Memorandum by Torbay Line Rail Users Group
(CT 20)
Torbay is one of the most deprived authorities
in the country.
It has high unemployment and very low household
income.
Nearly half the employment is in part-time jobs,
twice the national average.
In 2005 the average income was 74% of the national
average. The average adult male salary was 65% of the national
average.
In order to tackle these problems Torbay must:
— firstly, boost the ailing tourism
industry which accounts for a third of employment; and
— secondly, encourage inwards investment
providing quality employment.
Much improved transport links, in particular
rail services to the main centres of population London, Bristol
and Birmingham, must be provided if these initiatives are to be
successful.
TOURISM
The one or two week UK summer holiday market
is declining. In Torbay it has declined by about one third from
its peak of 12 million nights in the 1960s.
The short break holiday (ie one to five nights)
is increasing. It is estimated that about two thirds of holidays
taken in Torbay are short break holidays.
The short break holiday maker is looking for:
— easy access to the resort from the
main population centres;
— looking for train services to replace
long car journeys;
— direct services to minimise luggage
handling and passenger interchange;
— conveniently timed trains to fit
the work patterns;
If Torbay is to access the lucrative, and growing,
short break holiday market. It must provide the rail services
to meet the expectations of these holiday makers. If it doesn't
they will go to resorts that do.
For example, Torbay has about the same number
of overnight visitors (1.75 million) as Bournemouth/Poole. Currently
Torbay has two direct trains a day to London, Bournemouth has
one fast train an hour. Torbay has one direct train a day to Birmingham,
Bournemouth has one train an hour.
INWARDS INVESTMENT
Torbay has a very poor record on inwards investment.
It is losing quality employment. Over 5,000
jobs have been lost within a few years at Nortel/Bookham alone.
The local employment opportunities are heavily
weighted towards tourism which accounts for about a third of employment.
Inwards investment must generate a better balanced
local economy.
In particular, these is a need for professional
and high tech employment.
Other centres that have attracted quality inwards
investment have generated a booming local economy.
For example, Exeter has attracted such employment
as the Met Office.
Exeter has one fast train to London every hour.
Torbay has one fast train to London a day. Exeter has one train
an hour to Bristol and Birmingham, Torbay has one train a day.
The provision of direct train services to the
main population centres, in particular, London, Bristol and Birmingham,
commensurate with business demand has been crucial in the success
of Exeter.
If Torbay is to achieve inwards investment train
services meeting business demand must be provided.
CONCLUSIONS
Improved transport links are imperative for
the ecomonic future of Torbay.
Road improvements are important but are not
going to happen in the short term. Many years will pass before
major road schemes become operational.
Rail improvements are also vital.
These can be introduced within a matter of months.
Rail improvements must be a matter of priority.
On the basis of a detailed assessment of the
market demand for journeys between Torbay and the London area
it is believe that the optimum timings for a train service between
Torbay and London Paddington is a mid-morning departure from Torbay,
say 10.00, with an arrival time in London of, say, 13.15 and a
mid-afternoon departure from London Paddington, say 15.00, with
an arrival time in Torbay of, say, 18.15.
These times are the best for the short-break
visitor, the largest group of travellers between Torbay and the
London area.
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