West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I have just come back from Albania - where the railway really is struggling for survival - and I bought a book in Tirana about the dictator Enver Hoxha. He certainly dealt with persons disagreeing in a very terminal way.

 

No there weren't. They just never came back for another ride.

 

Quite happy to provide them with a voucher for future use to the full value of their ticket...

Robin

 

Courtesy of Steve`s excellent website, the "Early Spring" timetable.
As 95% of passengers from Bishops Lydeard normally go to Minehead, I wonder how successful it will be.

http://cgibin.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/r-tt.cgi?date=20190330

 

So, if I'm reading this correctly, scheduled services over the length of the line between BL and MD will not commence until 21st April and not 6th April as originally suggested.

 

Is the note about Norton Fitzwarren a standard one as otherwise it implies that the train will go down there - possibly given its 'Top & Tailed' quite easy to organise

 

Certainly looks that way on the 'official' site

 

I previously wrote

I have booked a week’s self catering holiday in Minehead with my good wife w/c 6th April. All I can say now is ‘b****r’, and now too late to cancel

 

I think it's a standard note. Times for Norton Fitzwarren are not in the timetable, and the arrival/departure timings given at BL are not sufficient to allow the train to go there and still permit the loco to be watered and on-train crew to have a short break.

 

Perhaps there will be a bus replacement service?

 

At least the road closure between Williton and Bishops Lydeard should be lifted by the end of March so those who are prepared to take the car will not find it too difficult to get a steam fix. Or, in my case, tea and cake at Stogumber station.

 

How will that hit the takings at the Minehead shop and cafe?

 

More importantly how will it hit ticket sales?

 

So the QB on the 31st is affected? Or not? I can't see anything to indicate it will be. The full length is then operational from the 18th

 

You are, of course, quite correct. My personal preference is to avoid the Railway during school holidays and when special children's events are taking place. As April 19th and 20th are designated as PAW Patrol days I dismissed them. I know that some will not agree with that sentiment.

 

Probably not as much as not running trains until the special event on the 19th.

 

Clip starts about 12 mins into the programme. I'm thinking that being honest and encouraging everyone to rally round is better than sweeping under the carpet, and I imagine PLC shareholders, most of whom should be well aware by now of the problem, will be contacted in due course. Preparing and mailing suitable documents is not an easy task and best done carefully and with much thought, at a time when the remaining paid staff are already pretty busy with more to do and less people to do it.
I imagine the reference to talks with GWR is more likely to be about a seasonal shuttle service to from the main line to Bishops Lydeard than about full line services, though this is not what Mr.deMendoza is campaiging for.

 

I can't change my trans-Atlantic flight dates, either!

Watchet is a great destination, though.
Perhaps Williton could put on some kind of 'Open House'.

PS There's a 15-minute connection to the #28 bus onward to MD or a 3-minute connection MD-WT & on to BL. Perhaps the timetable could be fine-tuned a few minutes.
(I know it's a 'bus', but it's a nice scenic ride!).

 

Ticket sales will be less. Clearly. However what you are forgetting is that costs will be less. You’re only running one train and one steam loco for a start, over reduced mileage. If your ticket sales reduce by 30% and your costs by 50% then you might actually make more money not less.....
Remember, shorter railways are generally more profitable. The HRA study concluded 10-12 miles was an optimal length, anything over that and you were into diminishing returns as you can’t charge the same £ per mile for a longer railway as the average customer has a limit to what they are prepared to pay for a day out. Paignton & Dartmouth adult return £18.25. WSR last year £20.

 

Yes it is a standard note on this style of timetable page on wsr.org.uk You are right, it could well confuse people. I must, one day, fix the script that produces the page to ensure the note only appears if Norton is served by trains. One day, one day. Meantime, I challenge anyone to find a double-asterisk amongst the timetable itself

Steve