leomartin125
Member
Is next weekend's Cathedrals Express still going ahead from Horsted Keynes to Worcester Shrub Hill? Nothing on Steam Dreams' website despite nothing stating it's cancellation?
Is next weekend's Cathedrals Express still going ahead from Horsted Keynes to Worcester Shrub Hill? Nothing on Steam Dreams' website despite nothing stating it's cancellation?
Is next weekend's Cathedrals Express still going ahead from Horsted Keynes to Worcester Shrub Hill? Nothing on Steam Dreams' website despite nothing stating it's cancellation?
I am booked on 3 trips with them, 2 in April with Princess Elizabeth and one with Flying Scotsman in June, so am rather concerned too.
I think it's rather poor that there is absolutely no mention on the steam dreams website of any potential disruption.
I'm also on one in April, I take it you've heard nothing from them? I'll give them a ring this week to find out what's going on. I need to book accomodation, but obviously don't want to if it's going to get cancelled.
I think it's rather poor that there is absolutely no mention on the steam dreams website of any potential disruption.
Good morning, No I have not heard any thing from them yet about any of the trips that I have booked with them for April & June. I suppose they are awaiting to see what news they get from the authorities and maybe they are trying to come up with another solution? however, I did ask them about the trip on 01 June as posted elsewhere, as that trip is due to traverse the new line from Oxford main station towards Bicester which may not be quite ready by then and they said they would look at another routing.)
So keeping fingers crossed for better news soon.
I & many others have not done well for steam tours last year, was hoping this year would be better.
Which trip are you on in April, ?
You happen to have picked the only steam hauled train planned to be operated by WCR that DBC appear to have agreed to operate since the ban was imposed. The chances are Network Rail only had it confirmed to be a runner last week, so it's hardly surprising the timings haven't been sent out yet. There may even still be route clearance difficulties. Presumably you are suggesting Network Rail drop all their other work just to look after charters?The fact that this activity has always been out of control cannot be better typified than the RTC situation for this weekend - There are three effective posts before passengers will be away from home on their way to the tour - they were only told it was a runner last week but still have neither tickets nor times. Network Rail need hoying in and giving a damned good kicking for treating the market this way. There is simply no excuse.
Obviously planning of charter trains is the only thing Network Rail does which matters to you. Bids for steam hauled services or those needing goods line clearance have to be submitted 3 months ahead of operation. If whoever submits the bids then becomes unable to operate the train involved, then NR would have been within their rights to not progress them. However in this case they look to have facilitated another operator taking over the bid rather than insisting on the other operator going through the whole process again. I think that if Saturday's train runs, that is a matter for celebration, and NR will have played a large part in making it happen.If WCRC were requesting paths early and NR were not confirming them - as has been the case ever since privatisation - NR is completely in the wrong and behaving like the bully monopoly it is.
Obviously planning of charter trains is the only thing Network Rail does which matters to you. Bids for steam hauled services or those needing goods line clearance have to be submitted 3 months ahead of operation. If whoever submits the bids then becomes unable to operate the train involved, then NR would have been within their rights to not progress them. However in this case they look to have facilitated another operator taking over the bid rather than insisting on the other operator going through the whole process again. I think that if Saturday's train runs, that is a matter for celebration, and NR will have played a large part in making it happen.
Obviously planning of charter trains is the only thing Network Rail does which matters to you. Bids for steam hauled services or those needing goods line clearance have to be submitted 3 months ahead of operation. If whoever submits the bids then becomes unable to operate the train involved, then NR would have been within their rights to not progress them. However in this case they look to have facilitated another operator taking over the bid rather than insisting on the other operator going through the whole process again. I think that if Saturday's train runs, that is a matter for celebration, and NR will have played a large part in making it happen.
the puffer buffers aren't interested in anything but their trains and have no grasp of the real world commercial pressures involved. They expect all work to be dropped and their train to take priority over the franchised TOC and FOC operations. You are wasting your breath trying to explain.
HTML:the puffer buffers aren't interested in anything but their trains and have no grasp of the real world commercial pressures involved. They expect all work to be dropped and their train to take priority over the franchised TOC and FOC operations. You are wasting your breath trying to explain.
I rather suspect that when it comes to working with and resolving the issues arising from privatisation that those with experience arelikely to know a bit more than those who just want an easy and predictable life.
I can't say it often or clear enought - but Netowrk Rail nee Railtrack was set up with obligations to service the franchises, the FOc's and the leisure market. That is why the obligation to serve the leisure market was specifically inserted in the roles of the FOC's set up in 1993
And by exposing the NR prejudice you have probably neatly admitted one of the reasons for the seething resentment between a Yorkshire businessman and the National Infrastructure owner.
It does indeed take two to tango!
I rather suspect that when it comes to working with and resolving the issues arising from privatisation that those with experience arelikely to know a bit more than those who just want an easy and predictable life.
I can't say it often or clear enought - but Netowrk Rail nee Railtrack was set up with obligations to service the franchises, the FOc's and the leisure market. That is why the obligation to serve the leisure market was specifically inserted in the roles of the FOC's set up in 1993
I can't say it often or clear enought - but Netowrk Rail nee Railtrack was set up with obligations to service the franchises, the FOc's and the leisure market.