You'd be surprised how many people get on and off that train at Wakefield Kirkgate some times. Not sure which of the stations they're going to or coming from though.
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Most Successful New Station
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You'd be surprised how many people get on and off that train at Wakefield Kirkgate some times. Not sure which of the stations they're going to or coming from though.
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swcovas
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I think it's fair to say that with a few exceptions the new stations and lines opened in Wales in the last 25 years or so have been a success, meeting or exceeding expectations.
Very true I've always seen far more people on it at that end of the line than the other one! But I always assumed that's because it's easier to get to Leeds from Wakefield than Pontefract. The couple of times I've done it that way those people have mainly come from Featherstone.
DavidBrown
Member
There must be an honourable mention to Digby & Sowton - a single platform, unstaffed station that opened in 1995 on a single-track branch line. It's now seeing almost 750,000 passengers a year - surely one of the busiest stations of its type in the country?
JohnB57
Member
But there's already a shopping centre nearby that has an adjacent station. It's called Leeds.
So you think the railway should be used to cultivate demand rather than respond to it? It has a role to play shaping the country, but if lots of people want to go to the White Rose Centre (and they do) then I'd much rather they go by train than car, which they all do at present. Ditto The Trafford Centre (though that's likely to be getting a tram link).
And down the road in South Yorkshire there's a shopping Centre in Central Sheffield with a station nearby. But some people choose to shop at Meadowhall which seems to be doing quite well and as has been commented above, the station built to serve has also done well.
I gather the tram-train experiment is to serve the Parkgate Retail park and wonder if there's any way rail can benefit from that.
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Must be one of the best returns per £ invested.
Is there a busier single platform station anywhere?
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MidnightFlyer
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It was planned to be staffed in the new Great Western franchise but I can't find anything to back that thought up - it might have got lost amongst the new franchising carry on. There was a booking office built with the station as far as I know, however it has remained empty since construction: it's in the building at the station entrance afaik.
Chafford Hundred (for Lakeside since we're discussing shopping centres
) is well in excess of a million passengers per annum and is a single platform, as has been mentioned on here previously I believe.Regarding shopping, I wonder if that is also not a drawback for EMP and similar Parkway stations? I don't mean they need an OOT shopping mall on the power station site, exactly, but commuters, when they climb into their cars for the last leg, often stop off to buy things for supper, etc.
I am surprised at Digby and Sowton, as that seemed to be in a rather remote location, although it was a few years ago when I visited. Perhaps it's developed now?
I am surprised at Digby and Sowton, as that seemed to be in a rather remote location, although it was a few years ago when I visited. Perhaps it's developed now?
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I'm sure the metro centre has done well, as well. Not massive, but decent.
On Southern we had Mouslecombe station. that opened in the early 80's. One of the first openings down south for a while. does quite well.
On the other hand, which ones have failed, badly. I remember them (re)opening Dunston station. Used by the odd one or two. Now, by not many at all.
Some on the metro line passed Sunderland I know are well down on expected numbers.
Perhaps also Ebsfleet on HS1
On Southern we had Mouslecombe station. that opened in the early 80's. One of the first openings down south for a while. does quite well.
On the other hand, which ones have failed, badly. I remember them (re)opening Dunston station. Used by the odd one or two. Now, by not many at all.
Some on the metro line passed Sunderland I know are well down on expected numbers.
Perhaps also Ebsfleet on HS1
Regardless of the semantics of the phrase 'white elephant', it was seen as such because of the lower than expected use. This report sums it up quite nicely;
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa..._data/file/3932/demand-forecasting-report.pdf
Essentially, at 2008/9, use was 27% lower than expected. Going to backcasting attributes this to the decision to reduce the airport bus link to 3ph rather than originally forecast 6 or 8.
Other stations that weren't used as much as expected include Imperial Wharf, Aylesbury Vale Parkway, Chandlers Ford, Newcraighall and Merryton (page iv).
