HEART OF WESSEX RAIL PARTNERSHIP ❧ REPORT DECEMBER 2011 HEART OF WESSEX RAIL PARTNERSHIP 2011 HEART OF WESSEX RAIL PARTNERSHIP 2011

HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2011 1. RAIL PARTNERSHIP OBJECTIVES & ACTION PLAN n Passenger journeys doubled over 6 years, and trebled over the last decade, a growth rate four times higher The Heart of Wessex Rail Partnership, supporting the 87 mile rail route from to Weymouth, brings together than the national average for routes of this type. Total journeys head for c1.7 million by April 2012, up from 565k Bristol City Council, Bath & North East Council (B&NES), Council, Somerset County Council, in 2001/2 & 793k in 2004/5, without any change to the number of services. District Council, West District Council and Dorset County Council with the train operator, n Local community involvement includes the contribution of over 8000 hours of voluntary work dedicated to the line First Great Western. over twelve months, with some substantial achievements by both the Community Rail Working Party (CRWP) and The 2003 action plan determined the partnership’s overall objective to raise awareness and use of the Bristol to projects by local groups focusing on the rail line. To an ever increasing degree the communities joined together by Weymouth line through: this rail route have taken joint ownership of their rail line and stations 1) Community Involvement. Widening the partnership to include representatives of local communities and improve n Endorsement of this achievement was received in October 2011 when the Heart of Wessex received formal understanding of, and response to, local needs along the line Community Rail Designation from the Rail Minister and the Department for Transport. 2) Information provision and promotion. Improving quality and availability of information promoting the line and its n Further enhancement of stations and access to them, most notably with the opening of a safe walking route to destinations/local economies, raising the profile of the service as an alternative to the car. the station from village, further work on the walking route and improvements to facilities 3) Stations. Improve station environments and facilities, and access to them by other modes of travel. and promotion for the new bus link in . Since 2003, almost every station on the line has been “adopted” by local community groups and these and other n CRWP Highly Commended both for Outstanding Teamwork and Best Community Rail Event (the Local Food Train) in voluntary initiatives aimed at adding value to the work of the train operator have been encouraged, facilitated the national community rail awards in 2011. and supported by the partnership. Since 2003, 140 projects from over 40 different community groups have been assisted with small grants from Partnership’s Community Grants Fund. The COMMUNITY RAIL WORKING THE ISSUES WE HELP TO ADDRESS See especially: PARTY (CRWP) of local voluntary representatives from the stations and communities along the line has, since its ECONOMIC GROWTH: Supporting economic regeneration and growth. 2.2. Promoting the Line (page 7) establishment in 2003, grown to become the principal “engine” for much of the practical work of the partnership, Attracting visitors locally, regionally, nationally and internationally to 2.2.1. The Line Guide (page 7) meeting quarterly with the train operator and to progress local station, service, customer information destinations along the route, including a focus on local independent 2.2.2. Local Food Promotion (page 8) and promotional work. businesses and produce and “insiders guides” to local retail and Feature box: The value added by station leisure. adoption (page 6) 2. PROGRESS AGAINST ACTION PLAN IN 2011 2.1 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Over 8000 hours of CARBON REDUCTION / tackling climate change. Stimulating 2.2. Promoting the Line (pages 7&8) Action plan objective: “Widening the partnership to include representatives of voluntary work behavioural change by encouraging more use of the rail route as an 3. OVERALL RESULTS (page 13) local communities and improve understanding of, and response to, local needs alternative to the car, and both encouraging and facilitating walking to 2.3.3. Castle Cary Walking Route (page 10) along the line” and from stations. 2.3.7. Thornford Footway (page 11) In the last twelve months, with further expansion of the numbers of people making a sustained and regular contribution to the work of the partnership, just over 70 volunteers dedicated 6615 hours to enhancing stations plus a Virtually everything in this report! A mobile task force! But especially further 762 hours on special projects. An additional 30 volunteers contributed an estimated 660 hours to researching, LOCALISM: Building sustainable communities and demonstrating how 2.1. Community Involvement (pages 3-5) leading and promoting walks from the line. A total of 8037 hours of voluntary time was dedicated to enhancing and localism and the big society can work for transport Feature box: Communities and Stations promoting the Heart of Wessex Line over the course of 2011 (pages 5&6) Station Highlights (pages 9-12) 2.1.1. THE COMMUNITY RAIL WORKING PARTY (CRWP) The summer 2011 CRWP was held at 2.2.3. Walking : Wessex Wanderers, Dorset Freshford, where we were welcomed AONB Walks, Website “mini guides”, Line by members of the community who HEALTH: Encouraging active travel and leisure and Guide Car Free Walks edition (page 8) have adopted and transformed their facilitating walking. 2.3.3. Castle Cary Treasure Trail promotion station. Featured on the left of the (page 10) photo is Harry Brown of Network 2.3.7. Thornford Footway (page 11) Rail who was our special guest for the meeting to brief us on the 2.2.1 The Line Guide (Easy to use Line improvement works to the Yeovil to Castle Cary section of the line due to start in the winter of 2011/12. (The story of ACCESSIBILITY: Helping to address accessibility and equality issues, Guide TT in 14pt text) (page 7) those station signs is on page 11) help for new rail users or those with disabilities, and promoting/ 2.3.9. Yeovil Bus Link (page 12) facilitating use of intermodal links. “Insider” guides and tips, Representatives from the communities along the line meet quarterly with managers from First Great Western and e.g. www.brutoncarytrains.co.uk (page 6) Network Rail. The Terms of Reference for the working party specify exclusive participation by those who work proactively and practically to add value to the line. This ensures that working meetings go directly from outlining an issue to an intensive focus on finding joint creative solutions, taking a collaborative approach to developing new ideas and sharing experience.

