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XL railtours

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by gwr4090, Nov 17, 2008.

  1. gwr4090

    gwr4090 Part of the furniture

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    There is a (provisional) tour with double headed steam up the Lickey next 9 May 2009.
    http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs09.htm

    David
     
  2. southyorkshireman

    southyorkshireman Resident of Nat Pres

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  3. stepney60

    stepney60 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Re: Lack of steam tours on Lickey Incline

    The question is, do Steam Dreams know a photo of one of their tours is being used?
     
  4. stephen

    stephen Member

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    Re: Lack of steam tours on Lickey Incline

    this is fantastic news, i believe XL Railtours have 3 great trips lined up and i am hoping people will go on these 3 tours they have lined up. i wonder what locomotives they will use?, hopefully gwr halls?

    2 of these trips are are booked to go up the lickey incline both using the line via droitwich and worcester which i believe have been used by steam trains this past year or so.

    cant wait and i am actually hoping to be on these 2 tours.

    has anyone heard of XL railtours?
     
  5. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

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    Re: Lack of steam tours on Lickey Incline

    If its on the website with the permission of the photographer, i dont see what the issue is. I have to say, im a little worried by this new charter company - now would hardly seem the best time to start one?

    Chris
     
  6. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Re: Lack of steam tours on Lickey Incline

    Good luck to them but the names a little unfortunate, joe public might think they are associated the travel company of the same name that went bump.
     
  7. saltydog

    saltydog Part of the furniture

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    Re: Lack of steam tours on Lickey Incline

    Quote from their site on the About Us page....XL Railtours comprises of a team of people who together have many years of experience in the train charter and travel business. Our aim, as suggested by our company name, is to run a series of special - 'limited' - railtours using several steam locomotives on each of our tours.
    Now we can all have a guessing game. Who are the team of people?
    Also found this on Companies House site.X L RAILTOURS LIMITED
    35 WILKINSON STREET
    SHEFFIELD
    UNITED KINGDOM
    S10 2GB
    Company No. 06598966
    And they were incorporated in May this year.
     
  8. Ian Riley

    Ian Riley Part of the furniture Loco Owner

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    I notice that there is a 'new' mainline tour operator advertising railtours......anybody know of any details about them?

    I notice that on their website, if you click on their 'return policy' tab, there is no policy?

    And they seem to have their 'knickers in a twist' over VAT?...I thought it was exempt?
     
  9. Tracklayer

    Tracklayer Resident of Nat Pres

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    First thought was the Airline, rememer them?

    When you click on their "Return Policy" it is Blank... Must be the rebranded Kingfisher!
     
  10. Andy Staite

    Andy Staite New Member

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    All rail travel is zero rated for VAT purposes - they can issue a receipt but it would have to show Nil for the VAT element! At seat catering and steam loco hire does attract VAT at the standard rate, which is chargeable to the promoter. Most promoters however operate under the TOMs scheme (Tour Operators Margin scheme). But if VAT was chargeable in most cases it would not be possible to claim the VAT as it would be classed as entertaining if our passengers were registered for VAT.

    However, I will wish them well with this venture!
     
  11. saltydog

    saltydog Part of the furniture

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    Some one mentioned this company on the Lickey thread and I posted some details from Companies House in a reply.
    Could one of the mods please transfer that post to this thread?
     
  12. stepney60

    stepney60 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Et voila...
     
  13. Tracklayer

    Tracklayer Resident of Nat Pres

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    The guy who seems to be in charge is Business Development Manager at Wirksworth, Neil Ferguson-Lee...
     
  14. Polisher

    Polisher New Member

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    And ive heard that a certain Mell Chamberlain is involved, remember ''Days Out'', disapeared owing thousands of pounds, or an I wrong?
     
  15. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Wow you've heard, thats an expert opinion right up there with analysis of 5043's spark arrestor ](*,)

    Is this some sort of record ?, panicking about a tour promoter without any facts whatsoever when they have yet to run a train!, i can understand caution with a new player on the scene but badmouthing them without any hard fact is a bit below the belt.
     
  16. ipod

    ipod Well-Known Member

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    There has to be Russian involvement.... :-k
    Sorry! I've been watching Sparks again... (whoops I mean Spooks!)... 8-[
     
  17. Tracklayer

    Tracklayer Resident of Nat Pres

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    I'd like to clarify the reason for my post. There were people on here who were questioning where this new player had come from and a poster commented on the business address. The name on the website suggests somebody with a reasonable background in the heritage rail market. I can find no reference to Mel, and the Days Out failure was no different to Steamy Affairs or any other - It doesnt have to happen again!

    Having said that - I dont think I would be rushing to break into the charter business these days. I notice that Flamboyant Trains is going for another attempt after the fiasco surrounding their Pride Express. They would probably be more sensible to give up now!
     
  18. mattspencer

    mattspencer Well-Known Member

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    I think you are thinking of Prestige Rail Services. Flamboyant Trains were one of the companies involved in the Doncaster PSB charter earlier this year. I seem to recall XL railtours advertising a charter fairly recently that did not run.
     
  19. Tracklayer

    Tracklayer Resident of Nat Pres

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    Your absolutly right... I am indeed Wrong... And sit corrected... Flamboyant Trains do have a pretty pink website tho (there he goes sterotyping all those queens... And RJ)
     
  20. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    Let's give XL a chance to show what they are made of. It sounds like a pretty sensible approach to me - promote three tours with interesting motive power (more than one loco on each) over interesting routes, starting and finishing at reasonable times of the day from a part of the country not especially well-served by other operators (at least, compared with London/SE, Manchester/NW). Best of luck to them, especially if they're going run double-headed up the Lickey Incline!
     

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