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How to charter a train...at short notice?

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Howardh

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My local footy team may well be playing in the playoff finals at some stoopid SkyTV KO time which means there isn't a suitable return train home from London.

Basically I haven't a clue how to start, how would one go about chartering a 400-500 seater train, who do you apply to and how much notice do you need (probably 10 days at best)?

Route would be Manchester/London getting back just before midnight.
 
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fowler9

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My local footy team may well be playing in the playoff finals at some stoopid SkyTV KO time which means there isn't a suitable return train home from London.

Basically I haven't a clue how to start, how would one go about chartering a 400-500 seater train, who do you apply to and how much notice do you need (probably 10 days at best)?

Route would be Manchester/London getting back just before midnight.

So something like an 11 car Pendolino equivalent at 10 days notice. Sorry mate I don't have an answer but am now intrigued as to if it would be possible.
 

Howardh

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So something like an 11 car Pendolino equivalent at 10 days notice. Sorry mate I don't have an answer but am now intrigued as to if it would be possible.
Don't need a pendalino, just a bog-standard anything that could do 100, not having to stop would save time.
 

Tracky

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Charter trains have to fit in with other traffic. The operator will also have to path them around engineering works etc.

Virgin may be your best bet and they have a page about train hire on their website.

Other options are DRS and DB using older stock and locos.

West coast railway (WCR) are currently, ummmmmm, not operating trains.
 

fowler9

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Don't need a pendalino, just a bog-standard anything that could do 100, not having to stop would save time.

No sorry mate, I know, just thinking kind of train length. I am interested to know if it can be done and what it would cost. How much notice etc.
 

SPADTrap

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Charter trains have to fit in with other traffic. The operator will also have to path them around engineering works etc.

Virgin may be your best bet and they have a page about train hire on their website.

Other options are DRS and DB using older stock and locos.

West coast railway (WCR) are currently, ummmmmm, not operating trains.

Not DRS or you may find your train full of 'others' :lol:
 

Jdrowlands

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In addition to Virgin Trains (as others have suggested), it would also be worthwhile to call Riviera Trains and see what they say. They have a lot of experience in organising this type of thing.
 
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Howardh

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Thanks for the info. The game's over the bank hol weekend so engineering may get in the way. But in any case, should it happen I will do some research for the club!
 

DarloRich

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which club is it?

I know Darlo got in touch with GNER / East Coast/ NXEA ( whichever)and asked them to sort it all out. GNER ran extra services for us.
 

Howardh

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which club is it?

I know Darlo got in touch with GNER / East Coast/ NXEA ( whichever)and asked them to sort it all out. GNER ran extra services for us.

Bury. One drawback would be there's no main line to the town any more, so the start/end point would probably be inconvenient.
 

DarloRich

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sigh - to play Bury again :(

The club should have an agent of some sort. Should they not get in touch with Virgin and see if anything can be done?
 

fsmr

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Contact Stagecoach. They hire out Megabuses
will work out a hell of a lot cheaper and will get you door to door But surely, the club should be organising all this ?
 

oddiesjack

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Were it not for the fact that they used WCR, I'd have suggested talking to Glossop North End and/or their supporters club, who successfully ran a trip from Glossop to Wembley when they made the Amateur Cup Final 3 or 4 years ago.
 

martynbristow

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My local footy team may well be playing in the playoff finals at some stoopid SkyTV KO time which means there isn't a suitable return train home from London.

Basically I haven't a clue how to start, how would one go about chartering a 400-500 seater train, who do you apply to and how much notice do you need (probably 10 days at best)?

Route would be Manchester/London getting back just before midnight.

Virgin Trains used to do this kind of thing, but there wasn't enough call for it.
I believe Brad Pitt hired it didn't he to go North
Anyway http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/redcarpet/
Is the link you want.
I think it should be much easier and common to do this.
 

Howardh

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But surely, the club should be organising all this ?

The idea was to get the information first and then supply the club with it all, but as there's tons of enginering on over that weekend it's futile anyway.

The club (surprisingly!) prefer to fly to games over 200 miles!
 

martynbristow

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The idea was to get the information first and then supply the club with it all, but as there's tons of enginering on over that weekend it's futile anyway.

The club (surprisingly!) prefer to fly to games over 200 miles!

Still there's no harm in asking and providing. There must be a diversionary route available?
Good luck though, it'll be a shame you if can't.
 

Lankyline

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Now if your club has a sponsor in the shape of Virgin Trains no problem, they put on a charter for us when we (PNE) played MK Dons, we sold it out in less than a week !
 

The Snap

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My local footy team may well be playing in the playoff finals at some stoopid SkyTV KO time which means there isn't a suitable return train home from London.

Basically I haven't a clue how to start, how would one go about chartering a 400-500 seater train, who do you apply to and how much notice do you need (probably 10 days at best)?

Route would be Manchester/London getting back just before midnight.

Charter trains have to fit in with other traffic. The operator will also have to path them around engineering works etc.

Virgin may be your best bet and they have a page about train hire on their website.

Other options are DRS and DB using older stock and locos.

West coast railway (WCR) are currently, ummmmmm, not operating trains.

Last train off Euston to Manchester is 21:00 on a Saturday. You're not likely to get anything much later than that as most of the possessions start at 22:45ish.
 

Bedpan

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Now if your club has a sponsor in the shape of Virgin Trains no problem, they put on a charter for us when we (PNE) played MK Dons, we sold it out in less than a week !

Yes, 2000 away supporters which made for a good atmosphere inside the ground (apart from the fact you won!). Hope you will be able to do the same next season (charter a train, that is) - and Blackburn and Bolton etc also. Good luck for this evening and Sunday from a Dons fan, it will be a travesty if either of us didn't get promoted, so will be keeping my fingers crossed for you, and particularly if you play Swindon in the final after they've been fielding weak teams in the last couple of games.
 

Lankyline

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Thanks for that, I certainly hope so despite blowing automatic last week ! If we get to Wembley (and after tonight we're halfway there) the issue will be bank holiday weekend, a 5.30pm ko and network rail carrying out work over that weekend, so I hope Virgin can find a way to get some charters pathed for then !
 
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