Promoting rail travel is all very well, so long as you plan for a large number of your passengers to get to the station by car, and provide adequate well- priced parking. The main concerns of passengers who need to use cars for the first part of their journeys are: car-park prices, the chances of finding a space, confusing payment systems, and safety after dark, according to the independent passenger watchdog, Passenger Focus.
Passenger Focus’s National Passenger Survey shows that nationally, only half of passengers using station car parks are satisfied with the facilities. In this latest research looking at the East Midlands, 72% of passengers were satisfied with finding a space, but 11 of the 42 stations audited had car parks that were at least 90% full by 9am on weekdays. Only one in 10 passengers were satisfied with value for money and just 17% with the machines provided to pay the parking fee. Although 84% of passengers said they feel safe in the car-park area during the day, this drops to 53% after dark. Passenger Focus has also stressed the need for more bicycle and blue-badge parking spaces at particular stations.
The RAC Foundation believes that increased passenger capacity on railway services must be supported by increased capacity in the car park. If travellers cannot be assured there is room to park they will have no choice but to complete their entire journey by car – rather than just the leg to the station.
Let the train take the strain? Only if you can park.
1 October, 10 by joabbott