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3 The CRWP is not simply a quarterly forum for feedback to the Projects must meet one or more of five basic criteria rail industry; it is a working party with a collegial approach. The managers from FGW including Julian Crow and our enthusiastic stations manager Dave Martin (right)1 treat the voluntary contributors as colleagues, sharing information with them to a degree that they may not be able to do elsewhere. This empowers the participants, and a deeper understanding of the working of the railway helps both to manage expectations and to increase enjoyment of their voluntary contribution. The CRWP helps to make optimum use of managementOver 8000 time hours by distilling of out the key issues, and team members have learned that it is not possible to solve everyvoluntary problem. The workdemands that are dropped by general consent are a vital part of the process of concentrating resources on the main priorities. The majority of grants are for equipment and supplies for station gardens (including planters, water butts, strimmers To a significant degree this team have taken joint ownership of their line and stations and have a powerful and etc). Applications for community notice boards or other items to help effective influence on the vitality of their railway line. local rail users and visitors are particularly encouraged, and local publications and websites At the July CRWP, the Friends of mentioned difficulties coping with their also qualify for support. Larger scale projects are also possible, with an example in 2011 A mobile task force! adoption scheme. Howard Smith from the Friends of put forward the of the running in board and visitor welcome poster at . Special events, including suggestion that everyone should pitch in to help, an idea that had an enthusiastic support for the Wessex Wanderers Guided Walks programme, are another important use response, resulting in the CRWP’s first joint team clean up at Frome in August, repeated at in November of the fund, and in 2011 it was also used to support the Local Food Train, Castle Cary with some of the same volunteers. Four new members have joined the CRWP specifically offering their help with any Community Tourism Group and the Thornford Footway Opening event. joint projects of this nature that come up along the line – a new development for the group. The Frome Volunteer Task Force, led and briefed by MIKE FRANKLIN: Ann Light & Sylvia Popham, Bristol; Rosemary Buchan, Westbury; Rob Brown, Bradford on Avon; Roger Newman, Trowbridge; Friends of Frome: John Leach, Gerald Quartley, Colin Stoate and Rose Heaword; Howard Smith, Bruton; Jeff Mowlam, Dorchester West; Terry Putnam & Peter Meech, Upwey and Andy Hutchings, Weymouth. Impressed to hear of the initiative, Network Rail teams from Westbury and Swindon rallied to help, bringing two flatbed trucks (which we filled up!) and tackling the COMMUNITY RAIL AND STATIONS track work off limits to volunteers: Dan Smith, Dave A large part of the community contribution is to stations – enhancing the environment and improving the Fisher, Paul Butland, Kevin Bishop, Chris Joyce, customer experience. It is reasonable to question why this is necessary, and often is. Train operators run their Brian Underwood, and Adrian Reeves. networks to make a profit within a carefully constructed “franchise” specification from the government which, amongst other things, includes minimum requirements for station upkeep. Those that attract the largest footfall Members of the CRWP contribute to both promotional and data gathering exercises, including train counts and and turnover, and have the greatest profit generating potential, are invested in, but at stations that generate overcrowding watch, and between them have won 10 national awards from ACORP2 since 2006, including no profit at all, it is logical that the minimum specification as laid out by the government is followed. Basic three individual awards for Outstanding Volunteer Contribution. This year five entries from the partnership made maintenance of items such as lighting, removal of graffiti within a specified period, timely replacement of the shortlist, putting them in the top five in their category in the country, including the Friends of Upwey and timetable posters, weekly collection of litter etc. are generally the most that can be expected. In the current the magnificent Station Gardens at Bradford on Avon. The CRWP itself was Highly Commended for Outstanding franchise, there has been great improvement to the quality of our stations, most notably with the interactive Teamwork, as was the group’s joint Food Train promotion, which also produced the winning Community Rail People customer information system which has enhanced the customer experience, particularly at unstaffed stations. The image for 2011. FGW stations team is made up of a small number of extremely hard working and dedicated staff who devote long hours to station maintenance. However, even with the benefit of such a quality and community oriented train 2.1.2. COMMUNITY PROJECT FUND & GRANTS operator, investments in general aesthetics and upkeep that are not strictly essential cannot be expected. As a The Community Grants fund has its origins in the third party funding secured by the partnership for the years 2003- result, a loss making route that did not benefit from a Community Rail Partnership would call at stations that, to 2007, which included a Delegated Fund, separate from core funding support, specifically to be used for community the customer, could often appear to be impoverished and even grim public spaces. As was indeed the case for the led projects. This proved to be an excellent support and stimulus to building up community involvement along Bristol to Weymouth route over a decade ago, when it was commonly referred to as the region’s “Cinderella Line”. the route, and as a result the partnership has continued to allocate up to 15% of the annual budget to community projects.

