Factors determining heritage railway timetables

[Joseph T]

When I visited the Vale of Rheidol Railway last year, they were running evening trains departing Aberystwyth at 6pm and returning at 9, one of which I rode, as can be backed up by this archive of last year's timetable. However, it seems no such trains are running this year according to the current timetable. What factors typically affect such changes, be they availability of staff, etc?

 

[Titfield]

Passenger demand, revenue and costs.

 

[Iskra]

Passenger demand, revenue and costs.

Signalling, rolling stock and crew/staff availability.

 

[Cowley]

It is quite unusual for a railway to run that late, unless it’s during a steam gala for example.

I note that this was their green timetable and it was only on five consecutive Wednesday evenings during summer that they ran an extra evening train. Maybe they were just trying it out for a season to see if there was much interest?

 

[Harpo]

Like a number of the Welsh narrow gauge lines the VoR sells train specific excursions, albeit with flexibility on the return journey, making it very easy for each train to be a standalone profit centre. It’s a trickier balance for rover-based heritage lines.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Factors determining heritage railway timetables? If the heritage railway is operating just the "one train in steam" on their line on a particular day, how long it takes to run that one train, from one end of the line to the other, will obviously be a factor, and may make it tricky for them to offer a regular clockface timetable.

 

[DanNCL]

Where I volunteer most running days are just a single train, which means the timetable is based both on how long it takes the train to do a round trip and also allowing time in the middle of the day for the crew to have a lunch break. Volunteers generally don’t want to work as late as 2100 and passenger demand is also much lower so it’s not really considered worth running at that time of night under most circumstances.

 

[43055]

Factors determining heritage railway timetables? If the heritage railway is operating just the "one train in steam" on their line on a particular day, how long it takes to run that one train, from one end of the line to the other, will obviously be a factor, and may make it tricky for them to offer a regular clockface timetable.

Indeed it is at my railway where you can just about do end to end in 40 mins giving 20 mins to run round but add time for water and coal it will be around 2 to 2 hours 15. Another factor is the catering which the timetable changed for 2 years ago to give an extra 10 min buffer between the afternoon arrival/departure to reset the tables and check everyone in.

 

[DJ_K666]

Like a number of the Welsh narrow gauge lines the VoR sells train specific excursions, albeit with flexibility on the return journey, making it very easy for each train to be a standalone profit centre. It’s a trickier balance for rover-based heritage lines.

The WHR does this. Trying to get a standard return from, say Portmadoc to Beddgelert without having a picnic hamper dumped in your lap on there can be hard.

 

[30907]

The WHR does this. Trying to get a standard return from, say Portmadoc to Beddgelert without having a picnic hamper dumped in your lap on there can be hard.

That wasn't the case last autumn (OK from Caernarfon) though extras were heavily promoted. This year I can't find a hamper mentioned.

 

[John Luxton]

That wasn't the case last autumn (OK from Caernarfon) though extras were heavily promoted. This year I can't find a hamper mentioned.

The hamper things were very much a COVID thing. On train refreshments were on offer when I did a few trips on the WHR last season.

 

[DJ_K666]

That wasn't the case last autumn (OK from Caernarfon) though extras were heavily promoted. This year I can't find a hamper mentioned.

I tried booking tickets for during our Snowdonia holiday a couple ofcyears back. All I could find was the 'excursion ' type ones on their site. It set me thinking are they selling walk-up tickets from A to B any more?

 

[John Luxton]

I tried booking tickets for during our Snowdonia holiday a couple ofcyears back. All I could find was the 'excursion ' type ones on their site. It set me thinking are they selling walk-up tickets from A to B any more?

Walk up tickets are available as are tickets between intermediate stations though this isn't so apparent from the web site unless one delves deeper. There is also a full timetable in pdf form which can be downloaded which shows intermediate timings and days on which each service operates.

 

[Harpo]

…….. are they selling walk-up tickets from A to B any more?

Buried deep in the WHR/FR website FAQs…..

CAN I MAKE A SINGLE JOURNEY ON THESE SERVICES?

Yes. One Way tickets (Standard Class only) can be bought on the day.

So, no pre-booking, no FC and feeling like a very begrudging offer.

Frequently Asked Questions - Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

Frequently Asked Questions - Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

www.festrail.co.uk

 

[DJ_K666]

Buried deep in the WHR/FR website FAQs…..

So, no pre-booking, no FC and feeling like a very begrudging offer.

Frequently Asked Questions - Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

Frequently Asked Questions - Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

www.festrail.co.uk

Cheers for the info. It does seem they're trying to promote their 'package trips'

It'll take a lot of brown paper to package me, though

 

[stan68]

On both railways where I volunteer, evening running only occurs for dining events (all year round), apart from on some special events, such as the Beer Festival.

However, more early and late running is being trialled at our gala being held mid-June, and it will be interesting to see if this works...