estimates begin/end? Is it May timetable change to May timetable change? September to September?

Fishguard Harbour is marked with an 'Explanation of large change' but all this says is: 'continues high growth from previous year', with an increase of around 8,000. Fishguard & Goodwick station doesn't appear to be included, but if the estimate is May to May it wouldn't have been opened yet.

Financial year, April-April.
 

swcovas

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Only 11 arrivals and 10 departures though for such a sparse service it probably has one of highest footfall divided by services a year numbers. I make it 46 a train
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---



Ceredigion stations up 3.3 Montgomeryshire 7.4

Good point re number of trains. Aber and Carmarthen are similar size towns and, yes, Carmarthen has about 90k more passengers a year but with many MANY more trains!!

But Aber alone up by 5%
 
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merlodlliw

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Just reiterating my point though is that the avg passengers per train must be far higher for Aber trains than Carmarthen trains! Bring on the hourly service!!!

Yes good point, that makes the Wrexham General pax per train very high as well,especially on the Chester/Salop run. One will have to see what the redoubling & its supposed extra 4 trains an hour bring in (6 in place of 2 an hour as stated by Mike Bagshaw)
 
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