West Somerset Railway - Removal of the PLC Chairman and related matters

Thanks, Ian.
Good information often comes from the front-line!
That matches my limited experience.

 

But you cannot so easily quantify those who would have come if there was a direct rail connection.

I would also suggest that a Sunday only rail connection is not the way to go as the railways start too late to make the journey viable for many.

 

More squirrels perhaps? Strange how nobody with any authority will answer the questions raised.

 

Very true. On a weekday, travelling by train from my local station, I could be at Taunton at 7.38. On Sundays the first train of any sort at my local station isn't until after 9am - I wouldn't be able to get to Taunton before 11.25!

 

As far as getting to the WSR by train, the 28 bus service is perfectly adequate. I can catch a 7.15 train from my home station and be on BL platform by 9.15. Equally there are plenty of buses from BL on a Sunday afternoon - I left BL at 6 and was at my home station at 8. For galas and weekdays, therefore, the bus is fine.

 

Strange that it might seem to us Nat Pres regulars, most of the world does not read Nat Pres And even if they do, they might not wish to answer every question or even have the time to do so. I usually find a direct question to the railway's managers results in a reply. If Nat Pres folks are that bothered, I respectfully suggest a direct approach; you can also ask if you can share part of any reply with the likes of us lot here.

Steve

 

I think that LAST in, first out is more usual?

 

The JGF reference comes, I believe, from a large clock hanging on a wall in Boston Lodge works, which instead of the usual numbers carries the letters of 'Jolly Good Fun' around the dial. It seems to have been there for many years, possibly from the enthusiasts taking over in the 1950s. Very apt indeed.

 

That early. It's 1225 for me with a long wait at Bristol due to the divorced Sunday service from Cardiff.

 

I think you underestimate how many people wont use buses unless they absolutely have to. We only do so as a last resort. The last time I used a bus was for the association general meeting but we travelled via Swindon to avoid a bus bypassing the Severn Tunnel. We would visit the railway more often if there was a rail service between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard.

 

I'm sure you are right in your own case, but you need to avoid the common mistake of assuming that the plural of anecdote is data.

In our own case on the Bluebell, opening a direct mainline connection led to some increase of traffic, but probably only enough to offset the extra two miles of line. It is only really this year (so I am led to believe) that there has been a sustained rise in traffic originating at the northern end of the line, after some really concentrated marketing work. That's with a mainline connection to a line with a half-hourly Sunday service in less than an hour from Central London starting early in the morning, which I suspect is worlds away from what could be expected in and around Taunton.

In other words - if a direct service ran to BL, undoubtedly some people would patronise it to visit the WSR. But it is unlikely to have the transformative effect on WSR passenger numbers you might hope - at least without a really concentrated marketing effort - and probably isn't likely to generate the traffic that would make it attractive to the mainline ToC unless it could be accommodated without needing extra units and crews. (A high days and holidays service at galas is likely to be better patronised; not least because the likely clientele on gala days are probably more pre-disposed to travelling by rail in the first place).

Tom

 

When evidence is lacking, you are left with logic, and occasionally bravery. Richard Trevithick had no `evidence' to work with when he started the ball rolling, but logic suggested that his new steam engine service would be attractive to hauliers and passengers. Fast forward 211 years or so and what do we have?. There is no evidence that a BL/Taunton link will represent value, let alone added value, to WSR. Counting bus passengers, measuring car parking densities, or even footfall can provide a reference point, albeit very unreliable in context. But how many additional passengers will WSR attract because of a Taunton link? That`s speculation. Well, just occasionally, you have to speculate. If WSR is to accumulate better revenue streams, what other choices are available? Expensive Gala weekends? Heavy promotional spends? Does that make the link look better? Well, that`s all down to individual opinion.

 

There is some really interesting stuff in recent posts, but I would be the first to agree (despite being one of those responsible for the diversions!) that it doesn't fit the thread title - some is definitely 'Viability of WSR Mainline Connection', which has its own thread, and the Gala stuff either deserves its own thread or possible joining the Thomas thread under a new title of 'Galas and Events - viability and future'?

I suspect that there may now be little more on the main subject of this thread, at least for a while - but perhaps a 'future plans and viability of the West Somerset Railway' thread may be needed?

Steven

 

You mean, WSR folk looking beyond their own purpose created threads into the outside world!? It'll never catch on!

 

What has all this got to do with the removal of the PLC chairman?

 

Wasn't there a thread about running a commuter service into Taunton? (Not exactly the same thing, but vaguely related.) I searched for it, but couldn't find it. Maybe someone else's memory is better than mine...

Noel

 

Well, as I sometimes said when the WSRA thread drifted the conversation became a lot more laid back so at least be thankful for that

 

https://www.national-preservation.c...ending-to-taunton.541153/page-62#post-2267567

 

Has a new CME been appointed yet? (Or the job advertised?). Can't find anything on the WSR website.

 

Yes! You will find it here

https://www.national-preservation.c...bility-of-extending-to-taunton.541153/page-62