Carstairs - is the passenger growth for real?

[70014IronDuke]

The latest station usage figures (2015-2016) for Carstairs, if accuate, are pretty amazing. Indeed, the figures for the past few years have been excellent.

From an average of 11,000 around 2009-2011, they jumped (rounding out the figures slightly):

2012-13 – 20,600

2013-14 – 33,400

2014-15 – 43,400

2015-16 – 84,800

Now I am sure one can find similar growth at other stations, especially with a low base figure, but usually this is down to a dramatic improvement in service levels. In the case of Carstairs, a) it's a small community in the first place and b) as far as I know, there have been no significant improvements to the service, certainly nothing in the past year which can be used to explain a 95% growth in patronage. In fact, the service, as I remember, is only roughly one train per 2 hours.

Anyone know if these figures are realistic? And if they are, could services be improved further to attract more passengers?

 

[WatcherZero]

There was a big temporary boost to stations in the county because the WCML was severed for some time during that financial year. So people were travelling to the nearest station then taking alternative transport past.

 

[Starmill]

Carstairs has had a couple of additional services added over that time I believe. Significantly, there is now a 2258 departure from Glasgow Central and a 2313 from Edinburgh.

 

[me123]

Services have markedly improved, and are now at around one train every two hours to both Glasgow and Edinburgh - perhaps not a groundbreaking frequency but maybe enough to encourage people to actually use the service. It wasn't that long ago that Carstairs had about three trains a day.

 

[SeanG]

Is there anything there apart from the prison/hospital?
I always thought that it grew up as a railway junction but that was pretty much it

 

[me123]

Is there anything there apart from the prison/hospital?
I always thought that it grew up as a railway junction but that was pretty much it

It's home to about 3,500 people apparently. Not much else, but when that's the case there's even more reason to leave the village. Apparently been quite a few new homes built in the area, and a population rise of about 1,000 in the last ten years. All people that may be using the train.

 

[Bevan Price]

Is it used as a park & ride station for other small towns that no longer have stations ?

 

[me123]

Potentially, but not a huge catchment. Besides, if you're driving anyway you'd probably go to a station with a more frequent service - Lanark and Carluke get 2tph compared to 1tp2h.

 

[tom1649]

How did this station retain its ticket office? Was it an oversight?

 

[PaulLothian]

The catchment area is much bigger than the village itself, given the distance to the next station to the south! Also much more convenient parking, and better services to Edinburgh.

The data as shown tells us little unless we know where the passengers are going to.

 

[70014IronDuke]

The catchment area is much bigger than the village itself, given the distance to the next station to the south! Also much more convenient parking, and better services to Edinburgh.

The data as shown tells us little unless we know where the passengers are going to.

OK, but look at me123's contribution:

Potentially, but not a huge catchment. Besides, if you're driving anyway you'd probably go to a station with a more frequent service - Lanark and Carluke get 2tph compared to 1tp2h.

1 train per two hours is hardly an attractive service in the modern age, and therefore unlikely to attract many with cars for park and ride, I'd have thought.

84,000 journey-folk = approx 135 passengers on and off per day (I think there no Sunday service). Not huge, but there is obviously more potential.

If it does have a valid catchment area, would it be worth stopping a few TPE services here, ie offering some sort of service to/from the south on the WCML? Has this ever been seriously proposed?

 

[Liam]

There could well be some people from Lanark who use Carstairs to get to Edinburgh.

 

[me123]

^ Very true. 1tp2h isn't hugely exciting for services to Glasgow, but when you look at services to Edinburgh it is better to what Lanark has to offer.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

1 train per two hours is hardly an attractive service in the modern age, and therefore unlikely to attract many with cars for park and ride, I'd have thought.

That said in rush hours the service is markedly better. In the morning peak, there are departures at 07:14, 07:36*, 07:45 and 08:11. In the evening peak, you have departures back at 17:02 and 17:43.

So for commuting to Glasgow, Carstairs actually offers a decent service nowadays. There are places across the country that do quite well with this level of service. For the 9-5 office workers, there would be no reason to travel to another station provided you could definitely make the 17:43 train on the way home (bearing in mind it would be a two hour gap for the next one).

*(This service runs to the low level station and is overtaken by the 07:45, but offers other journey opportunities using the Argyle line).

 

[DarloRich]

has there been building in the area?

 

[me123]

Apparently so. A population increase of a thousand coinciding with construction of new houses over the past ten years.

 

[185143]

OK, but look at me123's contribution:



1 train per two hours is hardly an attractive service in the modern age, and therefore unlikely to attract many with cars for park and ride, I'd have thought.

84,000 journey-folk = approx 135 passengers on and off per day (I think there no Sunday service). Not huge, but there is obviously more potential.

If it does have a valid catchment area, would it be worth stopping a few TPE services here, ie offering some sort of service to/from the south on the WCML? Has this ever been seriously proposed?

The 05:00 from Manchester stops at Carstairs, offering a connection to Edinburgh. (As well as continuing to Glasgow obviously)

 

[DarloRich]

Apparently so. A population increase of a thousand coinciding with construction of new houses over the past ten years.

i thought so. I guess with a decent service to the two main cities it could be an attractive place to live

 

[thenorthern]

Carstairs has had a turbulent history as until the 1990s (I think) many of the trains would call at Carstairs where the trains would divide with the front portion going to Glasgow and the rear portion going to Edinburgh.

When Virgin Trains took over however the practice of dividing trains ended and they saw no reason to serve what is essentially a small village so withdrew the services in 2001. This as others have said left I think 7 ScotRail services per day as well as the sleeper. Since then though services have got much better.

 

[47271]

it could be an attractive place to live

Yes, if you like living in remote location at 700ft altitude with only a railway junction and secure hospital for company.

Only joking, I can think of much worse places than Carstairs, but it can be a bit bleak in the winter.

 

[70014IronDuke]

The 05:00 from Manchester stops at Carstairs, offering a connection to Edinburgh. (As well as continuing to Glasgow obviously)

Yes, I agree, but I'd always thought this was prescribed by the DfT (or Transport Scotland?) primarily to give Carstairs a fast commuter train to Glasgow, rather than any intention of giving Manchester/Preston/Carlisle passengers a direct train to Carstairs.

Since no other TPE trains trains stop at Carstairs, it would appear the company has dismissed the traffic potential from there. Or perhaps they can't afford the stop, even for 2-3 trains a day, due to pathing considerations?

I hadn't twigged there was a connection to Edinburgh though. Perhaps that is the main point of the stop?

 

[DarloRich]

Yes, if you like living in remote location at 700ft altitude with only a railway junction and secure hospital for company.

Only joking, I can think of much worse places than Carstairs, but it can be a bit bleak in the winter.

financially attractive place allowing a bigger house outside of the city but less than an hour to work by train.

That and the secure hospital.

 

[Liam]

I hadn't twigged there was a connection to Edinburgh though. Perhaps that is the main point of the stop?

Yes, it allows Lockerbie folk to be in Edinburgh by 0900.