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Graham Ellis sharing years of experience as a thought on each day
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Learning from the history but don't look to re-instate it

This campaign tip (no. 3) was published on Thursday, 3rd January 2019
Look back at lessons to be learned, but do not assume that your public transport improvement should take you back to a previous service that no longer runs. It was withdrawn for a reason, and technology has probably moved on to offer new options that weren't available in those days.

There days, people's daily commutes and flows - current and potential - have changed. Towns for the most part are far larger, though there are a few exceptions. Political and organisational boundaries have changed, breaking apart old close linkages and forming new ones. Many rail traffics remain or have regrown but some such as the summer Saturday scramble in hordes to the West Country for a week's holiday are gone - probably for ever.

Operationally too, trains are faster, required less end-of-journey turn around time, can easily reverse misroute. A lack of slow freight trains means that "clock face"operation is often possible, and higher demand suggests that frequency should be - for most places - at least one train an hour each way.

But - learn from history. And especially from recent history.

The upper picture I have chosen to illustrate this is the old swing bridge across the canal in Limerick, which would these days be totally impractical due to the higher volumes of traffic and people's impatience; it has been replaced by a new, high level bridge

The picture below shows a further two traffics that are gone in the form - or changes out of all recognition. The picture of Holt Junction in 1905 show the works outing of the Glove factory, set amongst a sea of waggon load freight

Discussion via Coffee Shop forum

Contact details

These pages are written by Graham Ellis of Melksham, Wiltshire. Overlapping a life in IT and IT training, with running a hotel and campaigning for improved public transport, Graham has never been quiet - though he's starting to wind down gently now. He no longer takes overnight guests and has stepped doen from the "Community Rail Officer" role which he accidentally aquired. So he now has more time to write pages such as these and to travel in the UK. He'll be delighted to speak with your group or take a look through your case or camapaign, but be alerted that his time is not limitless even now, and he still has to keep the wolf from the door.

Postal: 48, Spa Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 7NY
Phonal: 01225 708225
Emailal: graham -at- wellho.net
Or reach me on the Coffee Shop Forum (User Grahame) facilities


What a difference a campaign makes!

It probably wouldn't have happened without a strong community campaign with which I have been involved. Most days through 2019 I'll be sharing a thought, an idea, a way of working or an experience. Come back here for the links. Discussions via the Coffee Shop Forum - Graham Ellis, 31st December 2018


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