1 3 Splendidly Epic photo of Dave by SOUTH WEST NEWS SERVICE 1 Improved Information provision 2 Raising awareness of line or station 3 Improving Access 2 The national Association of Community Rail Partnerships. www.acorp.uk.com 4 Linking Local Businesses or events to the Line 5 Enhancing and improving Station Environments. 4 5 HEART OF WESSEX RAIL PARTNERSHIP 2011 HEART OF WESSEX RAIL PARTNERSHIP 2011

BRUTON STATION: THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE 2.2. PROMOTING THE HEART OF WESSEX LINE Action plan objective: “Information provision and promotion. Improving quality and availability of information promoting the line and its destinations/local economies, raising the profile of the service as an alternative to the car” Emphasis on raising awareness of the rail route as an enjoyable, sustainable and attractive travel option continues to be a major part of the partnership’s work, with a third of the annual budget dedicated to marketing and promotion. This has been undertaken, at least since 2003, almost exclusively by the rail partnership. First Great Western (and the previous train operator before them) promotes all the areas of their operations evenly, with rail partnership websites linked to for further information (7% of visits to our own website are directed from FGW’s)

2.2.1. LINE GUIDE The Line Guide is produced 3 times a year in editions of 35000 each and as a download from www.heartofwessex. org.uk with links from First Great Western’s website and other organisations and community groups. Distributed through stations across the south west region and beyond, including Paddington, Reading and Birmingham, and 4 In 2004 In 2011 through TICs , council and community offices, libraries, post offices, churches and pubs. CRWP members also (Transformation courtesy of the Friends of Bruton Railway Station, who also run a successful website with travel information, undertake distribution around their areas and within their local groups. Each Line Guide contains the current Bristol maps and “insiders” tips to using the trains: www.brutoncarytrains.co.uk and created the visitor welcome board shown on the previous page. Local business owner, Gordon Fry, supports the group by helping to to Weymouth Timetable in large print (14pt) text, and has the minimum of notes which require constant cross maintain the approach road and has installed a magnificent station clock on his premises bordering the referencing with keys and explanation tables, to make it as simple as possible to use and understand. The objective station) of this was to assist those with visual impairment and language or learning difficulties, but the format has proved popular with all. Content continuously evolves through regular feedback from rail customers (invited in each edition, THE VALUE ADDED BY STATION ADOPTION AND COMMUNITY with the best suggestions incorporated in future ones) rail staff, volunteer contributors, TICs and visitors. Distribution “OWNERSHIP” is reviewed and revised for each edition to try to ensure that adequate quantities are delivered for the season and n Creating a more welcoming environment for local people, making them feel safer and more valued as on the other hand to try and minimise waste. It is notable that, in particular, most TICs are now receiving up to three customers, and therefore encouraging more local use of the rail services times the quantities they originally needed. n The station becomes an attractive gateway to the local economy encouraging more visitors by rail, and a shop We aim to ensure that over time all the destinations along the route are evenly promoted, and have run special window for potential future visitors - announcing to passing traffic that this is an attractive destination that is feature editions on destinations such as Trowbridge, Frome, Yeovil and Dorchester that have an excellent retail offer, loved by its local community but perhaps have a generally lower profile as visitor attractions compared with Bristol, Bath and Weymouth. Material n Local people bringing their station into the heart generated for the Line Guide is then transferred to the website where the maps and tips can be downloaded as “mini of the community helps to address local issues of guides” to help visitors find their way around. accessibility, carbon reduction and even health, by The September to December 2011 edition encouraging more people to walk to the station and focused on Christmas shopping in Bristol and take a train as an alternative to the car Bath, with a special feature on Bath Christmas n Vandalism is less frequent where there is evident Market. Whilst there is always strong use of interest in local ownership and care of a station the line in the run up to Christmas, the last n Local ”insider” knowledge is passed on to visitors week of November and the first week of n Community station adoption also attracts local interest December saw an unusually high degree of and press attention, helping to further build overcrowding on northbound weekday trains awareness and enthusiasm for the rail line from Dorset onwards, and FGW had to supply Driving through a substantial programme of community extra capacity at the last minute to cope involvement has probably been the single most with the demand. Volunteers travelling with important aspect of the Heart of Wessex Rail Partnership’s the trains carried out spot surveys and the work over the last decade. The overall benefit is shared. majority of people were on their way to the A station adoption project stimulating more local use of Christmas Market. This is the first year that the trains at a Dorset or Somerset station will be a key this has been identified as a particular peak driver to delivering more visitors to Bath and Bristol by in demand, and, as there is no other regional publicity for this, it is clear evidence that the Line Guide is effective in rail, regeneration of station environments in Wiltshire or stimulating journeys by rail. B&NES will bring more people onto the railway line for visits to Yeovil, Dorchester or the Dorset AONB. In this (Christmas Market photos: Bath Tourism Plus) respect, the partnership contributions are effectively a mutual exchange of shared regional benefits.

