RTC 2024

So assuming RTC even wanted to run diesel tours why would it interest Freightliner? I can find no tour this year using Freightliner. Do they even have drivers with a passenger licence? And if as you suggest Heritage diesels would they even have a driver that signs for any of those classes?
GBRF do provide locos for tours as did DBS, Colas sometimes & DRS will not any longer I believe.

 

One thing you seem to have forgotten is that the blue grey rake is also used by other tour operators, UKR and Pathfinder for example, and may not be available every weekend for RTC to use.

Dave B

 

If I were a betting man I would suggest 'a' summer programme of tours will go ahead. If we have learnt something in recent weeks it's that despite the amount of bluster and woe being given to the media, there are some efforts being made to fit stock and come up with a solution for both Northern Belle and Jacobite services - with a rake available to service RTC.
Whether they have enough Mk 2s to come up with similar hybrid set (as per Jacobite) for their own summer services remains to be seen. Whether this practical effort is also enough to sway the ORR to give them a time limited exemption to run their unfitted Mk1s (with agreed mitigation) is another potential option too.
What I wouldn't rely on is West Coast's comments to the media, which in my view are a smoke screen designed to try and influence any decision from the ORR. This is a company that famously refuses to speak to anyone normally, doesn't it seem strange they are now giving interviews left, right and centre to anyone who is willing to listen and give a favourable article for them?
All along I have hoped there maybe a Plan B, recent movements to Fort William may just be evidence of one happening and to date, whilst some day trips have had to be rescheduled, there has been no mass cancellations for other operators.

 

My video of 44871 at Gloucester with extra clip at Cam & Dursley

 

A shot from the aqueduct above Avoncliff halt 27/04/24.

 

This is really for another thread, but 1st June - 30th September sees 34 RTC trips and 17 WCRC ones. Unless something changes, there's no chance they'll all run - RTC have three tours some weekends which would require two sets of stock. Other dates see WCRC go to Carlisle one day, the following day RTC have a trip round Kent. Or RTC to Dorset with WCRC to Scarborough the following day. There's no way it can be done with only one set of stock. So either RTC start cancelling tours or WCRC do. I'm sure it'll be cheaper to fit CDL than what will be lost in revenue over the summer.

 

You are attempting to apply logic to something that may not accept it.
My employer for example was prepared to spend, what most reckoned was over a £1m in legal fees to fight an arguably worthless point over an issue on the oldest and (hence the one with least members) of the pension schemes for an every decreasing number of pensioners.
The Government have been quite happy to lose loads more than a pay award would cost for drivers and previously other rail staff.
Sometimes other forces are in play, principle, stubbornness, bloody mindedness or just the belief you are right.
No idea in this case, but it might not be seen as about the money.

Sorry for continuing the thread drift and mods move to the correct thread if you feel best.

 

The Pembroke Coast Express has been postponed to Sunday 20th October.

Email I recieved from RTC - "Due to current operational difficulties, we are unable to run the train on Sunday 19th May as planned and have taken the decision, so as not to cause too much disappointment, to postpone the trip to run on Sunday 20th October."

I am relieved!!!!!!!

 

Going around the houses just to avoid the closed Severn Tunnel was not really worth it, but added with less than an hour at Tenby for people to alight, out of a 13 hour day is a long time on a train.

 

I would agree, although in modern day charter timings not exactly unusual. 13 hours seems quite a short day compared to some, which in itself says a lot really.

 

Do you mean the Swanage to Bristol trip next month? CME this weekend.

 

I agree it is very likely not to be the Jubilee, but a month is a long time in politics and the railway world. Who knows what may appear from 10A though. Maybe a set of CDL Mk1's will appear before 6880 actually makes a gala booking .

 

There are only three possible outcomes; WCR get an exemption to allow a vac only loco like Bahamas to run, they produce a vac braked set for Bahamas to work or, most likely the train is worked by a Riley Black 5.