Railtour on a Javelin [UK Railtours]

jnjkerbin · 11 Apr 2014

We are sure you will want to be aboard our railtour around London and Kent aboard a SouthEastern Javelin, a class of train built solely for dedicated 'High Speed' routes from St Pancras to the Kent Coast and never seen in service anywhere else - until now that is!
The exact route is still being planned but will include 'High Speed 1' from St Pancras to Ashford and the very little-used 'Waterloo Connection' between Fawkham Junction and Southfleet Junction. The tour will visit at least two of London Victoria, Charing Cross and Cannon Street and the traditional 'Boat Train' route via Tonbridge to the Kent Coast. The Medway Valley Line from Strood to Paddock Wood via Maidstone West is expected to be included, along with Swanley to Ashford via Maidstone East - all very rare stuff for a Javelin!
There are still detail aspects to be confirmed, hence the lack of an exact itinerary just yet, but what is certain is a varied route (fast and slow!) taking the 6-car train to some very unusual places. There will be opportunities for photos along the way and one slightly longer leg-stretching stop (possibly at Faversham) at around lunchtime.
There will be a trolley service of light refreshments.
Bookings are now open. All seating on Javelin trains is Standard Class. Only one six-car unit will be used so this tour could become full very quickly.

RailUK Forums

user15681 · 11 Apr 2014

So it's finally public then! I had been itching to say something on the other thread about possible Railtours.

Not sure I'd pay it, personally, but it'll be a good run around for sure. Will be odd to see them crossing the Thames at either Charing Cross or Cannon St, or at London Bridge if that's part of the route (although doubt it).

transportphoto · 11 Apr 2014

Sounds fantastic, not sure I would pay nearly £50 for it though...

TP

Kazington · 11 Apr 2014

I'd be all over this except I'm pre-occupied on the day. Bob saget...

Kite159 · 11 Apr 2014

Sounds like an interesting day out, a shame I'm already on a railtour that day

nxea321446 · 13 Apr 2014

i will 100% be at canon street to catch this rare moment

user15681 · 13 Apr 2014

nxea321446 said:
i will 100% be at canon street to catch this rare moment

It's not confirmed that it will visit Cannon Street just yet. Will definitely visit at least 2 of Victoria, Charing Cross and Cannon Street though, so if it doesn't you can just hop on the underground to Charing Cross.

222001 · 14 Apr 2014

The tour is already fully booked!

DJD200 · 14 Apr 2014

Glad it's fully booked, might mean more in future when funds allow! Looks like a great trip.

junglejames · 15 Apr 2014

222001 said:
The tour is already fully booked!

What fool accidentally booked every seat! They'll have a shock when they see their credit card bill :lol:

Honestly, there is very little there that hasnt been done before. May be unusual, but most has happened already, and when you start using a 395, well, then a train is just a train, and Paddock Wood to Strood feels the same as Ashford to Dover.

What next? The full length of the ECML on a bendy pendy?

But hey ho, what do i know. Somehow it has sold out already.

gordonthemoron · 15 Apr 2014

how about a voyager (or meridian) from Thurso to Penzance?

222001 · 15 Apr 2014

gordonthemoron said:
how about a voyager (or meridian) from Thurso to Penzance?

I'd be up for the Meridian!

I was lucky enough to get booked on this tour though. I believe the track from HS1 onto the SE network is very rare?

user15681 · 15 Apr 2014

222001 said:
I'd be up for the Meridian!

I was lucky enough to get booked on this tour though. I believe the track from HS1 onto the SE network is very rare?

That's correct. Apart from emergency unplanned diversions due to disruption on HS1 (of which there have been very few), the last planned passenger service over this track would have been Eurostar when it ran to Waterloo.

34D · 20 Apr 2014

TempleRyan said:
That's correct. Apart from emergency unplanned diversions due to disruption on HS1 (of which there have been very few), the last planned passenger service over this track would have been Eurostar when it ran to Waterloo.

Yes, but surely everyone who 'does' track would have done it then?

MidnightFlyer · 20 Apr 2014

34D said:
Yes, but surely everyone who 'does' track would have done it then?

Depends, would have been a fairly expensive piece of track!

user15681 · 29 May 2014

There should be an identical repeat of this 'Wandering Javelin' railtour on 23rd August.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Awaiting confirmation and exact timings, but the route should be as follows I'm told...

1Z01
St Pancras International to Ashford International
Via HS1

1Z02
Ashford International to London Victoria
Route: Ashford - Folkestone - Dover Priory - Minster - Canterbury West - Ashford International - Maidstone East - Swanley - Shortlands - Catford - London Victoria
Short break around lunch at Victoria

1Z03
London Victoria to Faversham
Route: London Victoria - Catford - Shortlands - Swanley - Fawkham Junction - Southfleet Junction - HS1 to Ashford International - Folkestone - Dover Priory - Canterbury East - Faversham
Short break at Dover Priory and Faversham

1Z04
Faversham to Strood
Via Chatham
Very short break, if any, at Strood to change ends

1Z05
Strood to London Charing Cross
Via Medway Valley Line and Orpington
Route: Strood - Maidstone West - Tonbridge - Orpington - London Bridge - London Charing Cross
Short break at Charing Cross

1Z06
London Charing Cross to London Cannon Street
Short break at Cannon Street

1Z07
London Cannon Street to Ashford International
Route: London Cannon Street - London Bridge - Orpington - Paddock Wood - Ashford International

1Z08
Ashford International - London St Pancras International
Via HS1

So, it'll take in most of the SE network really, some very interesting routes and three London Terminals (Victoria, Charing Cross and Cannon Street), although I'd imagine one of Charing Cross or Cannon Street might be dropped on the day if it gets heavily delayed. Works out at around 478 miles.

TEW · 29 May 2014

Kite159 · 23 Jun 2014

So how was the wondering Javelin?

user15681 · 23 Jun 2014

Kite159 said:
So how was the wondering Javelin?

Initial feedback seems very positive and there were a lot of people out to see it on the day. It even ran on time throughout (aided by dwell times and allowances, of course).

crewmeal · 24 Jun 2014

So how about a tour of the WCML as probably many past Watford have never seen one in real life.

theshillito · 24 Jun 2014

crewmeal said:
So how about a tour of the WCML as probably many past Watford have never seen one in real life.

Don't individual classes of trains need to be cleared to run on specific lines? I remember reading about certain classes not being allowed on certain lines or at certain stations, etc. I'd be quite interested if this happened though.

SpacePhoenix · 24 Jun 2014

Can families of units (take electric Desiros for example) run wherever one is used (eg could a class 380 run on the WCML on a LM route instead of a 350 or would it have to go through all the required clearance stuff (paperwork, testing etc)?

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