North Devon Green Party: Local Action

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A letter sent to the First Group from Cllr Mike Harrison, 10th March 2006

Dear Sir,

the desire to escape the city forever increases and the railways are well placed to cater for this demand. Modern road travel is often associated with unpleasantness, significant costs and uncertainties. Airlines will lose their lustre when forced to take account of their environmental imprint. On the demand side, for example, faced with its major problem, and limitation, of saturation by cars, Georgeham Parish Council (Croyde is a major destination) is keen to promote sustainable tourism. The railways can perform a vital function for both utility travel and the arrival of visitors. So, with discussions of future rail services to the area, what are the prospects for proactive timetabling?

I suggest the following would represent quality of service:

1. An hourly service during the day. This could be easy to follow and the regularity would promote use. Missing hours can and could represent a long wait in Exeter.
2. A well-timed morning train leaving Barnstaple just before 8.00. This enables users to have a full day in Exeter or to travel much further away. It is all very well having an early train at 7.00 but this is a wide area: many people live more than half an hour away from Barnstaple station.
3. A late evening return train from Exeter.
4. Ample trains at weekends.
5. The continuation of the trains to Exeter Central and onwards is a big advantage.
6. A rational approach to the use of intermediate stops is essential.
7. The provision of suitable rolling stock to cater for the demand. This needs to include the requirements of cyclists, who represent a significant source of revenue and meet the criteria of sustainable travel.

Studying the proposed December 2006 timetable the following observations are apparent. There is a complete absence of an optimally timed morning train. There is no train between 06.35 and 08.44, precisely the time when the greatest number of people would wish to travel. It would seem to be a two hourly service with a few extra trains late afternoon – the mornings are surely a more popular time to travel. The late night train back from Exeter is now 20 minutes earlier. Clearly it makes sense to reduce the number of intermediate stops and opting for stopping ones early morning and late afternoon is logical. There would be a case for all trains stopping at Umberleigh, Eggesford and Crediton – this would be simple and could be accommodated in a run time of under one hour. About the other points, I do not have any information.

This line has a vital and potentially lucrative role to play in the economy of the area. If the link is effective it encourages longer journeys by rail. I hope that as operator you will produce a timetable in tune with potential users.

Yours faithfully,

Mike Harrison

"Campaign Success", a letter from Mike Harrison, Feb 2005

In May 2004 Wessex Trains introduced a peak hour ban on taking bikes on the trains to Exeter, Plymouth and Bristol. A real nuisance at it made it almost impossible to make a long train journey into Cornwall or up country or to make a long day trip. The ban was quickly followed by a local campaign of letter writing to the company, politicians, the press and national cycle groups. Other parts of the south west took similar action.

At the end of January 2005 Wessex Trains lifted its ban. So, possibilities once more!

Changes to Rail Services Correspondence of Mike Harrison:

The timetable of 23rd May introduced regulations for cycles on trains. In view of the hurdles and risks now involved the result is close to wipe out. The main artery to the area for the non car traveller has been decimated. Stunned at this news I have written letters to Wessex Trains, local councillors and MP – see letter below for points. A potted version was sent to the Journal. I also sent questions to Edward Chorlton, Director of Environment to see what county policies are for getting people to the coast without a car. Talk to cyclists and friends and urge them to write to Wessex Trains – their leaflet requests feedback – Customer Services Wessex Trains WE4 Admail 3547 Exeter EX1 1BF customer.services@wessextrains.co.uk

North Devon Rail Services

Dear Councillor

With the introduction of the summer timetables on 23rd May 2004 Wessex Trains has brought in new policies related to travelling with a bike. This is a serious reduction in their ‘service’ to North Devon and for the non car user has effectively cut the main artery into the area. Cycling offers a viable (and often quicker and more convenient) option for travel within North Devon but to get further afield the railway was the main facility.

When I went to the station two weeks ago to get the new timetable I was informed that I couldn’t take a bike on the first two trains of the day and that I should read the new leaflet. ‘Wessex Trains: Cycling by Train’ – the gist of which is don’t bother. ‘Up to two cycles on a first-come first served basis’ could mean a long wait and problems completing a long journey. Onward journeys from Exeter are ‘reservation essential’ but you can’t be sure if you are going to get from Barnstaple. With delays and missed connections many reservations are not taken up anyway. The flexibility of timing the journey, for example if the weather changes, is lost. Policies of two bikes on a train combined with trains only every hour or two add up to an unsavoury option. As I read the leaflet, the exclusion should only apply to the 0747 train but clearly turning up for the 0642 would be risky. I could have to wait until 0855, or later, which would give a four hour journey to Exeter – it’s possible to cycle there more quickly.

There has been much correspondence in the local press with headings such as ‘Best Ever Rail Service?’ I wonder if the word ‘service’ is appropriate. My grandmother in 1900 enjoyed rail travel. She walked or cycled to the station – Braunton, Mortehoe, Bideford or wherever – then put her luggage or bike on the train, with porters or guards to help. Later on, she could use the bus and the bus station was at Barnstaple Town Station. Even allowing for increased labour costs what we see today cannot be compared with the past. Last summer I enjoyed the freedom and utility that my grandmother relished and made many journeys throughout Devon and Cornwall, albeit it scaled up thanks to modern cycle technology. This I regarded as a proper service and, apart from the need for patience on Sundays, never experienced problems. Turn up at the station and go! All in marked contrast to the reality of today’s travel, constrained in a metal box moving like a snail through Braunton or Sticklepath.

A lot of effort is going in to the promotion of one of the country’s finest areas for cycling but then Wessex Trains makes it difficult to get here by bike. Where is the joined up thinking? For a real rail service we need increased capacity and dovetailed bus services such as a subsidised stations shuttle over the Long Bridge. And beyond that, we can always dream of getting some of the old stations back. North Devon’s near total reliance on the car to bring visitors defies logic and invites vulnerability.

Wessex Trains invites comments: Customer Services Wessex Trains WE4 Admail 3547 Exeter EX1 1BF customer.services@wessextrains.co.uk

The Bradworthy Wind Turbines

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Local Action - Transport - Rail Services

Rail services between Barnstaple and Exeter

A letter sent to the First Group from Cllr Mike Harrison, 10th March 2006

"Campaign Success", a letter from Mike Harrison, Feb 2005