The Swanage Railway Trust

General Notes

A good season – so far

This summer has been excellent for both us and the local economy. With the exception of the really hot weeks in July we have seen a week on week increase in passenger numbers from last year. It is pleasing to see the Railway doing the job that it was built for and helping so many people travel around Purbeck during the summer. Our role as a transport provider is recognised by many local businesses but there are a few occasions – such as Carnival evenings – where we truly become a means of transport.

It is also notable that the revenue for evening services has increased this year and the morning service has seen reasonable patronage into Swanage. At the suggestion of several staff this will be retimed slightly later next year as it seems it was a fraction too early for visitors arriving at Norden.

Supporting improvements

Our ability to haul so many passengers over the summer has been supported in many ways and it is particularly pleasing to record that loco availability and train punctuality have improved a great deal this year. There have also been fewer instances of signalling failures affecting services and those occasions where this has occurred have had a minimal impact on our public service.

We need to plan for growth

At several times during the season we have been running at the top limit of capacity and it needs to be one of our key efforts to try and create room for additional traffic growth during this period of the year when, in two months, over a quarter of our revenue is earned.

The work required to run six coach trains is extensive but we must count this a possibility when we undertake work in the future so that we do not restrict ourselves further from this option in the future.

Areas for development:

• Work for autumn
• Special events
• Maintenance work
• Progress with connection
   

Health and Safety

Accident Forms

A reminder that new format of Accident Form has beeen issued. This updates the information required to match the legal requirements and is on a yellow coloured paper. Please use these wherever possible in the future. Stocks are available from the General Manager.
 

Working Parties

Infrastructure Support Group (ISG)

Details vary. Contact Frank Roberts (07703 566941).

Carriage and Wagon

Meet Saturdays and Sundays from 9am in the Swanage Goods Shed. Contact Jeremy Weller.

Civil Engineering

Meets Tuesday and Wednesday. Check times and location with Dennis Gregory (01929 422792).

Permanent Way Work

Meets Monday to Thursday at 8:30am. Please check location with Tony Andrews (07798 743016).

Signal and Telegraph Wednesday Gang

Meets Wednesdays at 9am, usually starting at Corfe Castle. Contact: Dave Cobb (07790 205454).
 

Vacancies

Contact name person (via Station House) for more information:

Traffic – Booking Clerks are required to help man Swanage and other Booking Offices on a daily basis. Contact Martin Trott.

Training Courses

Training courses for staff working towards parts of the SRVQ are held as listed below. All courses are held at the Swanage MPD. The bracketed numbers refer to the SRVQ Unit that they cover – please see the Safety Management System (General Instruction 17) for more information.
 

All courses are held at Swanage Motive Power Depot.

For details of additional courses please contact the person responsible as follows:

• SR PTS - Mike Standhaft
• NR PTS - Nick Brown
• Signalling Rules - Mike Whitwam
• First Aid - Nick Brown

Notes from the Board Meeting on 2nd September

Health and Safety

No specific report was tabled at the meeting – a report was distributed by e-mail.

The need to renew the boards on Lowmac was noted as was the SPAD at Corfe Castle which had been dealt with quickly and efficiently.

Finance

It was reported that, despite a dip during the very hot weather in July, the situation was still positive with income meeting and in many cases exceeding expectations and cash flow showing continued signs of improvement. It was agreed that the situation was better than this time last year and that investigation would continue to establish ways of further improving cash flow. The efforts of all managers so far were recognised – it was also noted that continued control would be appreciated!

General Manager’s Report

Network Rail

I attended a meeting with Network rail where we reviewed progress so far on the following matters:

• Motala connection
• Access to Furzebrook
• Potential future of the branch

There is no new news but Network Rail is now fully appraised of the various situations that may arise. They are also going to discuss in more detail their own views on various associated matters.

HMRI

HMRI visited Motala and approved the installation, although there is still some paperwork to complete before we can request the connection agreement with Network rail be submitted to ORR. On the same date the Inspector visited a number of other locations on the Railway.

Church Knowle Parish Council

An Open Meeting was held in connection with BP’s application to DCC for Planning Consent relating to the proposals to change the use of the site. This included details about BP’s plans and an indication that the sidings area would be retained by DCC – there was no other indication for its use than this.

In the body of the meeting, and in response to this and an application by Imerys, concerns were raised over a number of issues. These concerns were reflected in the Parish Council’s response to the plans. I had a subsequent conversation with the Chairman of the Parish Council who indicated that a dialogue with the Council would be welcomed and that future development of the site was seen as something that could be positive for the area if all parties were accommodated.

Encroachment near Victoria Ave. Industrial Estate

I have visited the site on three occasions to discuss this matter and have now passed over to DCC who will contact us when they have investigated further.

Woodyhyde Halt

Having monitored both Woodyhyde and Herston I have had a further meeting with John Bull to discuss progress on the business case for this.

2007 timetable/fares

Given traffic levels over the last week the option to extend two-train steam service by a week, as previously discussed, would seem to be justified and this alteration was agreed.

The suggestion put forward at the suggestion of some staff to make the May Half-Term week two train steam as well was decided against but was not ruled out in the future – this period in 2007 would be monitored closely.

Whilst retaining the same basic fare structure for next year the following suggestions have been put forward by Booking Office and Traffic staff:

• Increasing the price of the Day Rover to £9.50/£6.50
• Charging £1 for Dogs
• Charging £1 for Bikes

Of these the first was agreed. It was decided that charging for dogs and bikes was not desirable as these are associated with markets where we are encouraging growth (i.e. cycling and walking) and our return is achieved through the passenger fare.

Projects

• PW01 Pondarosa Landslip - approved
• NO03 Norden Nest Steps – approved subject to full liaison
• ST09 Herston Yard Phase 1 – approved
   

Future Meetings

• Manager’s Meeting, 3:30pm 20th September, Bar Car
• Board Meeting, 9:30am 23rd September, Rectory Classroom
• SRCL AGM, 11:30am 23rd September, Rectory Classroom
• SRT AGM, 2pm 23rd September, Rectory Classroom

Nick Brown
General Manager
Swanage Station
Tel: 01929 475213
Email: generalmanager@swanage-railway.co.uk

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Photographs

All photographs on this page by and copyright Andrew P.M. Wright,
Swanage Railway official photographer