4 Tourist Information Centres. A significant contributor to our work for both visitors and local people. The most 6 knowledgeable, and in several cases the only, source of personal advice on local transport. 7 HEART OF WESSEX RAIL PARTNERSHIP 2011 HEART OF WESSEX RAIL PARTNERSHIP 2011

2.2.2. LOCAL FOOD PROMOTION priorities. We called this “The Community Wish List” fund, and use of it was decided by a vote between all the The Spring Local Food Train with a members. Amongst the projects were complete repainting of station buildings, renovations of waiting rooms, ticket team of volunteers distributing offices and staff facilities at Yeovil Pen Mill and Frome, a wheelchair accessible toilet at Castle Cary, a shelter for the samples of local food from southbound platform at Avoncliff, landscaping for station gardens at Oldfield Park and improvements to access (a independent producers and small car park and the first stage of a walking route) at Thornford in Dorset, along with a number of smaller items at retailers to over 400 rail other stations. passengers, together with promotional material, was STATION HIGHLIGHTS 2011 (in alphabetical order) followed up in the Summer 2.3.1. AVONCLIFF Line Guide. A new information board for arriving visitors created by the Avoncliff Community Group The focus on local produce clearly struck a chord with the and a new running in board were additions to this much loved community station in 2011, public, as we received a record number of comments from which also welcomed its “promotion” to scheduled station stop (although the community this line guide, and many distribution points also ran out of will retain a fond nostalgia for the need to flag down the train during its decades as a copies - although there is a school of thought that the cover request stop) star had something to do with that! Volunteer Peter Meech became a celebrity for the line, particularly after the cover photo of him (left) won 1st place in ACORP’s national competition for Best Community 2.3.2. BRADFORD ON AVON Rail Image for 2011. The guide to local food shops and Recognised as one of the top five station gardens in the country markets is available as a download on the web site. in the national shortlist for the 2011 ACORP awards. Just over 2 ½ years’ work has transformed Bradford on Avon Station. Dave 2.2.3 WALKING Walden, well known local station master, initially working alone With superb access to stunning countryside along the entire length of our route, our promotional on the gardens shortly after his retirement in late 2008, quickly work naturally focuses strongly on walking as a leisure activity, and a way to reach countryside, attracted helpers. There are now 11 volunteers: 5 who work on businesses and attractions. Detailed walking routes from stations are available for download from the southbound platform every Monday, and 6 who work on the our website, including a set of walks created by the Dorset AONB team, sketch map mini guides northbound platform on Tuesdays. They also designed replica to reaching destinations from several other stations and links to local community groups’ walking heritage Running-In Boards for the station, funded with a grant from the rail partnership, and installed by First Great routes to and from stations. The Wessex Wanderers group run up to 34 free guided walks every Western. The group have won the Bradford on Avon in Bloom competition in the public space category three times season, attracting on average around 600 people a year. Our December 2011 to May 2012 Line (2009 to 2011) and were awarded 2000 Spring bulbs by the Bradford Rotary Club and Town Council in recognition of Guide is a special Car Free Walks Edition, including three walks created by the voluntary team their work. who run www.carfreewalks.org

Main Cover photo: Train arriving in Thornford by David Coates of Dorset County Council. Inset photo: Car Free Walks