There was also a number of other papers about the forecasting used for Liverpool South Parkway but I can't find them at the moment. They effectively shifted the blame from Merseytravel not delivering what was promised, to over optimistic demand forecasting.
On a personal level, I enjoyed using South Parkway as my local station. Functional and spacious, but the lack of facilities including a decent cafe, TVMs, toilets and a waiting room nearer the platforms was irritating for such a new station. Not to mention the, err, interesting choice of music that was played, which seemed to be very non-standard late at night
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dk1
Veteran Member
What a fantastic success story Meadowhall is. Such a pleasent station too with the gardens.
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Digby & Sowton seems to go from strength to strength.
451%!!!! I think Ebbw Vale Parkway wins that one hands down!
Seriously though that's some highly interesting data. Thank you - I wonder if they might produce a more up to date version at some point? It also suggests that in a large majority of cases they get it right and the stations are more well used than was originally expected. Or perhaps that's actually case of getting it wrong and weakening the case for more new stations by under-predicting?
Seriously though that's some highly interesting data. Thank you - I wonder if they might produce a more up to date version at some point? It also suggests that in a large majority of cases they get it right and the stations are more well used than was originally expected. Or perhaps that's actually case of getting it wrong and weakening the case for more new stations by under-predicting?
steamybrian
Established Member
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Ebbsfleet International in the year 2012/3..........1.175 million passengers and rising rapidly year to year since opening.
I have used the station once to purchase... a platform ticket. I still remember the startled look on the booking clerks face on issuing the ticket and handing over 10p for the ticket.
hock:
:?
MidnightFlyer
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First in the South East since the 1950s if I remember correctly.
dk1
Veteran Member
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Ebbsfleet International in the year 2012/3..........1.175 million passengers and rising rapidly year to year since opening.
I have used the station once to purchase... a platform ticket. I still remember the startled look on the booking clerks face on issuing the ticket and handing over 10p for the ticket.
New town about to be built all around now the recession is well & truly behind us.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
Ebbw Vale Parkway and the stations along the route exceeded all expectations in the number of passengers after re-opening in 2008.
And yet it's still stuck with just 1tph, no Newport service and still hasn't been extended to Ebbw Vale Town...
Andrewlong
Member
How many passengers is the new Stratford Upon Avon Parkway station getting ? Expensive station with new huge car park and underused shuttle bus to serve a station with 1 tph average. I am yet to be convinced that this station will be ever be success Warwick Parkway is.
Which station has 1tph? Stratford Parkway appears to have considerably more - and only 3 trains pass in service today without calling.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...21/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=passenger&order=wtt
thealexweb
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Might be a bit old for discussion now but Newcraighall opened in 2001 and currently has a half hourly service Mon to Sat. The station has cheap parking (50p per day) and excellent rolling stock for such a small station (158 or 170) yet it has failed to take off with just 0.207 million tickets in 2012/13.
gazthomas
Established Member
50p per day - that's outstanding!
Isn't the car park at Ebbw Vale Pway free?
Andyjs247
Member
Can I nominate Birmingham International? Opened in 1976, nothing there previously, and over 4.5million passengers in 2012-13.
I can think of the Edmonton to Cheshunt line, with three new intermediate stations at Southbury, Turkey Street and Theobalds Grove, which all opened in the 1960s upon electrification.
MidnightFlyer
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Indeed; however I was thinking more about the old Southern Region, I suppose I should have specified that.
"Failed to take off" is a little harsh. If you listed all UK stations in order of users then Newcraighall would be nearly halfway up the list, which is pretty good.
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Walsden lost passengers when they messed up the service a few years ago.
It's still probably contributing £400k pa or so in cash which isn't bad for a few planks of wood with no staffing costs.
MK Tom
Established Member
How would Aylesbury Vale Parkway rank on here? It was built for a housing estate that then didn't get built for another four years, so it's only now beginning to find any real custom.
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