Continuing the regular checks on the number of passengers on the Lakes Line, and where they are from, the Rail User Group and Community Rail Partnership again joined together to study how and why our passengers use the Lakes Line. On Friday 26th and Saturday 27th June volunteers travelled on most trains, counting passengers and interviewing them about their journey.

Firstly, Thanks to all those who agreed to tell the interviewers about their journey. As expected, the majority of passengers from outside the Lakes Line area were travelling to or from a holiday, or a day out. Again, not a surprise, going for a trip on Lake Windermere was very popular as a way of spending the day.

Among local residents, many used the train for journeys to and from work, including short, local journeys such as Windermere to Staveley. People also travel into our area for work from Preston and Lancaster, possibly because of the shortage of reasonably priced housing in the National Park.

The survey days happened in the really hot weather which meant disruption to some services but numbers were broadly as we have seen in the last couple of years.

If you are travelling by train to Windermere on a summer Saturday morning you may meet LLRUG members on the trains, armed with local bus and rail timetables to help you plan your stay in the Lake District.