Project Wareham

The Council are reflecting the view that has been expressed by many members of the local population. Closing the crossing would create a measure of inconvenience not least for less mobile members of the population who are unable to use the footbridge. The road bridge is not suitable for pedestrians.

Creating a gently sloped form of crossing would require a large footprint which apparently isnt easy to achieve at the location nor does the Council like the visual intrusion of such a design. Even if this was achievable members of the general public do not like facing the prospect of a longer walk than that required by the current crossing. Lifts are not favoured because of the issues a breakdown may create.

 

What a shame the up Bay at Wareham wasn’t reinstated.

 

It is reserved for Swanage Railway use in future if ever required. However reinstating it is not a cheap option so unlikely to ever happen.

 

Not least when Network Rail install an electrical cabinet in the middle of the four foot. Furthermore I believe that endangered species (lizards?) have also colonised the four foot.

 

Indeed, although the biggest expense would probably be reconnecting to the mainline, along with the necessary signalling work.

 

It seems odd that long ramps for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users,up to the existing road bridge can't be constructed. It looks like there's space behind the old goods shed off Sandford Lane on the South side, and alongside Sandford Road on the Northern side.

 

It sounds possible but whatever is suggested the local population want to go by the shortest route which means using the existing crossing. There is quite a flow across the crossing throughout the day. Local councillors do seem to take the side of the local population in this matter which is understandable.

 

I would have said unique in councillors listening to the locals.

 

Possibly because at least one of the councillors uses the crossing themselves on a frequent basis.

Wareham Town Council is 7 Lib, 3 Con, 5 Independent which may also explain the situation.

 

I have stood in that area many, many times (waiting for a ‘connecting’ bus!) and can confirm that there really is a steady flow of pedestrians and cyclists using the crossing all day long. While sympathising with those who want to close the crossing for railway purposes, I really do believe it’s a bit of a life line for the local population.

 

More of the population of Wareham live in the 1950s onwards built housing developments and estates to the North of the railway line, than live in or around the town on the south of the railway.

That’s the problem.

 

May I add one point which seems to have been overlooked in this debate? Forum members have debated endlessly whether the Wareham service could possibly cover its costs in the changed circumstances after the pandemic. Another issue that has been raised is whether the Swanage Railway is still under a legal obligation to run it because of the public money which has been invested in it.

We seem to have forgotten the fact that the Swanage Railway Management team will have been very aware of both these points throughout the formulation of plans to run the service this year. They will no doubt have been actively involved in discussions with the relevant stakeholders. They will also be all too aware, especially given the strong probability of the UK facing a recession in 2023, that the trial service in 2017 ran at a loss.

Am I saying that the management are beyond criticism? No; I don't know any of them so don't wish to comment. Would I, as an armchair member, like to have heard more about the evolution of their plans to run the trial service in 2023 rather than hearing about it for the first time on this forum? Yes. I have no idea whether the Wareham services will cover their costs because I haven't been privy to the number crunching which I am sure has been done before the announcement was made. I cannot, however, believe that a go-ahead would have been given for the Wareham trial this year without considerable research and a firm confidence that such a service would not in any way adversely affect the railway's finances, especially given the present economic climate.

I just hope that this upbeat assessment doesn't turn out to be misplaced.

 

In other words not a WIBN scheme. Sadly, this is just the what I think it is.

 

The 2023 trail is not dependant on getting the manned Wareham foot crossing sorted (but at some stage will need sorting).

I notice the passenger numbers at Smallbrook Junction station dropped last year to 4,658 from 12,920 in 2019 (Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road), perhaps best if the station be dismantled and the connection between the steam railway and Island line should be removed as it was just a WIBN scheme if passenger numbers in 2023 drop further, I hope however the number of passengers connecting between the 2 railways start to increase back to the 2019 level.

So likewise the number of passengers connecting between the SR and SWR at Wareham.
https://norfolk-orbital-railway.co.uk/first-season-swanage-wareham-service/
"We are very pleased with the first year of the trial service and our official footfall figures indicate a total passenger figure of over 13,000 for the 60 days of operation. This compares well with the PCRP’s target of 12,000 passengers. Surveys indicate that a high proportion of our passengers arrived and/or departed from Wareham by rail. Feedback received from South Western Railway tells us that Wareham station ‘entries and exits’ data for the 12-week period of the trial shows a significant increase over the same period in 2016. This was a key objective of the new service and is something to be proud of."
This time SR will do it without the WCR contract, so the planning for 2023 will include the costs of the DMMU mainline certification and crew training, the TOC licence, insurance cover, publicity promotion (with SWR) and several other items, quite a bit to do before April.

 

Regardless of the various issues that are being raised in this discussion, you may not be aware that for much of the year being referred to in the ORR statistics Smallbrook Junction was closed, because the electric Island Line was closed for modernisation.
That probably affected the usage statistics...

Steve B

 

are the numbers known though for the replacement bus service, that would give a far better indication for the year, As regards the Wareham trial, what's the break even figure for the DMU, how many people need to use it each day,/ month, to meet the costs of operating the service, I would assume it won't be a stand alone but over the entire line, so a two train service, one being the DMU, the other steam, only as far as norton, possibly 3 round trips would be possible Wareham to Swanage, or will the service need to be more frequent than that,

 

But this statement ignores a crucial question. How many of those 13,000 passengers were those who would have travelled from Norden if the service from Wareham had not been operating? How many of those passengers had decided to travel to / from Wareham because it was a new experience - ie travelling on a part of the line effectively closed to traffic for some 45 years.

It is the additional revenue / patronage generated by the Wareham link that is crucial not the total Wareham revenue because total wareham revenue will include some revenue from passengers who would have travelled from Norden anyway but decide to travel from Wareham because it is more convenient.

 

Hopefully SR might publish the business plan with break even figures, or just in a few weeks confirm if the 2023 trial is viable.
Last years green Steam and Diesel timetable could be modified to extend the DMMU service for Wareham.

Tt by DcB posted Jan 16, 2023 at 6:46 PM

The Peak late July and August 2 steam train timetable might be trickier to add the DMMU service, but they did it in 2017.

 

Both 2021 and 2022 were similarly lucrative years for the IOWSR. Whether Smallbrook was open or not made less difference than might be expected. Both years were better than 2019.

Please avoid wishful thoughts about "public transport "

 

I suggest that the IoWSR because of being on an Island is a special case as far as public transport is concerned