North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion

When was Heartbeat a prime tv show, 10-15 years ago, maybe more, Im not sure. Was the popularity of the show a factor in the years of +300k passengers, and did it appeal to a certain age demographic ( ie the retired ) who may now, 10-15 years later be not so mobile as back then.

 

Simple - click on "book tickets" at the top of every page and it's on there.

 

The other big difference between heritage railways is the physical distribution of potential customers, and their amount of disposable income for entertainment and leisure. Compared to the Bluebell for example, the NYMR is in a pretty rural area with few other transport links (including roads).

Whilst the NYMR may get holiday visitors who are temporarily based in Whitby and other local seaside resorts, it may struggle to get as many day visitors for these reasons. But only they will have the details of this, based on market research of real customers.

 

They will. But the question remains as to how their performance compares with other attractions in the same area.

 

In theory at least, being in a holiday area should be positive advantage, because people on holiday are generally looking for things to do.

 

Continuing the thought…. Nobody visits NE Hants except for Jane Austen’s house and the Watercressline. (I exaggerate very slightly to make the point) …. Yes there is a local population, but they need to be given reasons to visit, and any visitors to the line have to be enticed to an area that they won’t be staying in (a few do, but only a few). This helps to explain why the special events have always been so important, so too the dining and beer trains. It’s the same with the Bluebell.

 

And developing that thought further, Pickering may not be metropolitan but it is only an hour or so drive from Leeds. Alton is similar from SW London - if you’ve easy access to the A3

 

Hopefully the railway will get back to what I knew and loved one day; something like this. https://youtu.be/U88aUmsAATQ?si=wHdyqdzZiQwgjfv3

I observe that despite giving many extended answers since my last question @Lineisclear still hasn’t managed to rustle those passenger figures.

To give proactive suggestion on how to move forward, we really need to know how far things have fallen.

 

Pickering may be distant from large conurbations but its road links are pretty good. I live 41 miles from the place and it’s 45 minutes away except at busy periods. Compared with travelling ‘down south’ getting around by road is quite quick and easy. It’s well within days out distance of a several million people from Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Hull, Teesside and even Sheffield and Tyneside. Then there’s the east coast holiday resorts with a changing potential clientele on a regular basis. It’s not short of potential punters. It just needs to tempt them to visit.

 

The question of traffic figures was asked at a recent staff & volunteer forum and was brushed aside with the comment that it is income that is important. Traffic figures are a closely guarded secret. I wonder why? Or rather I don’t wonder why. I’ve been told by a director that the claimed 300,000+ passengers was merely a figure plucked out of thin air to help with grant applications. How true I can’t say.

 

Thank you, I went in via Plan your Journey from the Google search.

 

Does anyone on here know the current state of the steam fleet? We are now entering the third week since steam running resumed yet there are still only two steam engines rostered (Repton and 44806) vs three diesels. Whats going on with the rest?

 

80136 blew a few elements when on test recently,
5428 is awaiting some work on the electrics,
92134 is progressing nicely,
29 is awaiting a coupling rod to come back after defects were found,
63395 arrived back on the railway on Friday and will be coming back soon for final finishing

 

There is now a more agressive marketing campaign starting whereby kids go free,tickets booked in advance earn a discount and a proper fares table being reintroduced. All very welcome and signs that feedback is being listened to.
After a very successful diesel gala and the return of steam(careful now,another dry spell starting),let's hope things are looking up.

 

I hope the diesel gala was commercially successful - it deserved to be given the quality of the event, but the numbers there on Friday weren't overwhelming.

 

Chris Gee, the (volunteer) PLC chairman, does seem to be taking an active interest with regard to what is being said by a significant number of people about the way things are currently being run, especially with regard to fares and ticketing. He has been active on the volunteers Facebook site in recent weeks, responding positively to many of the posts. There might well be a hint of light at the end of the dark tunnel. Let's hope that it is not too late.

 

Indeed, and it's important to note that the reponse has the full backing and support of the Senior Leadership Team and the Boards.

 

It's a very faint light, though, and might be best described as "flickering"! I suspect he might have become contaminated by the ailment of not liking what he is being told.

 

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt - and hope that there's some genuine reflection going on rather than knee jerk reaction to poor sales. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating.