Only 700 use Newport rail bus link (From South Wales Argus)
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Only 700 use Rogerstone to Newport Rail Linc bus
2:45pm Sunday 29th July 2012 in News
By David Deans - Politics reporter
ONLY around 700 passengers used the Ebbw Valley railway line bus link in the first few months of its operation, the Argus has learned.
Newport West AM Rosemary Butler said the figures for the Rail Linc bus from Rogerstone to Newport railway station were "extremely disappointing" and reiterated her call for people to use or lose the service.
Welsh Government officials are using the pilot service to test demand for a permanent passenger rail link between Ebbw Vale and Newport which the Argus has campaigned for for many years.
According to the figures obtained from Rosemary Butler's office 705 passengers used the service between January 23 and May 5.
The busiest week was the week ending April 28, when 81 people used the service.
Ms Butler said: "These figures are extremely disappointing and the take-up of this service has not been as high as we had hoped."
She said it was important the pilot scheme was publicised extensively and she welcomed a planned marketing campaign.
"The minister and I are committed to making this scheme a success, and I urge passengers to use it or lose it," she said.
Councillor Ken Critchley, cabinet member for infrastructure, said a marketing campaign is being launched next month to raise awareness of the service.
He said the city council still wants a passenger link opened up to the city centre and that the pilot service is just one element in assessing the need for restarting trains between Ebbw Vale and Newport.
But he added: "I would encourage people to use rail link bus as this would help towards the already strong case for reopening the line."
The Newport council-contracted service, which received £119,000 in funding from the Welsh Government for a 12-month pilot, is timed to connect with trains at Rogerstone.
A previous bus link in 2008 was axed as few people used it.
Comments(5)
Howie'
says...
10:33pm Sun 29 Jul 12
That I believe is what it all comes down too..............The
y will use the lack of passengers on the Bus to 'prove' that there is no demand for a link to Newport.
I have said before that if they constructed a business case for a link in to Newport using the same criteria as they used for the Cardiff to Ebbw Vale line the business case would be overwhelming. But I think we are going to be sold a pup, they are going to advertise this Bus service through a planned marketing campaign & it will not attract any more passengers because as PontyPeter says 'If you are going to Ebbw Vale (or any of the intermediate towns that the train stops at) from Newport you will choose the bus that goes directly there, not one that involves changing to a train. I think they are prepared to throw money at this Bus to prove no demand & not upgrade a mile of track so that passenger trains can run to Newport.
pinpong
says...
4:07am Mon 30 Jul 12
Owain Vaughan
says...
9:24am Mon 30 Jul 12
gellihaf
says...
10:24am Mon 30 Jul 12
I've just searched for tickets from Rogerstone to Newport this morning, the search result shows the fare costs £8.90 (Anytime Day Single) for a 13 minute journey! I also searched for the details from other stations between Ebbw Vale and Newport and the search result shows the journey would require changing trains at Cardiff Central. There is no mention of the Bus Link.
PontyPeter says...
9:41pm Sun 29 Jul 12
1. The service is poorly publicised. People don't know it exists.
2. There is already a bus service from Newport to Ebbw Vale. If you are going to Ebbw Vale from Newport you will choose the bus that goes directly there, not one that involves changing to a train.
3. Therefore demand for this bus in no way measures demand for a train service. How can it? This really is some of the most illogical and ill-conceived nonsense I've ever witnessed.