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Project Wareham

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by David R, Jul 31, 2015.

  1. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    I think you are absolutely right. My thought is that separate charges should be avoided if at all possible. Costs can be camouflaged in the fares.

    As you asked specifically, the IOWSR does not charge for car parking, Being the freeholder gives the choice as to whether to charge separately or incorporate the costs in the fares without having to negotiate with landowners.

    Such costs can be significant. Last year, the lower car park at Havenstreet got surfaced and marked out at a cost of £60,000, which included providing a separator to prevent hydrocarbons being discharged into the adjoining brook.

    Paul H
     
  2. huochemi

    huochemi Part of the furniture

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    Not sure I understand the point being made, but the important thing surely is that there is parking. Charging is often forced on the railway to avoid the facility being filled up by non-railway traffic.
     
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  3. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I do not have figures to back this up but I suspect that very few railways charge for their car parking. Those that do will probably have good reason to do so. If your car park is only likely to be used by those visiting the railway it is sensible to keep it free. If, however, it is likely to be used by people visiting other attractions, shopping, etc, then it is a different matter. I have already cited the NYMR and the SR car park at Norden is another. Parking in Corfe Castle isn't exactly in abundance if you exclude Norden and that place is a tourist magnet. There is no logic in providing free parking at your expense if you aren't going to benefit from it in terms of train tickets. And before anyone jumps in and says that you could give a discount on the fare on production of the parking ticket, there are significant tax implications in so doing.
     
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  4. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    Corfe is a fair walk away from Norden, uphill and far from ideal for children or the infirm. Who operates the carpark can be negotiated. I believe the Norden one currently is run by the local authority.

    You are right, I think, that most tourist railway car parks are free of charge. I am aware of one (at Alresford) which charges but this is clearly identified as local authority owned and is properly surfaced.

    PH
     
  5. Steve1015

    Steve1015 Member

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    Norden CP is run by Purbeck District Council. The walk from Norden to Corfe is not ideal for the mobility impaired but ok for children...In fact many kids can be seen walking with their elders into Corfe from Norden
     
  6. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    It's hardly a massive walk from Norden to Corfe, even with children, and quite a pleasant one as well. As I recall, there is another, smaller, car park for the village tucked up near the viaduct, but from experience it fills up pretty quickly, certainly "in season". It doesn't even save a huge amount of distance, and none of the hill, relative to Norden.

    Somewhere there is no doubt a heritage railway in which everything is done perfectly; for the rest of us, we have to play with the cards we have been dealt. The passenger numbers at Swanage would seem to indicate that they aren't doing badly, and car parking - paved and free or otherwise - is not proving a disincentive to trade.

    Tom
     
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  7. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    As I understand it the Norden Car Park is a "Park & Ride" facility operated by Purbeck District Council in conjunction with the railway whilst the car park at Corfe Castle is a National Trust operation with charges - albeit free to National Trust members. In local northern climes Ribble Steam Railway has a free car park, KWVR has a chargeable car park at Haworth and Keighley (the former refunded against book shop purchases whilst the latter shared with local rail commuters) and free parking at Oxenhope, Oakworth and Ingrow and the ELR has chargeable parking at Bury and free parking at Ramsbottom (in adjacent supermarket parks), Irwell Vale and Rawtenstall. Free parking is also available on the Bluebell Railway at Sheffield Park, GWR at Toddington, the NVR at Wansford and many other lines whilst those where I have been charged often refund charges against purchases of books / tickets to travel.
     
  8. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    Of course what you have to remember with Swanage is that it costs £8 to park all day in the town, assuming that the car parks are not full (as they were last weekend in the heat wave).
    So you pay £3.50 and in effect get a return steam trip for a net £9.
    But parking costs are an emotive and often subject to outrage. My 90 year old father for example, as he did yesterday will happily drive 280 miles using premium unleaded, yet refuse to pay £3 to park somewhere and not stop in that location. Go figure!
     
  9. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    It is also worth pointing out of course that the Swanage Railway didn't have to buy the car park/doesn't have to run it , might at the appropriate time have had the money anyway, might have needed Purbeck DC on board - I can go on
     
  10. 21B

    21B Part of the furniture

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    Do you believe that it is important that it is identified as Local Authority operated? Would your view of the reasonableness of the charges be different if the name board said MHR? Not having a go, genuinely interested in how people would view it in your opinion.
     
  11. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    I think the answer is a bit different if the operation has an element of "park and ride" about it as opposed to being a pure pleasure trip. The former needs IMHO to be all inclusive, to avoid accusations of being less than frank about the true cost. Ideally this should be true of the latter as well but if the ownership of the parking site is separate, the railway should make this clear in order to avoid criticism of being greedy.

    Paul H
     
  12. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    This is actually quite minor compared with the people who will spend more in fuel and wear and tear driving around to find a charge free space than it would cost them to use a pay zone. The psychology is complex and is the reason why I favour "all in one" charges, particularly if a park and ride function is being performed.

    PH
     
  13. stephenvane

    stephenvane Member

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    Not quite sure what car parking has got to do with services to Wareham.

    Anyway has the problem with 33025 been resolved? Or is D6515 still in use?
     
  14. Steve1015

    Steve1015 Member

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    Will find out tomorrow morning...
     
  15. Daddsie71b

    Daddsie71b Member Friend

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    My wife tolerates railways, however, if they are clean, the ride interesting, the staff polite and were actually going somewhere, then it is not a problem.
     
  16. Rumpole

    Rumpole Part of the furniture

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    Set made up today with 37518 on the Country end and 33025 on the London end.
     
  17. stephenvane

    stephenvane Member

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    Just seen the last Swanage to Wareham train of the day on the Corfe Castle Webcam. 33025 seems to have survived the day this time!

    Train looked very well loaded, with faces in every window. So hopefully the Wareham services are proving successful.
     
  18. Zoomeg

    Zoomeg New Member

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    I did the trip from Wareham today; my first on any part of the line, really enjoyed it! just like old times with the 33 (025). Parking is free on Sundays too so definitely a no brainer to do the whole line. Plus a bonus trip on 80146 down to Swanage which I wasn't expecting for the simple £15 return but it worked out well.

    Loved Corfe Castle station!

    The man in our carriage was having a major problem with the boat trip from Swanage or maybe Poole as it sailed earlier than the advertised time.
     
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2017
  19. daddsie

    daddsie Guest

    Why is the West Coast Crompton showing a Eastleigh - Romsey or Salisbury via Chandlers Ford headcode (33) Surely 98?
     
  20. buzby2

    buzby2 Well-Known Member

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    At the risk of perpetuating the Norden car parking debate.
    The Railway's finances were fully utilised in relaying track to Corfe Castle and Norden [as well as constructing a station, run-round and sidings at Norden] and could not be spared to get land for a car park.
    IIRC - PDC leased a plot of clay waste land from English China Clays (now Imerys) to construct an experimental car park for just over 100 cars. This proved so successful that PDC have expanded the car park twice since then.
    For a period PDC sublet the car park for the Railway to operate and, I believe I'm right in stating, that no fee was charged. This is no longer the case with PDC resuming control and charging a daily fee of currently £3.20.
    There have been numerous discussions that it should not be called 'Park & Ride' as accepted wisdom is free parking and fare charged or paid parking and free transport. However, with two dissimilar organisations involved it's not going to be straightforward I fear.
     
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