CANBER - Campaign Against New Beeching Report

Prior to December 2005, Doleham, Three Oaks And Winchelsea used to be served by an hourly service between Ashford and Hastings. However, most of the stops at these stations were withdrawn when this service was expanded to run through to Brighton.

There are now three trains a day in each direction calling at these stations, but these generally run at inconvenient times early in the morning or late at night. As a result, annual passenger numbers have massively dropped as follows (financial years, 2006/07 being the first year to show true impact of service cuts) :

DOLEHAM

2004/05 - 3,027
2005/06 - 3,036
2006/07 - 739

THREE OAKS

2004/05 - 8,574
2005/06 - 6,061
2006/07 - 1,059

WINCHELSEA

2004/05 - 7,728
2005/06 - 6,657
2006/07 - 1,624

Today, the Department for Transport released its Stakeholder Briefing Document for the South Central Franchise (link below.)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/southcentralfranchise/stakeho...

Quotes :

"The withdrawal of the intermediate stops of Winchelsea, Doleham and Three Oaks has generated considerable local opposition. Bidders for the franchise will be invited to form their own views on the stopping patterns for these trains compared with the value of reduced journey times, although a minimum service to each of these low-use stations will be mandated."

"Thirty-two responses objected to the existing stopping pattern at the smaller stations of Three Oaks, Winchelsea and Doleham, as they are unusable. Proposals were suggested that some, not all, trains should stop at these stations, more or less alternatively and at reasonable bihourly times.

The Department has looked at this issue again. The Department will request that bidders should look at opportunities to install some additional limited stops along this route, while a minimum service to these stations will be mandated. Bidders will be made aware of the local aspiration for services that are provided at usable times of day and of the aspiration for stops at Winchelsea at weekends associated with tourism. The Department will consider minor amendments to the SLC in order to facilitate any changes, should they be proposed."

In others words, the DfT, who supposedly have a duty to ensure that services which may not be commercially viable, but for which there is a clear social need continue to run, arent prepared to specify additional stops themselves. However, if commercial organisations whose primary duty is to their shareholders are somehow convinced enough to propose them, then they might allow one or two extra stops....

And if no such proposals are forthcoming, then that rather neatly lets them off the hook, doesnt it?