2.3. STATIONS Action Plan objective:”Improve station environments and facilities, and access to them by other modes of travel” The action plan established in 2003 necessarily placed an emphasis on stations which were, LEFT: Before (2007) at the time, in a very poor state. Vandalism was rife, and general environments ranged from shabby to downright grim. Working Party projects and joint funding pots from Local Authorities delivered and improvements to several stations in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire including CCTV, better signage and general repainting. Local station adoption schemes supplied (as above) an increasing contribution, and helped to stimulate After (2011) further interest and funding contributions for larger projects. (New housing A major step change came in 2006 when FGW took over the franchise with a commitment to invest £40m in station development improvements. Although this was mainly aimed at the 50 largest of their 210 stations, improvements identified by behind platform the partnership’s Working Parties that had not been affordable by Local Authorities were delivered at Westbury, with level access Trowbridge and Bradford on Avon, and use of the line as whole was enhanced by the regeneration of Bath Spa supplied through S and Bristol Temple Meads. Long standing aspirations for improvements to parking provision were also met, most 106 agreement: notably at Frome and Castle Cary. Smaller stations were not in the original investment plan, but FGW awarded a completed 2011) special allocation of funds to the Heart of Wessex CRWP of £100,000 to be allocated according to local community

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2.3.3. CASTLE CARY WALKING ROUTE FROM THE STATION 2.3.5. FRESHFORD A top story in 2010 was the discovery (in Devon!), rescue, restoration and installation of the old running in board, supported by a grant from the partnership, and now designated by the Railway Heritage Committee to keep it safely in place for future generations. In 2011 they found another one! The potential to restore and replace this is currently being evaluated. In 2006 the local community adopted Freshford station, and a major new landscaping plan was implemented. All the villagers donated cuttings, and the local school grew plants from seed. These exquisite and creative gardens continue to be one of the most complimented by customers visiting or travelling through on trains. The Castle Cary Tourism Group have put an enormous amount of work into establishing, mapping and promoting a walking route to and from their station with a project that 2.3.6. received recognition from ACORP in the Station Environment Award category in 2009. Work Bath & North East Somerset Council have welcomed news that their long held aspiration for improved access has continued in improving and promoting the route, including further interpretation boards, to the northbound platform, including a ramp for wheelchair users, will now be able to go ahead, thanks to a fingerposts and a series of special way mark discs. The team have also created special posters successful application under the Department for Transport’s “Access for All” scheme. Both Keynsham and Oldfield Park for the station to promote visits to the town via the path. The voluntary group continue to stations benefit from community projects led by the Severnside Community Rail Partnership. More details of the promote the use of the railway and this sustainable route to attract visitors to their town via achievements at these stations in their latest Progress Report on www.severnside-rail.org.uk websites and publications, with evidence of excellent results. With the completion of some recent additional work on the route, the 2.3.7. THORNFORD FOOTWAY group particularly wanted to raise more awareness of it with local residents, schools and businesses. A special family Treasure Trail event was organised in June when around 120 local people discovered and enjoyed the walking route to the station. In addition to promoting sustainable and healthy travel options for their town, members of the group played a key role in the Spring Local Food promotion, involving local food shops from Castle Cary, then featured in the Line Guide.

Spring 2011 saw the completion of the footway and improved access between Thornford Village and Thornford Station 2.3.4. DORCHESTER WEST Halt in Dorset. A long held aspiration by local people to improve the situation was identified in the Parish Plan, and Until 2010, Dorchester West was looked after by championed by CRWP member Dr Terry Gough (above centre). The project was included in the 2007/8 “Community weekly visits from the Friends of Upwey (see below). Wish List” (page 9) and the first stage of the project – part of the footway and a car parking facility- was completed The station has a particular problem with litter, with rapidly by Dorset County Council. The project received national recognition from both ACORP in 2008 (with 1st place in fast food outlets on both sides of it, and a local plague the Local Transport Integration Category) and the Commission for Rural Communities in 2009 who selected it as one of seagulls ensuring that this is well distributed over of 10 national examples of Best Practice in Rural Accessibility. the platforms. Weekly collection by FGWs maintenance team was not enough, so the volunteers concentrated The second stage of the project was then incorporated into Dorset County Council’s their attention on this, alternating their visits with Local Transport Plan and completed in Spring 2011. This safe access means that those of the maintenance team, and recycling as current and future generations of young people will be able to walk safely to catch much as possible. The old parcel office was reopened the train to college and work, and makes the station accessible to village residents as a joint “H.Q.” for the staff and volunteers to who can’t or prefer not to drive. A side benefit to the construction of the footway was administer operations. Initiated and supported by the that it needed to cross the road into the village, which has supplied a “pinch point” Dorchester Area Community Partnership, Dorchester on the road that has significantly reduced the speed of vehicles entering and leaving West went on to become the latest local adoption the village, improving safety for cyclists and reducing the risk of accidents. Thornford project on the line, and over the course of 2011 has seen one of the fastest and most impressive transformations is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and a major benefit of the of any of our stations, with weekly maintenance by a team of 6 people who have also cleared every available space footway will be to promote sustainable tourism visits to the area. A special update of of weeds and vegetation for planting, and installed planters on the platforms. In October 2011 they organised a the walk created by the Dorset AONB team was produced to celebrate and promote special Spring Planting event with local Cowden Care Farm which has a special “green fingers” programme. the footway.

