UKR - The Waverley 30/12/15

[philjo]

Provisional details on UKR website for "the Waverley" tour on 30 December to borders railway.

not yet open for booking.

provisionally timed to leave Kings cross 05:45

http://www.ukrailtours.com/product/the-waverley/

The Waverley Route was a railway that ran south from Edinburgh, through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders, to Carlisle. The line was built by the North British Railway and was completed in 1862. Usage was light and it fell victim to the Beeching Report and was closed in 1969.

In the last decade or so, railway reopenings in Scotland have been more commonplace than in England. Following on from Stirling to Alloa, then Edinburgh to Glasgow via Bathgate, the coming weeks will see the most ambitious Scottish railway revival to date, the northernmost thirty miles of the Waverley Route from Edinburgh through Galashiels to Tweedbank.

The original Waverley Route was double track but the new railway is only single with passing loops. The frequency of the new service is such that no spare capacity would normally exist for special trains. However, taking advantage of a franchise commitment to accommodate special trains and through co-operation with Abellio Scotrail and Transport Scotland we are able to operate a special train from London to Tweedbank between Christmas and New Year.

Our special train will be hauled by a Class 90 electric between London King’s Cross and Millerhill Yard where two Class 66s will take over in top and tail mode. The train will then run into Edinburgh Waverley for a brief leg-stretch before travelling over the complete length of the new railway through Galashiels to Tweedbank where we expect to take a break of around 25 minutes.

We then retrace our steps towards Edinburgh taking a detour around the normally non-passenger Edinburgh Suburban Line (‘the Sub’) and we take a longer break of just over an hour in Scotland’s fine capital city before heading back south behind the electric locomotive.

The tour has been agreed in principle by all parties. There are just a few final details to be confirmed and we expect to announce fares and open bookings (First Dining, First Non-Dining and Standard Classes) within just a few days.

We very much hope you will be joining us on this memorable occasion!

 

[Bungle965]

I think that i would rather do this than the Pathfinder one.
Sam

 

[Mag_seven]

Our special train will be hauled by a Class 90 electric

Would rather 86101, 87002, or even 86259 than a skoda.

Looks like this is aimed at the general public market rather than the enthusiast. And as for the silly o'clock departure time from the Cross.......

 

[Bungle965]

Would rather 86101, 87002, or even 86259 than a skoda.

Looks like this is aimed at the general public market rather than the enthusiast. And as for the silly o'clock departure time from the Cross.......

I think that really it is aimed at both. And are 86101, 87002 not tied up with sleeper work.
Sam

 

[fv43576]

Absolutely ridiculous the time of leaving and back, this mean I have no transporters tube or train running on that time from outside of central London far too late risk of missing the last train.
This is put me off I have already booked with Pathfinder.

 

[theblackwatch]

Absolutely ridiculous the time of leaving and back, this mean I have no transporters tube or train running on that time from outside of central London far too late risk missing the last train.
This is put me off I have already booking with Pathfinder.

Who set off even earlier (by 11 hours!)

I think most of us have to drive to tours normally, or stay overnight - if you look at Pathfinder's programme in November/December, they all start between 05.40 and 06.40.

 

[Bungle965]

Absolutely ridiculous the time of leaving and back, this mean I have no transporters tube or train running on that time from outside of central London far too late risk of missing the last train.
This is put me off I have already booked with Pathfinder.

Both Pathfinder and Uk railtours cater for diffrent ends of the country Pathfinder tends to be more towards the north although that can vary.
UK Railtours do pick up in the London area.
Sam

 

[gazthomas]

I agree, very early. I guess the limiting factor will be paths on the new line?

 

[matt]

I agree, very early. I guess the limiting factor will be paths on the new line?

Yes, to accommodate any tours they have to run outside of the normal timetable or have to run in the path of a cancelled ScotRail service which is what happens when the steam runs.

 

[Bungle965]

I agree, very early. I guess the limiting factor will be paths on the new line?

Yes that is the real problem, that is why pathfinder had to do a overnight trip to do the line. If the line was built double track we would not have this problem but because of it being single track charter operators have a problem.
Sam

 

[gazthomas]

Yes that is the real problem, that is why pathfinder had to do a overnight trip to do the line. If the line was built double track we would not have this problem but because of it being single track charter operators have a problem.
Sam

Agreed. I guess it is difficult to have a compelling business case for a loop based on infrequent charters (of I guess marginal revenue), as good an idea as it would be

 

[Bungle965]

Agreed. I guess it is difficult to have a compelling business case for a loop based on infrequent charters (of I guess marginal revenue), as good an idea as it would be

Yes there are three dynamic loops (I think) on the route so not enough for regular charters outside the ones that have already been planned ahead.
Sam

 

[gazthomas]

Yes there are three dynamic loops (I think) on the route so not enough for regular charters outside the ones that have already been planned ahead.
Sam

Thanks for that Sam

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I guess with the distances involved from London, it has to be an earlier start and late return.

Perhaps for those living in the North, then it may be better to do one of the steam/diesel trips from Edinburgh along the line that I think Steam Dreams/Scotrail are promoting?

 

[33056]

And are 86101, 87002 not tied up with sleeper work.

More to the point, the tour is operated by DB Schenker and I am not sure that those locos are on their safety case any more.

 

[Mag_seven]

Would rather 86101, 87002, or even 86259 than a skoda.

Yup tour still at Edinburgh one hour and 15 late and counting after the booked Skoda did what all Skodas do well - and failed.

 

[33056]

79 late off Edinburgh, looks like you have 67023 now - I wonder how much scope there is to pick up some time?