There's 4 buses an hour between Branchton, IBM and Wemyss Bay (There's 2 906s each hour connecting all stations between Branchton and Wemyss Bay, and 2 585s connecting Branchton, IBM and Wemyss Bay only - it doesn't run via Inverkip)
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IBM (Halt) Closure & Possible Re-opening
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flitwickbeds
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There is no need to be facetious - it adds nothing to the topic under discussion.
All I am pointing out is that formal closure process has been not followed as required by the Railways Act 2005. There may be a reason for this - Scotrail/Transport Scotland should provide it as requested by @FelixtheCat:
Will await their explanation with interest!
But as #207 says, it's not being closed. Services are being suspended and the station mothballed until the area is redeveloped. It would be a complete waste of everyone's time to go through a formal closure process. No wonder rail enthusiasts aren't taken seriously. 214 posts debating a perfectly sensible decision - I never thought I'd say that about SPT!
I'm not sure where you've plucked the idea that trains only stop at Reddish South during summer from - the service there is year round.
flitwickbeds
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I can't find anything calling there at all on RealTimeTrains (for the last week, or the next 10 or so days) or RecentTrainTimes (the last three months or so) so I assumed it was summer only. Is that not the case?
The one return journey a week is timetabled for Saturdays year-round but has not run recently due to the RMT strike action affecting Northern every Saturday in recent months.
flitwickbeds
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This thread seems to be going round in circles and the usual condescending posts of the ScotRail Defence Force are quite hard to read.
Mothballing the station is absolutely the right thing to do, as figures have been dropping faster than you can imagine and will likely be into 3 figures this year. There is no purpose for the station. I’d echo concerns that the correct protocol was not being carried out if the station was actually closing however, as a precedent like that can’t be set.
In terms of station damage (by thugs, weather, greenery etc), even if the area is redeveloped, it’s unlikely (like most other stations on the branch) to ever break into 6 figures in terms of passenger numbers, therefore the platform shouldn’t need huge amount of work. Things such as CIS, ticket machines would need to be installed anyway, as they aren’t there currently I believe. So it’s not like anything other than the SmartCard machine would be damaged.
Mothballing the station is absolutely the right thing to do, as figures have been dropping faster than you can imagine and will likely be into 3 figures this year. There is no purpose for the station. I’d echo concerns that the correct protocol was not being carried out if the station was actually closing however, as a precedent like that can’t be set.
In terms of station damage (by thugs, weather, greenery etc), even if the area is redeveloped, it’s unlikely (like most other stations on the branch) to ever break into 6 figures in terms of passenger numbers, therefore the platform shouldn’t need huge amount of work. Things such as CIS, ticket machines would need to be installed anyway, as they aren’t there currently I believe. So it’s not like anything other than the SmartCard machine would be damaged.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
can you explain how you think this wont set a precedent?
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Because IBM is not similar to any other station in the country other than possibly Redcar British Steel and Stanlow and Thornton. It might set precedent for those two (the latter being even odder as being a public station with no public access), but not any others.
With regard to other stations, Wedgewood, Barlaston, Norton Bridge (a bit of a special case[1]) and Polesworth set it years ago, if Denton and Reddish South hadn't already. (Parliamentary services are only of interest to enthusiasts).
[1] A special case because the slow lines were moved away from the station making it basically unservable, and putting a new station on the new slow lines would not have been close enough to the village (or anything else for that matter) to serve any kind of purpose.
I'm sure we established earlier that "mothballing" with no more trains stopping and no replacement bus service (or at the very least direction to a nearby bus stop where NR tickets will be valid ) was a closure. Does the term "mothballing" carry any legal weight with respect to the 2005 Railways Act? Does "mothballing" mean temporary closure? Is there a guarantee that a "mothballed" station will reopen in the future?
Altnabreac
Established Member
There seem to be lots of people on this thread arguing in favour of a formal closure of a station that could be a very useful public transport link in years to come.
I’m merely arguing that temporary suspension of services while redevelopment takes place seems an acceptable arrangement to me.
I’m not worried about precedent because it is such an unusual case with a private station and lack of public access.