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2.3.8. UPWEY 3. OVERALL RESULTS The Friends of Upwey were shortlisted for the ACORP awards this year, making them one of the top five station adoption groups in the country. In the extent and breadth of their achievements, they are perhaps our best model for the benefits of ”community ownership” of a station. Several years ago the station was subject to frequent vandalism, and damage to cars left in the station car park was a particular concern. Since 2008 the Friends have worked closely with , BTP and local police to tackle anti-social behaviour problems through a very successful “Community Watch” scheme. Hardly used at all up to 2008, there are now up to 12 cars a day in the station car park. The Friends help SWT to keep the station, approach road and car park attractive, clean and welcoming. New signs for the station, including directions for customers to help them find the right platform have been installed, and the latest project is spring planting of bulbs and plans to install planters. Special surveys are undertaken by the Friends of Upwey at peak periods to monitor train capacities for First Great Western, particularly for the leisure flows to Weymouth. During Bank and school holiday periods, they Passenger journeys in the 2001/2 year were 565,000, and in Spring 2007 we celebrated our millionth passenger implement a rota to be journey, reaching 1.5m journeys in the year to April 2010. Passenger journeys grew a further 8% in the year to April at the station to monitor 2011 and in the first 8 (of 13) periods since then have grown a further 3%. Projecting this up for the year will take loadings and in 2011 Heart of Wessex passenger journeys to just over 1.7m. were at the station every morning and afternoon for three weeks over the extended Easter/ COMPARISON OF PERCENTAGE GROWTH RATE OVER 2005 School Holiday/ Royal Wedding period to produce a special report on use of capacity. The Friends also played a major in role in organising and running the Local Food Train promotion in Spring, with a 7.30am start to over eight hours promoting local producers from Weymouth to Bristol and back.

2.3.9. YEOVIL PEN MILL BUS LINK One of the most important developments for regional travel including our line was the introduction of the bus link between Yeovil Pen Mill, Town Centre and Yeovil Junction by South West Coaches last year. (Right: Councillors Ian Martin and Phil Chandler launching the service in August 2010)

This runs commercially, giving a connection between the stations and the town every 20 minutes. It is notable that bus links between the stations ran in the past for various periods up to the early nineties and failed to survive despite subsidy support. That this link is proving self sustaining now is a function both of the strong growth in rail passenger travel over the last decade, and the creativity of the operator in designing a route that generates multiple use. DATA SOURCES. Passenger journeys. National Regional Operators: Office of Rail Regulation. Severn and Solent (eight The partnership has placed strong emphasis on helping to try and ensure the success of this service, both by raising routes centred on Bristol) and Heart of Wessex passenger journeys: First Great Western. awareness of it and addressing the practicalities of its use. The bus link now features in the Line Guide, FGW’s timetable, on station display screens and on an information DATA: NATIONAL REGIONAL OPS SEVERN & SOLENT HEART OF WESSEX (millions) Growth over 2005 (Thousands) Growth over 2005 (Thousands) Growth over 2005 sheet for station staff to hand out to arriving visitors. A problem with customer confusion about where to pick up the 2005 251 7810 793 bus was highlighted (particularly by a “mystery shopping” 2006 267 16 6.4% 8543 733 9.4% 926 133 16.8% trip from rail commentator Barry Doe) and a bus stop quickly 2007 277 26 10.4% 9167 1357 17.4% 1061 268 33.8% installed thanks to fast work by Somerset County Council. 2008 286 35 13.9% 9429 1619 20.7% 1165 372 46.9% We are continuing to work on raising the profile of the 2009 303 52 20.7% 10154 2344 30.0% 1489 696 87.8% service and are currently evaluating extra signs for the station 2010 304 53 21.1% 10244 2434 31.2% 1518 725 91.4% platforms to help people when the ticket office is closed. 2011 316 65 25.9% 11190 3380 43.3% 1632 839 105.8%

