Page:The Reshaping of British Railways (Beeching Report).pdf/99



This is a stopping service over a distance of 42 miles, serving a rural area between the cities of Hull and York, and with an element of commuter traffic at each end. The stations served are:—


 * Hull
 * Cottingham
 * Beverley
 * Kipling Cotes
 * Market Weighton


 * Londesborough
 * Pocklington
 * Starnford Bridge
 * Earswick
 * York

All intermediate stations except Cottingham and Beverley would be closed.

Nine trains run in each direction on weekdays and most of them are composed of diesel multiple units.

In a year the service involves 260,000 train miles. On average, there are 57 passengers on a train. The earnings of the service are £90,400, and cover the movement expenses of £84,400. Terminal expenses bring the total of movement and terminal expenses to £107,500, so that earnings show a shortfall of £17,100. It is estimated that withdrawal of the service would reduce track and signalling expenses by £43,300. Thus, on total direct expenses of £150,800, earnings show a shortfall of £60,400, equivalent to two-fifths of total direct expenses.

Because alternative services would be available after withdrawal of the service, £25,600 of the present earnings would be retained. It is estimated that passengers using the service as part of their rail journey contribute £37,700 to the revenue of other services. Because of the existence of services between Hull and York via other routes, only 9,900 of this amount is expected to be lost.

The total loss in gross revenue resulting from withdrawal of the service is estimated at £69,700, but the overall net financial improvement is expected to be £81,000, equivalent to over half of the total direct expenses.