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The Lothian Cycle Campaign |
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SPOKES The Lothian Cycle Campaign St. Martins Church, 232 Dalry Road, Edinburgh EH11 2JG 0131.313.2114 (answerphone) http://www.spokes.org.uk/
25
May 1999
'Cyclemark' Peter Gazey 3 Pottery Street London SE16 4PH
Dear CycleMark Organisers CYCLEMARK NOMINATION - SCOTRAIL Spokes is writing to nominate ScotRail for the CycleMark award. We do this on the basis of two extremely significant and effective initiatives taken by ScotRail in the last year, namely...
ABOLITION OF BIKE-CARRIAGE FEES
Fees were introduced in 1993 as a UK-wide policy, though we understood informally at the time that ScotRail was unhappy with the decision and unsuccessfully tried to obtain an exemption from Regional Railways (of which ScotRail was then a part).
The anger and frustration caused by this decision is shown by our enclosed Summer 1993 leaflet [no.51]. Although our organisation very rarely resorts to demonstrations, the feeling was so strong that a large 'die-in' was held at Waverley station. Considerable numbers of members contacted us to tell of bike-rail journeys they would no longer be making. The problem was particularly acute for short journeys, where many members experienced total fare increases of 100%-400%. For example, a parent and child going from Edinburgh to Linlithgow (or vice versa) with family railcard and bikes saw a fare increase from £3.60 to £15.60 - up 333%. One remarkable case even entailed a 1000% fare increase! These and other examples are highlighted on page 1 of the enclosed leaflet.
There was less concern over the £3 booking fee for long-distance holiday-type journeys, but to our surprise and pleasure this too was abolished by ScotRail.
As far as we are aware, ScotRail is the only UK rail operator which allows bikes to be carried on all services at no charge. Obviously there are space limitations (though this is much improved - see below), and reservations (free) are essential on some services at some times. However, unlike any other operator, bike space at no charge is now available on every ScotRail service. This alone is a huge achievement.
ON-TRAIN BIKE CAPACITY
As a primarily Lothian-based organisation, it is the capacity improvements on the Class-158 express services, between Scotland's 3 main cities, which have been of the greatest benefit to our members, although significant capacity improvements have also been made on many of the rural Class-156 services. Also, we understand that in September 1999 new rolling stock (Class 170) with at least equivalent bike capacity will replace the Class 158's, which in turn will be cascaded down to other local services (such as Edinburgh-Fife), thus improving on the current Class-150 bike capacity.
Bike space on Class 158's has been a source of great contention ever since they were introduced. The original design incorporated a bike 'slot' in each 2-car unit. This was difficult to get bikes in and out of. Whilst we have understood it was originally designed for 2 bikes, only 1 was allowed, and indeed it was very difficult to manoeuvre bikes when two were present.
In Summer 1991 ScotRail achieved real fury amongst many of our members by announcing (at very short notice and with no consultation) a complete ban on all bikes on 158-services. The reason was never fully made clear. A huge campaign was immediately mounted, including contacting all Scottish Area Tourist Boards, all local newspapers, MPs, and so on, as well as our then 700+ members. We understand that the ScotRail mailroom was inundated. There was much media interest, including a 1-hour Radio Scotland phone-in. Within 4 weeks, the ban was lifted, and a leader in the Scotsman newspaper commented "It is not often that a group of customers persuades a major industry to change its policy. But the bicycle lobby has just done that". All this is fully detailed in our Autumn 1991 leaflet [no.46], enclosed.
The above level of feeling demonstrated the critical importance of on-train bike accommodation, even when limited and unsatisfactory, as with the old 'slot' design. We are therefore delighted that ScotRail has vastly improved the slot area so as to officially take 2 bikes (though we feel there is room for 3). In addition to the capacity increase, the general ambience and utility of that part of the train has hugely improved. It is now open and airy, compared to the previous cramped, constricted, feeling, both in the slot itself and the adjacent main corridor. There are also fold-down seats for when no bikes are present, but clear bike-priority signs. Another important feature which our members have welcomed is the prominent cycle sign which has been placed on the outside of the relevant door. Finally, note that for Edinburgh-Glasgow most trains comprise two 2-car units, meaning 4 official bike spaces each half hour.
FEEDBACK FROM MEMBERS
In a recent mailing we asked members what they felt about the new policies on bike-carriage fees and capacity, and included a feedback form. Whilst relatively low numbers of members have replied, since obviously most do not use rail (and many have been put off by past experiences), the feedback from those who did reply has been amongst the most positive we have ever received on any issue. A summary sheet and copies of all the feedback received is attached.
When we asked how ScotRail compares overall with 2 years ago on bike/rail issues, 76% ticked 'much better', and another 19% 'better', a 95% approval rating! Members gave many examples of journeys they now make thanks to the fee abolition and/or capacity changes. We also asked members what further improvements they would like. A number of useful suggestions were made, which ScotRail should now investigate, but it is clear that the overwhelming feeling at present is one of much increased satisfaction. As one member said, "Please do nominate ScotRail for this award"; and another, "Give them the CycleMark - they deserve it". Yours
Sincerely
Dave du Feu
Enclosures: Spokes nos. 46, 51, 68 Feedback forms from members, and summary of results SCOTRAIL CYCLEMARK NOMINATION - SURVEY OF SPOKES MEMBERS
Survey forms were enclosed in a regular mailout to Spokes members in late April 1999, and requests for responses were also placed on our web site. By 24 May we had received 38 responses, comprising 34 standalone forms, one form with attached letter, 2 letters without form, and one email.
