One day European railtours?

[JoeGJ1984]

I was just wondering whether it would be feasible for a company could do a railtour into Europe via the Channel Tunnel and return to the starting stations on the same day, like most of the UK railtours do. It would probably start from St Pancras International and could pick up also at Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International. I don't know the geography of the European railways at all, but I would have thought it would be possible to cover a lot of ground in one day including a stop of a couple of hours somewhere that Eurostar do not serve directly (I don't know about including other UK stations - as well as the time factor, they don't have a security sealed area).

Just wondering about the feasibility of this. I know companies do tours of Europe by rail but not (as far as I am aware) a one-day railtour in the style of the UK one-day railtours.

 

[Chester025]

Hertfordshire Railtours have done it in the past: http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/010317hr.htm

A futher search reveals that Hertfordshire did quite a few London - Paris tours. However they also did this rather interesting one using the 'classic' route from Calais: http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/010317hr.htm

I don't see why it wouldn't be possible to run one today, but would it sell?

 

[JoeGJ1984]

I don't see why it wouldn't be possible to run one today, but would it sell?

I don't see why not - admittedly it would only really work for people who live near London and the South East (unless onee does an overnight stay in London), but the same could be said about railtours in the UK (in that if people don't live near the start stations, it's not very good to them unless they want to do an overnight stay). (All right, tours do sometimes get cancelled due to lack of bookings, but this can happen anywhere).

Given that nobody runs European day railtours at present, this would probably generate interest (having said that, I don't know if I would necessarily do one, due to the necessity of an overnight stay. I wonder if railtours could be done from places other than London to Europe although the lack of a security sealed area at other joining stations would hamper this).

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I did a couple of the Herts Railtour/UK Rail tours Eurostar trips 3 or 4 years ago, they went from London Waterloo then, one went to Paris via the old boat train route outbound and highspeed line in France on the way back, the other went by a rural route to Lille for a couple of Hours, then the short hop to Brussels, again returning on the High speed line. I went first class and they did the usual Eurostar meal and free beer/wine. Most enjoyable.

 

[33056]

Just wondering about the feasibility of this. I know companies do tours of Europe by rail but not (as far as I am aware) a one-day railtour in the style of the UK one-day railtours.

Not quite correct on the latter point. Mercia Charters are doing a one day tour in Belgium / Luxembourg next month, though I don't think it is what you really had in mind as it needs two nights in Belgium to be able to do it. However, it isn't that different to doing a tour that starts in another part of the UK to where you live.

Many of us "Euro Cranks" like having more than one day tours as it makes it more worthwhile when going further afield than Belgium.

 

[Foxhound]

Kind-of on-topic, anybody know where I can get gen for V200 tours? Fancy a bash at that in the next year or so, any pointers most welcome.

 

[87015]

Kind-of on-topic, anybody know where I can get gen for V200 tours? Fancy a bash at that in the next year or so, any pointers most welcome.

Mercia Charter in July has got one
Otherwise, watch erg or ther yahoo-groups.

 

[33056]

Mercia Charter in July has got one
Otherwise, watch erg or ther yahoo-groups.

Where did you hear that from? There is nothing on their website yet giving any details other than a proposed date (which I can't make :cry.

VEV Vienenburg are using V200 033 from there to Westerland (Sylt) on 2nd April, I will be on that along with a few other British cranks . The best Yahoo Group for gen on when things like that are running is actually DB Loco-info.

If you are interested in V200s, be aware that many have been re-engined and will disappoint in the thrash stakes - AFAIK, the only ones worth doing are V200 033 and V200 116, of which I believe the latter is due for overhaul very shortly so might not be out for a bit.

 

[Foxhound]

If you are interested in V200s, be aware that many have been re-engined and will disappoint in the thrash stakes - AFAIK, the only ones worth doing are V200 033 and V200 116, of which I believe the latter is due for overhaul very shortly so might not be out for a bit.

Cheers Chief!