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THE SHREWSBURY - ABERYSTWYTH RAIL PASSENGERS' ASSOCIATION WELCOMES YOU TO THEIR WEBSITEThis page updated 21st May 2009 |
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SARPA is the local rail users group for the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth
line
running from the English border through Montgomeryshire to the coast of
North
Ceredigion and ending up in the increasingly important University (and
Assembly administration
) town of
Aberystwyth. We exist to preserve and promote the line so that there is a
more sustainable
transport system for future generations. SARPA is one of the more active
rail
user groups in Wales and meets monthly. We are continually campaigning on
various issues from train times and frequency to station maintenance and
welcome any comments anybody has about the rail service in Mid Wales. We hope that during 2009, Arriva manages to build on the success of their extended services to Birmingham International, which at the present are showing much improved timekeeping. |
CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE |
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ATW's not so magic formula of padding out journey times with dollops of charter minutes
has finally produced something like near acceptable performance on our line. Lest we
get carried away in a frenzy of relief remember ATW are now in their sixth year of running
the franchise. That it's taken this long to sort out shows up not only ATW but a myriad of
others in a very poor light. Underneath this improvement there are still the systemic
weaknesses that passengers have to contend with on a daily basis. SARPA had its
biggest correspondence load about an individual incident for a long time in relation to
Saturday February 28th. Bus replacements were running due to Network Rail closing the
line as the telephone system at level crossings had failed. But where was the information
for the passenger? Chaotic scenes abounded with passengers at Welshpool hardest hit.
ATW's Business Plan for 2009 recognises information when things go wrong as an area
to work hard on. Again six years in and were talking about what should have been basics
from day one. ATW's Stakeholder Relationship Manager for North and Mid Wales, Ben Davies has a party trick whenever he comes to a meeting. He whips out a copy of the franchise agreement and says that this is the contract Arriva have signed up to and that they deliver it. He uses it to rebuff criticism of Arriva, and by and large Arriva does actually deliver what the franchise agreement says. Over the years I've been to many a meeting where stakeholder expectation levels of what the railway in Wales should be are clearly vastly different to what the franchise agreement says. SARPA has always been critical of the franchise agreement primarily over its greatest fundamental weakness - the failure to provide for the growth in rail use which was so obvious to SARPA but not those that drew up the contract. The latest figures available show that there is around 35% more passengers using the Cambrian mainline than there was before the Wales and Border franchise, and its predicted "no growth" started. In fact the franchise overall sees nearly 40% more usage. OK, below average for our line but when you consider the infrequent, often poor quality service on the Cambrian with the punctuality problems in that period it's pretty clear that there's a strong underlying demand for rail in Mid Wales. We could be in the situation now that punctuality has been sorted out (and an improved Sunday service) that previously untapped demand will be unleashed. Amid the recession doom and gloom, the overall figures for the third quarter of this financial year (Oct to Dec 08) for regional railway franchises still showed a near 5% growth. In fact back in the early 90's recession regional rail usage held and even increased, as it has been doing since 1982 - not 1997 as the spin merchants proclaim. It was the journeys to London market (both commuter and Intercity) that collapsed. Already growth in London commuter franchises has stalled. A warm sunny summer (we're due one), the pound weak against the Euro discouraging foreign holidays, the recession with less money about for long breaks could all be factors that see rail use on the Cambrian grow further this year. If this surprises anyone that's expecting that the recession will see off growth in rail usage and with it calls for investment, then I draw this to your attention. Having been out and around Wales a bit recently I've seen no sign of any tailing off in demand. Already before the holiday periods we're hearing that the 0809 Birmingham International to Aberystwyth on a Saturday and the 1730 Aberystwyth to Birmingham International on Fridays and Saturdays are suffering from overcrowding. The franchise agreement has no answer to this need for more rolling stock, and Arriva will not stick its hand in its own pocket too deeply to help out. Many members are asking me the question is the Wales and Border franchise agreement fit for purpose? Is it delivering the rail network and service that the people of Wales and the Borders expect and need? In 2007 the official line changed and the Wales Rail Planning Assessment expected usage on the Cambrian to increase by 41% between 2005 and 2026 at a rate of 1.64% per annum on average. The reality has been that it's grown by this much and more each quarter. We now have the situation whereby usage levels not expected to the end of the next decade have already occurred. Many feel a fundamental reassessment of the franchise: what it's for, where it's going, service levels, rolling stock quantities etc is long overdue. For those that would be in government please take note: the Wales and Borders franchise at 15 years, is already one of the longer ones. Tinkering with franchise length is no panacea to producing a modern fit for purpose railway. Please take note, 150 year ago our forefathers funded and built our railway using local labour and capital: they deserve a better legacy. Gareth Marston, Newtown, March 2009 |
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Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth Rail Passengers Association (SARPA) 64 Churchill Drive, Barnfields, Newtown, Powys, SY16 2LH, Wales, United Kingdom © SARPA 2005-2009 All Rights Reserved Website:- Angus Eickhoff |