If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

The WHR, success or flop ?

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by Baldwin, Aug 10, 2011.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

    In july this year i made my pilgrimage to North Wales i went on the WHR and then the FR, i was surprised to find on the WHR that the public participation was low, the train was empty and the stations were deserted, the following journey on the FR was completely in contrast with the train full and lots going on around the stations. Now in a recent wandering around the net i have just come across a German photo reportage on the famous Feldbahn site, this would of been made about the same time as my journey, this reportage about the WHR and FR showed exactly the same thing !! I know there are quite a few members on here involved with the WHR, is it possible to know the public numbers for this year ? As one who contributed to the finance of the construction of the WHR albeit in relatively smaller way than the public, i would be interested to know if the WHR is going to be a success or not.
     
  2. AndrewT

    AndrewT Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2007
    Messages:
    735
    Likes Received:
    50
    Occupation:
    F&WHR Spin Doctor
    Location:
    Maentwrog
    Are you sure you went to the right WHR?
     
  3. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

  4. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 18, 2011
    Messages:
    6,081
    Likes Received:
    2,217
    theres more than one? How on earth did that happen! :)
     
  5. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2005
    Messages:
    9,634
    Likes Received:
    8,303
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Alderan !
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Baldwin

    I can't help but feel that the title is rather provocative . Judging a railway on a short visit or a bit of online footage does not present a case

    Andrew I'm sure could share some simple passenger numbers 09,10 and indication of 11 which hopefully will assuage your concerns
     
  6. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

    I do agree the title is provocative, this is to ensure people read the thread. I don't want to make any personal judgement untill i have seen the passenger numbers.
     
  7. AndrewT

    AndrewT Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2007
    Messages:
    735
    Likes Received:
    50
    Occupation:
    F&WHR Spin Doctor
    Location:
    Maentwrog
    July
    FR Journeys 31,887 -1.4%
    WHR Journeys 23,413 +38.7%
    FR revenue -1.6%
    WHR revenue +44.5%

    YTD
    FR Journeys 106,706 -10.6% (expected - railway was closed for two months for bypass construction)
    WHR journeys 96,550 +62.2%
    FR revenue -6.6%
    WHR revenue +69.4%

    WHR ticket revenue now exceeds that of the FR.
    Overall, revenue YTD is 24.1% up on 2010.
    Shops and catering are also up on 2010.
     
  8. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2005
    Messages:
    9,634
    Likes Received:
    8,303
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Alderan !
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    and why would that be if not to deliberately stir up trouble ?
     
  9. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

    Success or flop is in my eyes balanced but provocative enough to ensure people respond to the thread.
     
  10. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

    Thank you Mr Thomas for your informative reply. I look forward to seeing you back on the yahoo WHR page again.
     
  11. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2005
    Messages:
    2,839
    Likes Received:
    558
    Location:
    Isle of Wight
    When i was there i struggled to get a seat on the train - you simply cant get an idea of how well a railway is from one visit.

    Chris
     
  12. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

    I agree, this is why i asked for the passenger numbers, you can never be sure, but the coincidence between what i saw and the German report meant i had to ask.
     
  13. Baldopeter

    Baldopeter New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    Messages:
    93
    Likes Received:
    15
    Location:
    Lincolnshire
    I understand you visited in August. Perversely, 'high season' is no longer that. It is quite possible for FR or WHR trains to be quiet in high season, where there are more services available on a particular day, than, say days in June when I have seen the WHR so busy, but of course fewer trains run.

    There is a problem with timetabling, as we learn traffic patterns, and this year in particular a cautious approach was taken on running to Porthmadog, as the bypass is not finished until this winter.

    Next year all trains should run to Port. Then we will have another set of problems handling the peaks of passenger number ( in May or June ?). That does not sound like much of a flop to me, more like a tremendous success.

    Regards

    Peter
     
  14. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

    No, it was actually in July around the same time as the German report, then obviously a success it is !! I like many other's after all the pub would of been expecting a packed train, so you can imagine the surprise to find the train more or less empty, i hope next year when things settle in, that trains will be filled evenly.
     
  15. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2005
    Messages:
    2,839
    Likes Received:
    558
    Location:
    Isle of Wight
    Looking at the German site, i cant see any reference to the train being quiet and the photo's dont give an obvious view of passenger numbers either. Is there something im missing?

    Chris
     
  16. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

    Try looking at IMG 5207 with your magnifying glass !! Apart from that, it's the general air of emptyness, there's hardly anyone around, it was the same when i was there.
     
  17. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2005
    Messages:
    2,839
    Likes Received:
    558
    Location:
    Isle of Wight
    The smaller FR carriages [incl the lockup] look quiet behind the Garratt, but there's nothing unusual about that if there's room in the larger WHR carriages, and its probably unwise to read anything into his other shots - as is often the case, there's a general air of emptyness about most of them! Its obvious context is important when it appears the busiest station is Blaenau...

    Chris
     
  18. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

    Maybe that's it, the fact that the FR train was full made the WHR look even more empty. Well let's hope that things will even out.
     
  19. Roger Dimmick

    Roger Dimmick Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2008
    Messages:
    384
    Likes Received:
    13
    Location:
    Narrow Gauge Heaven - Porthmadog, Gwynedd
    Erm, I thought Andrew had already sorted that out for you...

    We desperately need more carriages to cope with the demand...
     
  20. AndrewT

    AndrewT Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2007
    Messages:
    735
    Likes Received:
    50
    Occupation:
    F&WHR Spin Doctor
    Location:
    Maentwrog
    It all depends when and where you take a photograph. Today is a red timetable day on the FR, with eight up and eight down services. But it didn't look terribly busy out of my window a couple of minutes ago...

    AT104355-1024.jpg
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page