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3.1. ISSUES AFFECTING RECENT GROWTH 4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS 3.1.1. SERVICE CHOICE AND OVERCROWDING The exceptional growth on the Bristol to Weymouth route since 4.1. COMMUNITY RAIL DESIGNATION 2002/3 has slowed over the last 18 months, most substantially in the current year to date, although it is still ahead The Rail Minister announced on 10th October 2011 that the partnership had been successful in its application for of the national average for regional routes. It may be that the current services and capacity are beginning to constrain Designation as a Community Rail Line. The decision to apply for this status was influenced by three key factors: the potential to encourage large numbers of additional and new customers to the trains, and it is certain that 1) Designation is an official endorsement of our community led partnership. It formally confirms that the overcrowding on key services has begun to deter those who do not have to travel. The nature of the service, with communities and local authorities joined together by this railway line recognise its value as a local asset. eight trains a day unevenly spaced, means that for any particular journey plan only one train will be a viable 2) Partnerships associated with Designated Community Rail Lines can participate in seminars offering an option in at least one direction. opportunity to influence national initiatives, and have access to a special fund (DCRDF) to support small-scale projects up to £5k. CASE STUDY: Travel to Bristol and Bath from Dorset and Somerset 3) The current contract (franchise) between the government and FGW runs out in Spring 2013. Both the Local To reach Trowbridge, Bath and Bristol, for customers from Dorset and Somerset who do not wish to catch the Authority and local community partnership members have an excellent working relationship with FGW, operating early commuter trains departing Weymouth at 05.33 (weekdays) and 06.40, the next train at 08.53 is the only on the basis of mutual trust and respect built up over a period of time. Should the partnership have to begin work option for an arrival at the northern half of the line before early afternoon. This train can therefore be full and with a new train operator in Spring 2013, official recognition of its status as a Community Rail route should help to standing from as early as Yeovil Pen Mill, and there have been increasing incidences of customers unable to board ensure that communities and Local Authorities continue to have an influential voice in the way it is run from the therefore unable to make their journey. Having arrived mid to late morning, most customers will wish to use the outset. return trains departing Bristol at 16.49 and 17.49. These serve a combination of commuting, student and leisure markets and are consistently overcrowded. As it is frequently impossible to board the first return train, Somerset Community Rail Designation was initiated in 2005 to help to address the long-term viability of local rail routes and Dorset customers will often be obliged to wait an hour for the second one. There is an additional stress factor by increasing ridership (and hence revenue), reducing costs and building up community involvement. Initially six for these customers – they must find a way to get onto this train as the next (and final) return option is not until lines were identified as pilot projects for Designation, and the strategy has since been further developed by the three hours later. Department for Transport. Local economic regeneration now forms a fourth keystone of the strategy, and to date The 08.53 cannot feature, however, amongst the top priority problem trains for the train operator as this level there are 29 Designated Community Rail routes. There are two forms of designation – line and service. The former of crowding does not occur day in, day out and is hence not comparable with some commuter services in the permits the route to be taken out of the Trans European Network (TENS), which is a universal specification for Bristol travel to work area. The 17.49 from Bristol did make the priority list for allocation of one of the additional rail infrastructure to ensure any and all potential uses of a line. Line Designation should in principle allow for the carriages recently received by First Great Western, a decision that has been warmly welcomed by all. However, possibility of infrastructure improvements at a different and more economic standard than would be permitted on this will only alleviate, not solve, one of the overcrowding issues relating to Heart of Wessex Line. TENS routes. A Line Designation also includes Service Designation. Service Designation allows flexibility with both the service level specification (SLC) which forms the basis of each There is a similar problem with visitor flows in the other direction bound principally for Weymouth. There is a choice train operator’s franchise (i.e. its contract with the government specifying the detail of what it will supply) and with of two trains to get down to the beach by mid day, but only one return in the afternoon allowing a full day out, which the Rules of the Route laid down by Network Rail, which also have a determining influence on service patterns. again inflicts stress on passengers who know they must find a way board this if they do not want to wait almost Service Designation also allows for variation to the regulated fares structure. The Heart of Wessex Line effectively uses another three hours before the next and last train of the day. On a number of days during Summer 2011 First Great multiple routes, some of which could not be taken out of TENS, so ours is a Service Designation. It also includes all the Western kept road coaches on standby at Weymouth station to deal with potential capacity shortfalls on this train. stations on the line with the exception of Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa, which means that we can potentially apply for DCRDF funding for station projects at 18 stations. WEEKEND TRAVEL Family outings, countryside walks and shopping have all featured in our promotion of the route, and for working people the weekend is the time they will plan a train trip, especially as a treat for children. For 8 Designation opens up the potential for making practical changes that would not otherwise be possible. The idea is to months of the year there is no option for this on Sundays, either to Wiltshire, Bath and Bristol for Dorset and Somerset allow for flexibility within the national standards and agreements that govern the running of the railways, including residents, or to Somerset, Dorset and Weymouth for anybody. This has placed increasing stress on capacity on the specification (and therefore costs) of infrastructure, the nationally regulated fares structure and individual Saturdays, and over time has made the choice of a day out by train increasingly less appealing. It seems highly likely contracts (franchises) that determine the details of timetables. The practical benefits of Designation can only be that some of the gains in converting local people to rail use that have been made since 2003 will have been lost as a exploited on the initiative of the Community Rail Partnership supporting the line – in other words, Designation result of increased Saturday overcrowding. effectively means whatever local people want it to mean. For example, one Designated line chose to increase local fares above the regulated limit and the additional revenue generated was ring fenced and used to introduce a 3.1.2. REVENUE COLLECTION / UNTICKETED TRAVEL: Over half of our stations are unstaffed, and revenue Sunday Service. The partnership has started work to examine the potential to resolve some of the outstanding issues collection, and therefore passenger journeys recorded by the train operator, are highly reliant on ticket sales made raised by local communities that might now be assisted by the ability to flex the rules and standards that previously on board the train during the journey. As the trains become more crowded this becomes increasingly difficult for train represented a barrier to finding solutions. staff, who simply cannot move through the carriages. Where trains have been strengthened for known capacity peaks 4.2. DESIGNATED ROUTE PLAN 2012/13 one crew member may simply not be physically able to reach every passenger along the length of the train between In order to make applications for project funding from the Designated Community Rail Development Fund (DCRDF) a them all boarding and alighting. The view of many of our supporters and correspondents travelling frequently on new route plan must be produced and approved. The guidelines for application to the fund include an emphasis on the trains is that overall an estimated third of customers probably do not pay (unless they have to do so on arrival innovation, with preference given to projects that represent a new initiative for the partnership concerned. at Bristol or Bath revenue protection gates). This ticketless travel (incidentally largely involuntary – customers who complain do so because they wanted to pay) is not recorded in the passenger journey data used above. Production of this new plan therefore represents an opportunity for us to take stock of what we have achieved so far and look at fresh opportunities for moving forward in general, addressing both core priorities for our Local Authority

