ScotRail 2016 steam

Does anyone know whether there will be a ScotRail programme this year, getting pretty late to start arranging it now. Can anyone remember roughly when they disclosed their plans last year?

 

Keep an eye on the Scotrail web site -- this was what it said on 19th Feb - still the same :-

Relive the golden age of travel with ScotRail steam trains journeys ...

Following a successful summer of steam trains journeys in the beautiful Scottish countryside, we'll be offering you more chances to experience the joy of steam travel in 2016.

Each special steam train service will feature both first and standard class carriages.

Watch this space for more details.

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/scotland-by-r...eam-trains

 

any news on the scotrail trips? looking to get some tickets this year, as i missed out on last years steam trips on the new borders railway.

 

I spoke to a regular traveller behind mainline steam, who is from North of the border, on the Devon Belle on Saturday, and he had heard it will be in the Autumn and only on Sundays.

 

Sundays seem likely for the Borders route at least, after the grief ScotRail received for cancelling WTT trains last year to run steam specials.

Cheers, Neil

 

Be nice to see something on the Highland Mainline, as well as the Borders Line. Guessing it will come down to available locos though, as don't Abellio use DBS?

 

The Scotsman are reporting that another season of steam on the Borders Railway will indeed take place:

"Meanwhile, ScotRail is hoping to repeat the success of its own sold-out steam runs on the Borders Railway last year by arranging Sunday trips in August and September. The excursions have been timed to coincide with the Edinburgh festivals, with its vast potential market of visitors to the capital.

The services will be run only on Sundays to avoid the need to cancel regular ScotRail trains on the largely single-track line, as they operate less frequently that day."​

http://www.scotsman.com/news/transp...land-next-year-after-sell-out-trips-1-4131110

 

Nothing interesting then it seems. Unless they suddenly anounce a repeat of last yeats car-car return bia Beattock and the run up to Dunrobin.

 

Presumably Sunday's operation with Flying Scotsman is a portent of things to come with locals operating an event around the train and possible opportunities for passengers to sample either Galashiels (by de / en training) or Melrose / Abbotsford (by use of coach add-ons).