Posters here seem to be demanding formal closure proceedings. But obviously SPT and the local authority are also happy with this arrangement and view it as better than a formal closure process as it is easy to get the station running again once the redevelopment takes place.
LOL The Irony
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I don't think arguing for it, just being too short-sighted to see their actions may cause it's permanent closure.
snookertam
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Anyone waiting a response from Transport Scotland could also make an enquiry to Inverclyde Council, as to what involvement they had in the process. Whilst they're not the authority with power to decide whether the station remains open or not, they could reveal what consultation that they had with ScotRail and/or TS. I'd suggest that given this plan has been public knowledge for a few days now without so much as a peep from anyone at the council or any elected reps suggests at the very least no one has an issue with the plan, and that it's probably likely they've been kept fully up to speed.
As for those suggesting a potential precedent, I have my doubts for the reasons already set out (private facility with no public access) but I'm sure TS can explain for themselves whether they have followed the appropriate process. I would also add that TS went to the trouble of holding a consultation about Breich just last year and reversed their proposal to close the station, even at additional cost to the electrification project. So they're not exactly averse to following due process in these matters.
As for those suggesting a potential precedent, I have my doubts for the reasons already set out (private facility with no public access) but I'm sure TS can explain for themselves whether they have followed the appropriate process. I would also add that TS went to the trouble of holding a consultation about Breich just last year and reversed their proposal to close the station, even at additional cost to the electrification project. So they're not exactly averse to following due process in these matters.
snookertam
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Just had a wee look at the Railways Act 2005 and I noticed that it is possible for Scottish Ministers, by order, to exclude a proposal to discontinue operation of a station from having to be subject to a consultation process. However, having checked legislation.gov.uk, and the Scottish Parliament website, I can see no evidence of any such order being granted.
Alternatively it could be that the closure/mothballing is being treated as a 'minor modification' under section 34(2):
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/14/section/34
The above is provided with the disclaimer that I could be completely getting the wrong end of the stick.
Alternatively it could be that the closure/mothballing is being treated as a 'minor modification' under section 34(2):
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/14/section/34
The above is provided with the disclaimer that I could be completely getting the wrong end of the stick.
Interesting stuff thanks for investigating. It will be interesting to see what Transport Scotland have to say in response to requests made.
STKKK46
Member
Just like to say what a very interesting and informative article that is, don’t find enough like that about the railway on the internet.
I don’t think suspending services at a possibly private station until it has some need to be served again is setting a bad precedent. The only station in Scotland that risked similar was Breich, which is a public station with a purpose (albeit a small one), and the station has just been extensively refurbished anyway so that won’t happen.
IBM station serves a private area and was only really intended for staff. I can’t think of any other stations other than British Steel Redcar that this would set a negative precedent for?
flitwickbeds
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Thanks. Plenty of stats in graph and visual form for individual trains, stations or journeys at www.trainclaimer.com
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Stanlow and Thornton, possibly, now Oil Sites Road is closed. But indeed, it's not a massively concerning precedent even if it is. It wouldn't be a precedent for the likes of Altnabreac or similar because those are in a very different situation.
ForTheLoveOf
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I will be visiting the station on Sunday 2nd December, the last Sunday of operation.
Y Ddraig Coch
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ForTheLoveOf
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I have bought my tickets already! Not taking that chance...
Esker-pades
Established Member
I'm going to try to board the last train ever to call at the station. I'm not sure that the station will be much fun in the dark though.
ForTheLoveOf
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I don't have the luxury of living close enough to IBM Halt to do that!
Esker-pades
Established Member
Neither do I really. It's going to be an overnight coach on the way home for me. The things one does for trains....
I'm sure you won't be the only one - anyway as it is allegedly not actually being closed according to some on this thread, it should not technically be the last train as services will resume at some time in the future.
djpontrack
Member
I'm hoping to visit the station a few days later. Mrs djpontrack and myself are staying in Glasgow for a week and I need all the shacks on the Wemyss Bay line (except Wemyss Bay) so I will get a rover ticket and get them all done
.scotraildriver
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It appears the decision to stop calling here was a request from the police to prevent teenagers vandalising and setting fire to the site remains, the train being the easiest way to access the area.
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