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Blaenau to Caernarvon through train
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the sniper
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They'll definitely sell out, I bet.
Maybe, but what's that proverb about fools and their money?
Nigel Cliff
Member
Good to see that the Ffestiniog are living up to to their alternative name
RIP OFF RAILWAY
RIP OFF RAILWAY
If there are enough people prepared to pay a lot of money for the first ever through service, then why not? The line cost a lot to build after all, and this is a premium market. People like us can do both lines another time at the normal price.
It isn't normally a "rip off" it is a very popular tourist attraction that people do keep going back to.
I joined the Society last year and did 1 return trip on the Ffestiniog, 1 single trip on the WHR (with bikes) and 1 return trip on the Tallylyn Railway. For the price I paid I think I got my money's worth!
It isn't normally a "rip off" it is a very popular tourist attraction that people do keep going back to.
I joined the Society last year and did 1 return trip on the Ffestiniog, 1 single trip on the WHR (with bikes) and 1 return trip on the Tallylyn Railway. For the price I paid I think I got my money's worth!
Well, because £130 is shameless exploitation of people's desire to go on this thing. I don't ordinarily consider the FR any worse value than any other preserved line, but this is beyond even Chingfinder's cheek levels. Presumably the inner sanctum of the WHR and FR will be travelling for niks, and will be laughing into their beer at those who've shelled out so much.
It's a celebration train at a celebration price! I see nothing wrong with them wanting to raise money on what will be a special day. After years of hard work reinstating the line some sor tof celebration is deserved, and I echo the sentiments of others that there will probably be plenty of itnerest.
The Engineer
Member
Agreed!! Those who want to be first or "be part of the day" will pay the price, and goodness knows the railway needs the money! I'll be going later in the year and use a normal service train!!
Aye, there will be plenty that can;t afford to or object to paying the price asked, but I'm sue there will be those who will be happy to fork out!
For what it's worth, I found it a tad pricey back in 2009, but compared to other steam railways, it isn;t too bad!
For what it's worth, I found it a tad pricey back in 2009, but compared to other steam railways, it isn;t too bad!
merlodlliw
Established Member
I note pathfinder are charging £99 return Chester to Edinburgh for a rugby train, so the £130 is not that way out & its a fund raiser.
As for the comment about some going for free, laughing in their beer, I could say the same about some toc employees on NR lines, had it not been for the vision of a few, the line would still be used for cattle grazing.
over 60 miles journey for those who want to travel,plus food.
As for the comment about some going for free, laughing in their beer, I could say the same about some toc employees on NR lines, had it not been for the vision of a few, the line would still be used for cattle grazing.
over 60 miles journey for those who want to travel,plus food.
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blackfive460
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Inner sanctum?
Presumably you are referring to those who either put up money or or put in effort to build and are continuing to shell out or put in more work to improve and maintain the two railways?
They put up the money because they believed in the railway and wanted to see it up and running. Good for them. Having done so it doesn't give them any right to exploit the enthusiasm of others, however grateful those others might be for what they have done.
What about the famed fifteen guinea special then? And WCRC 40th anniversary run which ran very empty because they chose a modern day equivalent of fifteen guineas in 1968? If people will pay it, that's up to them. People pay thousands of pounds for a watch that will do no more than an £8 Timex.
ian959
Member
Methinks I might change my holiday plans to incorporate this. Reckon £130 is a bargain to do the first train.
If people will pay it that is indeed up to them. That's not in question. What is in question is whether it's OK to charge way more than something is actually worth, be it a train ride or a watch. If everyone thought like this, then it'd be fine to, say, charge £10 for a loaf of bread, on the grounds that *some* people would be able to afford it and good luck to them. I'm not suggesting that the tour should run at normal WHR/FR prices, but £130 is so much more than these that barefaced exploitation of people's enthusiasm and goodwill is the only conclusion I can come to. At least Dick Turpin wore a mask.
I don't doubt that the run will be a great success, populated by the WHR/FR top brass, rich people, and mugs.
Just because someone does not think a price is good value does not make it a rip off, or mean that those who pay it are exploited in some way.
