Severn Beach Line usage 2010
Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) are pleased to present a graphical analysis of the latest passenger figures for the Severn Beach Line. We have brought together data from the Severnside Community Rail Partnership, the West of England Partnership and First Great Western to produce a series of graphs, presented below. They show passenger numbers and ticket sales, usage according to time of day and usage station by station.
These latest data indicate that the Severn Beach Line is well used throughout the day and for the whole of its length. It continues to show spectacular passenger growth: an increase in ridership of 25% over the past twelve months (up from 2,252 daily journeys in June 2009 to 2,818 daily journeys in June 2010). Since the improved service using two trains on the line started in May 2008, ticket sales have increased by 60%.
The improved service is funded by the Bristol City Council, and the contract for the second train is due to expire in May 2011. Negotiations are under way to renew this contract. FOSBR received the following answer in response to a question put to the City Council’s Sustainable Development and Transport Scrutiny Commission on 29 July 2010:
‘The City Council and First Great Western are pleased with the increased level of patronage on the Severn Beach Line since the service frequency was enhanced. Both parties wish to retain this enhanced frequency beyond May 2011. It has been agreed that negotiations on the price for a new contract will take place in September 2010.’ (Geoff Mills, Passenger Transport Manager, 29 July 2010)
We welcome the improved Sunday service, with its recent extension to Severn Beach and through train to Weston super Mare. The main further improvement needed now is to the evening service: the gap in service from Temple Meads between 20.34 and 22.16 needs to be filled, and a later last train is desirable.
We urge the negotiators to reach a deal in the best interests of the passengers. As can be seen from these graphs, this service is highly valued by the commuters and other travellers of Bristol.
This graph shows the twice-yearly (June and November) passenger count on the line, as well as annual ticket sales from First Great Western data. The June count started only a few years ago, but shows a clear and continuing upward trend. There has been a rise of 25% since the last June count in 2009. Ticket sales are lower than the passenger count, indicating potential for further income.
This graph is a detailed analysis of the data from June 2010, broken down according to the time of day. It shows both the huge demand from commuters in morning and evening and also the big gap in evening service and the demand for evening trains. The potential for increased ridership in the evenings is clear, and we would very much like to see the gaps in the evening service filled.
This graph analyses the June 2010 count by station, covering passengers travelling in the direction from Severn Beach to Temple Meads. It shows that a significant proportion of passengers get on at the stations beyond Clifton Down (and that Clifton Down is the destination for several of those passengers).
This graph analyses the June 2010 count by station, covering passengers travelling in the direction from Temple Meads to Severn Beach. It shows that most passengers get on at Temple Meads, many getting off at Clifton Down but a sizeable proportion staying on to stations further out.a