What Rail Users and Stratford Town Centre Businesses told us… The Shakespeare Line Promotion Group (SLPG) carried out two online surveys in February and March 2018 to identify what the key issues for train users and businesses were and to enable SLPG to set its new Aims and Objectives as the Rail User Group for train services between Stratford upon Avon and Birmingham together and Stratford upon Avon and Leamington Spa/London. Since May 2018 until October we have been sharing the results from both surveys with all of the key stakeholders, including local authorities, train operators, key organisations and Nadhim Zahawi, Stratford’s Member of Parliament. We are now pleased to share the results with everyone and in doing so also set out SLPG’s Aims & Objectives which are based on what you have told us. We will now be campaigning for the things that train users, local communities and businesses have told us are important to them. We will engage with local authorities, train operators and other relevant organisations’ and individuals to get our Aims and Objective brought to reality on the communities behalf. We have already started by getting a Community Rail Partnership started in conjunction with Solihull & Leamington Spa Rail Users Association We are a Rail User Group that exists and is funded entirely by users of the line becoming members of SLPG. If you use the train on the lines we cover then please think about giving us your support and help us speak up on your behalf. Membership is just £5 a year. Scroll down to see the results of our online surveys and our Aims and Objectives…
Co Connectivity Shakespeare Line Promotion Group Results, Aims & Objectives from 2018 Online Surveys November 2018 Presented by Fraser Pithie – Secretary of SLPG
• Results from the Rail User Survey held in Spring 2018 • Sample: 804 rail users and general public • Results from the Stratford upon Avon Town Centre Business Survey held in Spring 2018 • Sample: 82 Stratford upon Avon Town Centre Businesses • Aims & Objectives of the Shakespeare Line Promotion Group
• Online Rail User Survey • Advertised by • Social Media • Hand delivery of flyer on train services En Engagement • Advertisement to community groups • Specific Facebook community pages Rail Users & • Coverage by local news media Stratford upon • Online Stratford upon Avon Town Centre Business Survey Avon Town Centre • Advertised by • Social Media Businesses • Hand delivery of flyer • Endorsement by Stratforward BID • Endorsement by #SUHour • Coverage by local news media
• There is high level of support ( 78%) for a ‘pedestrian’ leaflet/flyer that provides a guide to Stratford upon Avon and is designed to meet the Support for needs of pedestrian visitors using rail • Over 98% businesses stated they would use train rail… services if they were frequent and direct with London with 72% stating the same about direct rail services with Oxford
44.4% of rail users of the Shakespeare Line rely Sh Shakesp espea eare e Li Line e upon and use the service for work and business Us Usage 49% use the line for leisure journeys such as shopping, a day out or visiting friends
Top Three Most Important issues Ra Rail User ers • 66% of rail users chose Service Frequency as important to them making it the highest priority • Punctuality was the second most important issue to rail users at 56.5% • The third most important issue for 54.3% of Shakespeare Line rail users is Reliability
Top Three Priorities Ra Rail U User ers w want t to s see… ee… • More semi-fast train services between Stratford upon Avon and Birmingham is supported by 52.4% of rail users making this the highest priority • More seats available at peak times was chosen by 47.7% of rail users making it the second priority • Greater frequency of rail services between Stratford upon Avon and Whitlocks End is the third priority attracting 43.5% support from rail users
There is a general consensus among train operators, rail user groups Station Adoption and many local communities that station adoption can help to improve the standard, quality, appearance and facilities at individual stations. Ra Rail U User ers 87 87% of of ra rail user sers su support rt st station ad adoptio ion 40 40% of of ra rail user sers ar are prep epared ed to to offer er hel elp
86% of rail users support a regular scheduled steam service running on the Shakespeare Line 87% support the vision of Vintage Trains at Tyseley to improve and attract visitors to Stratford upon Avon by operating scheduled steam services from and to Birmingham Moor St linking with HS2 services at nearby Curzon Street and continuing with the popular Shakespeare Express steam services between Birmingham and Stratford on summer Sundays.
Key Results from Town Centre Business Survey 90% 71% of businesses support said fare incentives should be advertising and financial based on off-peak travel from 77% support from local 0930hrs onwards Monday to authorities to incentivise Friday and all day Saturday of businesses want much visitors to/from Stratford and Sundays greater emphasis placed on upon Avon to use rail public transport, particularly rail , by local authorities to 70% 94% encourage usage and reduce traffic congestion* Of businesses noticed a stated their support for the reduction in footfall after return of direct Stratford upon the 50% reduction in direct Avon>< London Paddington rail London train services from services October 2015 • Response split: 30% retail – 25% Hospitality - 30% Services
Amenity & Sustainability Over half of businesses indicated that their core/local • customers are put off visiting because of traffic congestion when festival events are taking place SO… A significant 77% of businesses want much • greater emphasis placed on public transport, particularly rail , by local authorities to encourage usage and reduce traffic congestion especially when festivals are taking place
• Consideration of joint partnership arrangements between SDC, WaCC , WCC, TfWM & WM Rail Executive & West Midlands Trains to consider: • Extending Whitlocks End services south to/from Stratford upon Avon to provide 20 minute frequency service between Birmingham and Stratford upon Avon with: • 2 services per hour each way via Shirley and Henley in Arden • 1 service per hour each way via Solihull and Dorridge Turn Up & Go Make the 2 nd service per hour between Stratford upon Avon & Birmingham via Shirley semi- • fast calling at Henley in Arden and Wythall , Whitlocks End , Shirley , Yardley Wood , Hall Aims & Green & Spring Road • This meets users priorities and needs: • More frequent services between Stratford upon Avon & Wythall Objectives • More frequent services for Henley in Arden • More semi-fast services along between Birmingham and Stratford upon Avon Stratford upon Avon >< Birmingham • Extend the Birmingham-Solihull-Stratford upon Avon services to cover most of the daily timetable beyond both morning and evening peaks • Review rolling stock configurations and/or services to see if greater capacity on morning peak and evening peak services and on Bank Holidays for Day Visitors to/from Stratford upon Avon • Promote community rail with station adoption and Vintage Trains vision and form a Community Rail Partnership
• Consideration of joint partnership arrangements between SDC, WaCC ,TfWM, VisitEngland, Stratforward BID, West Midlands Trains and SLPG to consider: • Frequent direct train services between London and Stratford upon Avon Restoration of direct Chiltern Railways Stratford upon Avon >< London • Marylebone Aims & Potential Great Western Stratford upon Avon><Oxford><London • Paddington • Visitor Information facilities at Stratford upon Avon station Objectives • Incentivised off peak rail travel for visitors • Development of a pedestrian/public transport leaflet for visitors to Stratford upon Avon Town Centre Stratford upon Avon Businesses • Consideration and plan to encourage/incentivise greater use of rail for ‘Festival” events • Community involvement with station adoption • How we work with Great Western Railway and Shakespeare’s England if the new franchise is extended to Stratford upon Avon so we can develop great visitor packages. • Develop the Community Rail Partnership
• London Paddington • 4 London Underground lines • Bakerloo • Circle • District • Hammersmith & City • Crossrail The “String of Pearls” Visitor Route • Heathrow Express • Heathrow Airport Restoration of Stratford upon Avon >< London Paddington Train Services • Direct West Rail Link by 2024/6 • Reading • Rail service to Gatwick Airport • Slough • Windsor Castle • Oxford • University City • Warwick • Warwick Castle • Stratford upon Avon • Shakespeare’s Birthplace • Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Recommend
More recommend