14 15 HEART OF WESSEX RAIL PARTNERSHIP 2011 partners and local community aspirations. Work on the Designated Route Plan is underway, aiming for submission for approval early in the 2012/13 financial year.

4.3. NEW RAIL FRANCHISE 2013 An Invitation to Tender for a new 15 year regional rail franchise including the Heart of Wessex line will be issued by the Department for Transport in May 2012, with the announcement of the successful bidder in December 2012. The new franchise will start in April 2013. In 2010/11 the Rail Partnership commissioned a detailed study of the business case for improvement to services on this route including potential timetabling solutions. This has now been submitted to the Department for Transport for consideration in the context of the new franchise specification.

December 2011 [email protected] Heart of Wessex Rail Partnership Officer

Community supporters who, on an entirely voluntary basis, delivered station enhancements, better customer information, special events promoting local businesses, improvements to walking routes to stations and the Wessex Wanderers guided walks:

John and Felita Hill, Brian and Janna Coomber, Andy Hutchings, Terry Putnam, Peter and Nita Meech, John Trevett, Sue Blake, Wally Gundry, Jeff Mowlam, John Antell, Barry Tempest, David Fennell, Sally Falkingham, Stella Amos, Nicholas Goozée, Peter Enoch, Terry and Cynthia Gough, David and Sue Greening, Laura Tilling, Clare Ratcliffe, Chris Edwards, Jane Wilde, Alan Best, Nick and Beth Scott, Ken and Patience Thom, Howard Smith, Kath Kelly, Gordon Fry, David and Sue Smith, Douglas Learmond, Jane King Wilkinson, John Leach, Colin Stoate, Gerald Quartley, Rose Heaword, Bob Lee, Rob Brown, Rosemary Buchan, Roger Newman, Dave Walden, Pauline Brown, Pat Burrows, Jenny Breckman, Thalia Rice, Pam Nadim, Tony Green, John Baxter, Roger Gaisford, Paul Harris, Trevor Turpin, Richard Read, Nick and Jan Gascoigne, Ken & Kathy Miller, Hugh Delap, Nick Stevens, Richard Blamey, Rowena Wood, Melanie Everard, Roland Birchby, Alan Duck, Mark White, Ann Light, Sylvia Popham, Norman Browne, Julie Boston, Peter Gould, Ken and Audrey Worden, Kevin Aplin, Marietta Starbuck, Carl Earl, Austin Knock, Erin Bland, Val Ingram, Sue Frizzle, Dave Ace, Derek Munts, Bill Moore, Joy Harrison, Sandra Hopkins, Dave Wilcox, Malcolm Walsh, Richard Collis, Jim Grant, Barrie Wormesley, Kate Gocher, Daphne Denney, Neil Burlton, Alan Horlock, Jim Grant and Margaret.

SOME, ALTHOUGH VERY FAR FROM ALL, OF THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE FEATURE IN THE PHOTOS IN THE PRECEDING PAGES (all photos Catherine Phillips unless otherwise credited)

THE HEART OF WESSEX RAIL PARTNERSHIP brings together: Bristol City Council l Bath & North East Somerset Council l Wiltshire Council l Dorset County Council l Somerset County Council l South Somerset District Council l West Dorset District Council l First Great Western and the COMMUNITY RAIL WORKING PARTY of volunteer, community and rail user group representatives from along the line. Chairman: Eric Egar ([email protected]) l Rail Partnership Officer: Catherine Phillips ([email protected])

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