Return to growth in rail travel

[Metroland]

Analysis published by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) suggests a significant increase in demand for rail travel in the first half of 2010.

ATOC says that October 2009 marked a turning point, and in 2010 overall demand has begun to grow significantly. In January to March 2010, passenger journeys rose by 4.4% when compared to the same period last year, according to ATOC’s figures, while in April to June, passenger journeys rose by 6.1%.

Long-distance growth in the January-March 2010 quarter-year was 7% and April-June growth was 7.7%; for regional services, the figures were 1.8% and 6.2% repectively; and for London and the Southeast, 5.1% and 5.9% respectively.

Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of ATOC, said: ‘All sectors of the railways performed well during the first half of the year, but the turnaround in London and the South East is particularly marked.

http://www.modern-railways.com/latestnews/?p=183

First Great Western (FGW) branch lines had a boom year in Devon and Cornwall, figures have shown.

The company said the number of passengers using branch line services rose by 19% in 2009-10.

In Cornwall, the St Erth to St Ives branch line carried 500,000 passengers for the first time.

There was a 12% increase on the Tarka line between Barnstaple and Exeter in Devon - with more than 40,000 extra passengers using the trains.

The largest rise in passengers was on the Par to Newquay branch line. Nearly 72,000 people used the service last year - a rise of 55%, making it the fastest growing branch line in England.

FGW said each branch line now had the best service in its history and it expects numbers to grow again this year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10876860

 

[Greenback]

The FGW branch lines we went on in early July were well used. A four car service from St Ives in the evening was about 60% full, judging by the numbers waiting for the train to come in.

I hope the growth continues!

 

[daccer]

If growth is here to stay it does mean that the Govt is going to have its work cut out to acccomodate the extra passengers whilst trying to stem investment. There seems to be an embargo on further rolling stock orders which will be felt in 2011 and 2012 and it looks like overcrowding is goingto get worse not better and that we are going to have to find some creative solutions to capacity issues = look slike those temporary LHCS rakes may be here to stay for awhile!

 

[northwichcat]

If growth is here to stay it does mean that the Govt is going to have its work cut out to acccomodate the extra passengers whilst trying to stem investment. There seems to be an embargo on further rolling stock orders which will be felt in 2011 and 2012 and it looks like overcrowding is goingto get worse not better and that we are going to have to find some creative solutions to capacity issues = look slike those temporary LHCS rakes may be here to stay for awhile!

No doubt they'll still use their generic answers used previously

Thameslink: Growth is much lower than predicted.
North West: We appreciate there is significant growth but we are postponing electrification and extra stock as there is no money at present.