There are clearly people who will happily this sum for the privilege of being part of a day long celebration fo two railways. There are also those who won't. It's called choice, and we all exercise i tin different ways!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Some people will pay a lot more for a loaf of bread than the average. Artisan bakers can charge a lot more than £2 for 800g, when you can get a cheap supermarket for 60p. Are these people mugs? Or are they simply making their choices due to a different set of values than you and I might?
And who is to quantify what it's worth to ride the first public train along the whole length of the two lines? Is it worth the normal fares they charge? Some may say no! Like my missus!
There are clearly people who will happily this sum for the privilege of being part of a day long celebration fo two railways. There are also those who won't. It's called choice, and we all exercise i tin different ways!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Some people will pay a lot more for a loaf of bread than the average. Artisan bakers can charge a lot more than £2 for 800g, when you can get a cheap supermarket for 60p. Are these people mugs? Or are they simply making their choices due to a different set of values than you and I might?
And who is to quantify what it's worth to ride the first public train along the whole length of the two lines? Is it worth the normal fares they charge? Some may say no! Like my missus!
I agree, but choice can only go so far. Prices can't go up for ever and people simply be told to exercise 'choice'. At some point high prices become exploitation, and IMO this point is well below £130 to ride from Caernarfon to Blaenau and back. Unfortunately this rip off makes me look a lot less favourably on this organisation than I previously did. Won't stop me going on the wonderful WHR though (at sensible prices mind....).
The artisan loaf is a quantifiably different product to the Lidl loaf though, costing a lot more to make by hand, using more expensive ingredients, and not able to take advantage of large supermarket distribution networks and bulk purchasing. It's inevitably going to cost more, so the margin may not be significantly greater than the cheap loaf. The margins made by the WHR/FR here will be massively in excess of what they normally make, so my charge of good old fashioned exploitation remains.
The normal fares are a useful benchmark though, of what people are prepared to pay for this product under normal circumstances.
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Sorry to disagree but at the end of the day it;s all about opinions as to what is value for money and what isn't.
To me, the prices charged for some of the long steam tours of Soctland or the UK (I forget which ones I saw but it was over £1000) are high, and I would not pay them, but that doesn;t mean the companies are ripping people off or that the people who go on them are mugs.
There is a market for these sort of trips, just because you and I won't or can't pay the prices does not make them wrong.
To me, the prices charged for some of the long steam tours of Soctland or the UK (I forget which ones I saw but it was over £1000) are high, and I would not pay them, but that doesn;t mean the companies are ripping people off or that the people who go on them are mugs.
There is a market for these sort of trips, just because you and I won't or can't pay the prices does not make them wrong.
Chris125
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Whats the problem? Its an opportunity to raise funds which the railway has to grasp with both hands, and with the launch of the Phase 5 appeal everyone knows why as well.
I suspect the vast majority of the people on these trains will have already sunk large sums into the project for much less in return than this, and i daresay as they trundle through Porthmadog the ticket price will seem like a bargain. Indeed, compared to much of the money people put into railway preservation the cost:benefit of this stacks up quite well!
Chris
I suspect the vast majority of the people on these trains will have already sunk large sums into the project for much less in return than this, and i daresay as they trundle through Porthmadog the ticket price will seem like a bargain. Indeed, compared to much of the money people put into railway preservation the cost:benefit of this stacks up quite well!
Chris
Still totally disagree 4SRKT. How many times will they run the very first train? Once I imagine. How many people will want to be on that first special? Loads I imagine. I can guarantee that this train will be full, it is a very busy itinerary and all the food and extras laid on add up too.
I'm probably going to go on this with my dad for his birthday if I get the seats early enough, I still think the prices could bee a lot worse. I'm also clearly not alone in thinking this.
I'm probably going to go on this with my dad for his birthday if I get the seats early enough, I still think the prices could bee a lot worse. I'm also clearly not alone in thinking this.
The defence rests m'lud!
Seriously, I would not pay that much for this personally, but good luck to all those who do, I'm sure you will have a great day!
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