SVR General Discussion

An updated figure will appear no later than Thursday when it will be in the newsletters

 

The Sunday lunchtime diner has sold out according to a post on the SVR official FB page.

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Welcome to the May edition of Branch Lines, which you can access this in the usual way at https://www.svrlive.com/blmay23
We hope you enjoy reading it!
Lesley and Patrick
Co-editors

 

So current appeal total of £230k and a solution to the GW lock problem.

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What I've not seen is any statement saying that this shortfall is a one-off event. The increased operating costs aren't going away, so what is the SVR going to do next t year? Come out their with Survival Fund collecting boxes all over again?

 

A question which I'm sure will be asked at the SVR(H) AGM on 10 June if nothing has been announced before then. I normally attend the AGM but unfortunately it clashes with the rearranged Vintage Trains Welsh Marches Express so I won't be there this year. Hopefully someone else on the Forum will be there and can update us.

 

An interesting question, I'm sure it will also be asked at the SVR (G) AGM which is 15th July.

 

I found the £230k slightly concerning given that fundraising revenues operate on positive distribution skew, the income flow for the appeal will be tailing off, unless someone or something appears with a large single one-off donation in coming weeks and months.

 

Additional, I wonder how long it has taken for everyone to be contacted. I believe there was a delay in sending out an appeal letter via the post, and there has been several bank holidays which have a habit for messing up the post.
For reference, I believe the SVR received some funding to cover the cost of sending a physical letter out. Also apparently, a lot of members still haven't registered their email so purely sending out emails wouldn't work for them.

 

I thought this was pretty well covered in the literature and also the appeal video? The restructured timetable, staff redundancies and capital spending reductions are an effort to cut costs immediately, whilst the medium term ambition is to restructure the business to be able to take advantage of alternative revenue streams. There is a renewed focus on ensuring services (when they run) are profitable. This year is about preventing the railway heading towards financial oblivion.
It is pleasing to see the premium Dining train has sold out, there are plans to add additional dining options at lower price points and an additional steam service has been added for the summer timetable - all observations mentioned on here recently. Also a profitable Steam Gala & plans to reintroduce footplate experiences. I look forward to attending the diesel gala which looks spectacular. All these activities are additional revenue streams adding added value.
Perhaps some on here will give the new railway management some credit where it is due? Small steps yes, but surely heading in the right direction.

 

What I've not seen is any statement from the bashers on here as to what the SVR should do that would be acceptable to them? Their complaints aren't going away, no matter what the SVR does, so what will they do next year? Come out all over again with their complaints about how everything is being done wrong, but with no useful suggestions on how it might be done better?

 

If you’ve any ideas then why not get in touch with those in charge?

 

I,m not a basher but following our visit around Easter time I had an email requesting to fill in a survey which I did and included my comments of what I felt was missing. I guess this only goes out to online bookings but if you get one use it and I hope the answers are taken note of.

 

A cautionary note. Parking at SVR stations is now managed by Premier Park and controlled by ANPR cameras. I have just received a penalty notice for failure to pay on 4 May. I have appealed this; fortunately I had kept the receipt from the machine so as well my bank statement showing a payment to them on the day, I can provide evidence that I had entered the correct registration number and had left before the expiry time shown on the ticket. Clearly their systems are not 100% reliable so I would suggest anyone else parking at the SVR similarly retain their ticket as additional evidence (I guess the same applies everywhere else with the same type of system).

 

Is that all the stations or just the terminii?

 

Kidderminster and Bridgnorth have ANPR, Bewdley is getting it (I don't think it has it at the moment).

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Appeal total on the website updated to £280,000. My chart.

 

Or money making exercise?
From what I have read elsewhere many people just pay these things without query.