The form contained 4 questions, as below...
[Note: 3 people did not answer this question. We chose a result reflecting their other answers].
OVERALL CHANGE IN SCOTRAIL BIKE/RAIL PERFORMANCE
The results to question (d) show a level of approval for ScotRail's initiatives of which any Train Operating Company would be envious! The overall approval rate is 95%, with 76% saying ScotRail is now "much better".
Much better 29 Better 7 Same 0 Worse 0 Much worse 2 Total responses 38
The two exceptions are both people who had very bad experiences in Summer 1998 - in both cases letters were enclosed, and these are attached to this summary along with the other forms. These replies are clearly untypical of the overall hugely positive response, but nonetheless highlight important questions. These include - general overcrowding of passengers and all types of luggage on some holiday routes; the problems when computerised booking systems (for both bikes and seats) go wrong; the possibility of 'ghost booking' where people book bike spaces (free) on several services to ensure they have a choice of trains; and the problem of too many bikes turning up for local recreational trips on sunny summer days.
DESTINATIONS AND REASONS FOR BIKE/RAIL JOURNEYS
It was impossible to disentangle the answers to questions (a) and (b), and therefore the two sets of responses are c> Transfer interrupted!1" FACE="Times New Roman" COLOR="#000000">It was clear from comments that both the £3 abolition and the improved capacity were critical factors for many people. On balance, the £3 abolition was almost certainly the biggest single factor when it came to local journeys, both for local recreation and for local commuting and other regular journeys, whilst the improved capacity was equally or more significant on longer journeys.
We were surprised at the number of respondents - probably a third - who used bike/rail very regularly - anything from once weekly to daily commuting. Hard figures can not be given as this question was not asked explicitly.
A very wide range of journey destinations was mentioned. All but 3 of the respondents mentioned journeys from (or to) Edinburgh. These Edinburgh journeys went to (or from) 34 different destinations (origins). Those mentioned by at least 2 respondents were...
North Berwick 10 [see comments below] Perth 3 Glasgow 10 Dunblane 3 Linlithgow 5 Cupar 2 Bathgate 4 'W. Lothian' (unspecified) 2 'Fife' (unspecified) 4 Stirling 2 Inverness 4 Falkirk 2 Dunfermline 3 Oban 2 Longniddry
3
Combining all mentions of destinations in different regions, the numbers of mentions were as follows...
E. Lothian 14 Central 13 W. Lothian 12 Fife 12 Highland 11 Glasgow 10 Other 4
These figures emphasise the diversity of bike/rail usage in terms of area, distance, and probable purpose of journey.
However, in terms of local recreational rides, the North Berwick route is a particular attraction. Several people described on their forms how they took the train one way and cycled the other (often depending on wind direction). The summer popularity of bike/rail on this service is also reflected in the statement by one of the two dissatisfied customers that on at least 2 Sundays in 1998 there was too little space for all the bikes that turned up.
The Edinburgh-Glasgow line is also a clear favourite, and from comments on the forms it is clear that these journeys are as often, or more, concerned with work or utility travel than with recreational cycling.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER IMPROVEMENT (and other comments which were included here)
We took the opportunity to ask what further improvements members would like to see. Suggestions made by more than one person were as follows...
11 More on-train bike capacity 8 Bike parking at stations - quantity, location, security. The most commonly mentioned specific point was dissatisfaction with the removal of convenient bike parking at Waverley station, now replaced by distant and unsupervised racks at the far end of a platform [presumably a Railtrack not ScotRail matter] 6 Comments that guards are in general very helpful/understanding, especially considering the occasional problems with bike carriage 4 Guards not helpful enough / need more training, e.g. even in knowing whereabouts on the train of the bike spaces! 4 Bike-entry signs needed over doors on all trains, similar to signs on converted trains 4 More publicity that bikes go free and of the improved capacity. Several even of our members were unaware of this till getting the survey. 3 Better routes and accesses to stations 3 Use better storage systems (e.g. hooks) to fit in more bikes 2 Allow trailers and tandems 2 Abolish bike-booking on Edinburgh-Glasgow [we understand this has now been done]. Incidentally, one other person wanted booking continued, to guarantee space for critical journey timings!
Overall, it is clear that on-train capacity is the number one issue, even with the major improvements already made on the majority of ScotRail services.
ScotRail should perhaps identify the most popular routes and assess whether further measures might be possible here. Going on our responses, it would appear that two areas of concern are Edinburgh-North Berwick on summer Sundays, and some summer Highland holiday journeys at popular times.
Whilst bike/rail use is perhaps heaviest on Edinburgh-Glasgow, there were no serious complaints about this line - the increased and convenient capacity, combined with frequent trains, have provided a significant increase in overall bike/rail opportunity here.
Overall the survey results are very positive indeed, both for people who need or wish to use bike/rail, and for ScotRail in terms of the success of a brave initiative, particularly over the at-a-stroke complete abolition of bike-carriage fees. Clearly, there are issues highlighted by this survey that need attention, and ScotRail will also need to monitor the developing bike/rail situation as cyclists become more aware of the possibilities that have been opened up to them, and as general bike usage for utility and leisure grows. However, it is clear that overall our members are delighted with the changes made so far, and very much support a CycleMark award. |
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